If you’re choosing for someone with coeliac disease, look for crispbread or a crunchy alternative whose current packaging explicitly says ‘gluten-free’. Then decide which shape best suits the toppings and occasion, and check for any other allergens. Keep gluten-free snacks separate when serving. Check the ingredients list to see whether a product contains iodised salt.
You’re looking for a crunchy base for the autumn holidays and want to check before buying that the packaging explicitly says ‘gluten-free’. You’ll also want to avoid contact with crumbs from ordinary products when adding toppings and serving.
You want to choose between crispbread, thin crispbread, crackers and flatbreads. The shape and number of pieces in a pack can make planning a shared snack easier.
A gluten-free label doesn’t automatically answer questions about sesame, soya, milk or mustard. So compare the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ information for each variety.
If you’re buying for someone with coeliac disease, first check that the current packaging says ‘gluten-free’. Then compare the snack shape and any other allergens. Only after that should you look for a suitable variety to buy.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free label | Look for ‘gluten-free’ on the current packaging, and check the ingredients again if the packaging has changed. | Anyone buying snacks for someone with coeliac disease will want to check the product label first; this is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Snack shape and portions | Compare crispbread, thin crispbread, crackers and flatbreads by shape and number of pieces. | For a shared snack spread, I’d choose a shape that suits the toppings and number of people eating; this is the top priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Other allergens | Read the ingredients and any ‘contains’ or ‘may contain’ statements, including those for sesame and soya. | If other allergens also need to be avoided, ‘gluten-free’ on its own isn’t enough; around 20% of consumers put these additional checks first. |
| Where to shop | Before you shop, decide which specific variety you’re looking for, then check the packaging again when you buy it. | If you want to find your holiday snacks in one shopping trip, check where a suitable variety is available; this practical consideration matters most to around 20% of consumers. |
The shape of crispbread doesn’t tell you whether it’s suitable for someone with coeliac disease. Ryvita states that all its products contain gluten.
For this snack, choose only a product whose current packaging explicitly says ‘gluten-free’.
A gluten-free product may still contain other allergens. Jumbo lists sesame in Wasa Sesame & Sea Salt, and says it may contain milk, mustard and soya.
Check the full allergen information on the packaging of the variety you choose.
The Dutch Coeliac Society says crumbs or shared cutlery can transfer gluten to gluten-free food.
Prepare the snacks separately using clean cutlery, and keep them separate when serving.
The name crispbread doesn’t tell you which type of salt is used in the variety you’ve chosen.
If it matters to your choice, check the ingredients list for ‘iodised salt’.
Albert Heijn lists a gluten-free Classic variety, while Jumbo lists Sesame & Sea Salt as gluten-free crispbread.
Albert Heijn lists a gluten-free crispbread made with gluten-free oats, rice and maize flour.
Albert Heijn lists both Schär Knusperbrot dunkel and gluten-free thin crispbread, as well as gluten-free Schär Crackers.
Jumbo lists Nairn's Gluten Free Original Flatbreads as a crunchy alternative when you don’t need a classic crispbread shape.
Ryvita is worth checking off your list here, rather than considering as a gluten-free option.
Don’t rely on the grains used alone: choose a product whose current packaging explicitly says ‘gluten-free’. If a product contains oats, also check that its packaging carries the appropriate gluten-free label.
Prepare and serve the gluten-free crispbread separately. Use clean cutlery and a clean surface to keep crumbs from ordinary snacks away from the gluten-free food. This follows the Dutch Coeliac Society’s advice on cross-contamination.
No, it varies by variety. Jumbo lists sesame in Wasa Sesame & Sea Salt, and says it may contain milk, mustard and soya. Check the packaging of the variety you choose for all allergens relevant to the person eating it.
Don’t assume it does. If it matters to your buying decision, check the ingredients list of the variety you’ve chosen for ‘iodised salt’.
Yes, use it to shortlist products, but check the physical packaging before eating too. Albert Heijn warns that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change.
