If you’re having coffee with someone who has coeliac disease, choose crackers clearly labelled gluten-free and check the current ingredients and allergen information. Individual portions can make it easier to serve them separately, but you’ll still need a clean serving area and clean utensils. Then check which packaging and ingredients work with your toppings and any other allergies.
You want to serve a gluten-free cracker with coffee without ordinary cracker crumbs ending up on the same plate. The Dutch Coeliac Association stresses the importance of preventing cross-contamination: keep the crackers separate and use clean utensils.
You’re looking for a cracker that goes well with sweet or savoury toppings, or you’d like to serve individual portions. The gluten-free products reviewed vary in ingredients and packaging; Schär, for example, is also available in six 35 g packs.
As well as gluten, you may need to look out for ingredients such as soya, sesame or oats. A gluten-free label doesn’t tell you whether these ingredients are present, so check the packaging of the specific product.
First check the gluten-free label and allergen information. Then choose packaging that suits how you’ll serve the crackers, and compare the nutritional information if needed.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Serving gluten-free crackers | Check the gluten-free label on the packaging. Keep the crackers away from ordinary crumbs when serving. | If I’m serving crackers to someone with coeliac disease, I want to make sure ordinary crumbs don’t get onto their food. For around 50% of consumers, gluten-free safety comes first. |
| Packaging and toppings | Check the number of portions and whether the pack is divided into individual portions. Choose a cracker whose ingredients and shape suit the topping you have in mind. | For coffee, I want to be able to serve individual portions or choose a cracker that goes with my topping. Around 30% of consumers prioritise this convenience when serving. |
| Other ingredients | Read the ingredients and allergen information, and compare fibre and salt per 100 g if you wish. | If I also need to watch out for soya, sesame or oats, I want to know exactly what’s in the cracker. For around 20% of consumers, checking for these additional ingredients is the top priority. |
A well-known brand doesn’t tell you what’s in a specific cracker. Bolletje lists wheat flour and barley malt extract among the ingredients in its Bagel Crackers Sesam.
For a gluten-free coffee break, check the label and ingredients on the packaging of the product you’re buying.
The Dutch Coeliac Association warns that crumbs, hands and shared utensils can contaminate gluten-free food.
Use a separate plate and clean utensils. Keep gluten-free crackers in their packaging for as long as possible before serving.
Gluten-free doesn’t mean free from soya, sesame or oats. These ingredients are found in various gluten-free crackers reviewed.
If you have another allergy, check the ingredients and allergen information on the specific pack.
Under this own-brand range, Albert Heijn offers both light, crisp gluten-free crackers and an organic variety with sesame and chia.
This Jumbo product range includes light, crisp crackers and seed crackers.
One of the gluten-free Schär Crackers reviewed comes in a pack of six individual 35 g portions.
Consenza includes crackers in its gluten-free breakfast and lunch range.
A familiar cracker brand isn’t necessarily a gluten-free choice without checking the specific product.
According to the Dutch Coeliac Association, this label means the product contains less than 20 mg of gluten per kg. Check the current packaging of the crackers you plan to serve.
It’s best to serve them separately: the Dutch Coeliac Association warns about cross-contamination from crumbs, hands and utensils. Use a clean plate and clean utensils.
An oat cracker needs to be clearly labelled gluten-free, and oats aren’t suitable for everyone with coeliac disease. The Dutch Coeliac Association says that most people with coeliac disease can tolerate pure gluten-free oats, but a small number cannot.
No. The Schär Crackers reviewed contain soya, while the AH crackers with sesame and chia reviewed contain sesame and oats. Check the allergen information on the specific packaging.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging and keep the crackers away from crumbs containing gluten. For the light, crisp crackers reviewed, Albert Heijn recommends storing them in a sealed container once opened. Make sure the container is clean.
