If you’re hosting a guest with coeliac disease, choose a pre-packed Dutch egg cake clearly labelled ‘gluten-free’ and read the label on the pack you’ll be serving. A ready-to-eat pack takes little preparation for a small coffee break, but check separately that the ingredients and allergen warnings are suitable for any other allergies your guest may have.
You shouldn’t assume that a regular Dutch egg cake is gluten-free based on its front-of-pack design or name. Check for a ‘gluten-free’ label on the current packaging. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, this claim may be used for food sold to consumers that contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten.
You’re looking for a ready-to-eat option for one or a few guests and don’t want to bake specially for a coffee break. Albert Heijn lists AH Glutenvrij Eierkoeken in a 100 g pack; the Gluten Free Bakery Holland version listed by Jumbo contains two Dutch egg cakes, weighing 100 g in total.
Your guest may need to avoid more than just gluten. Albert Heijn and Jumbo’s product information also lists egg, milk and soya in the gluten-free Dutch egg cakes in question, alongside warnings about the possible presence of other allergens. So compare the packaging you buy with the allergens your guest needs to avoid.
First, check the gluten-free claim for your guest with coeliac disease. Then work out how many Dutch egg cakes you need and check whether other allergens affect your choice.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free for coeliac disease | Look for ‘gluten-free’ on the current packaging. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, this claim means the product contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. | If a friend has coeliac disease, I want to check that the Dutch egg cake is labelled gluten-free before serving it. This is the top priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| Portions and preparation | Compare the number of items and the net weight. If you want to bake them yourself, factor in the time needed: Jumbo gives a preparation time of around 25 minutes for its gluten-free Dutch egg cake recipe. | For a small coffee break, I want to have enough Dutch egg cakes ready without baking specially. Convenience and portion size are the deciding factors for around 30% of consumers. |
| Other allergens | Compare the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the pack you choose with the allergens your guest needs to avoid. | If someone needs to avoid allergens as well as gluten, I want to know whether this particular Dutch egg cake is suitable. This additional check is the main concern for around 20% of consumers. |
The absence of the word ‘wheat’ on the front of the pack doesn’t mean a product is gluten-free. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, the ‘gluten-free’ claim is linked to a maximum of 20 mg/kg of gluten in the food sold.
For a guest with coeliac disease, choose a pack labelled ‘gluten-free’ and read the current label.
According to their product information, the AH Glutenvrij and Gluten Free Bakery Holland versions described contain egg, milk and soya. Warnings about the possible presence of other allergens vary by product.
Ask your guest which allergens they need to avoid, then check these against the ingredients and warnings on the exact pack you’re buying.
Albert Heijn lists Maître Mathis Eierkoeken glutenvrij on its product page as ‘discontinued’. This listing doesn’t tell you whether you can buy the product now or what’s on a current pack.
Check current availability, and always use the packaging of the product you’re actually serving to check its ingredients and allergens.
A recipe describes ingredients and preparation, but doesn’t automatically confirm that the ingredients you choose are gluten-free.
Check each ingredient separately before baking for a guest with coeliac disease. If you can’t do that, choose a pre-packed option clearly labelled gluten-free.
Albert Heijn lists AH Glutenvrij Eierkoeken as a ready-to-eat option in a 100 g pack containing two Dutch egg cakes.
Jumbo describes the Eierkoeken 2 Stuks version as gluten-free; the two Dutch egg cakes weigh 100 g in total.
Maître Mathis Eierkoeken glutenvrij is a point of comparison for ingredients and allergens, but isn’t necessarily a current buying option.
No. For a guest with coeliac disease, choose a product that is actually labelled ‘gluten-free’. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, this claim may be used if the food sold contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten.
Yes. Check the gluten-free claim, ingredients and allergen information on the pack you’re going to serve. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) explains which allergen information must appear on labels, and product information can also change.
Not automatically. According to the product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo, AH Glutenvrij Eierkoeken and Gluten Free Bakery Holland Eierkoeken contain egg, milk and soya respectively. If your guest has other allergies, check the warnings on the pack you choose too.
Baking them yourself is an option if you can check that each ingredient is gluten-free and have time to prepare them. Jumbo gives a preparation time of around 25 minutes for its gluten-free Dutch egg cake recipe; the recipe alone doesn’t confirm the status of the ingredients you use.
