If you have coeliac disease and want a gluten-free evening snack instead of a Kano biscuit, only choose a product marked gluten-free on its current packaging. A gluten-free filled biscuit is the closest match to a Kano in terms of filling, while a gluten-free oat biscuit is a crisp, unfilled alternative. Also check the ingredients and any other allergens relevant to you.
If you have coeliac disease, checking the current packaging takes priority over finding a Kano-style flavour. The Dutch Coeliac Society advises looking for the word gluten-free or the Crossed Grain symbol, then checking the ingredients.
If the filling is what matters most, a gluten-free filled biscuit is closer in form to a Kano than an unfilled oat biscuit or digestive. Check for any other allergens relevant to you, too.
If it doesn’t have to be a filled biscuit, you could choose a crisp oat biscuit, chocolate digestive, mini cake or coconut macaroon, for example. Check the gluten-free labelling and allergen information for each individual product.
If you have coeliac disease, gluten-free labelling on the current packaging is essential. Then decide whether you’d prefer a Kano-style filling or a different texture and type of snack.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free labelling | Look for the word gluten-free or the Crossed Grain symbol on the current packaging, and read the ingredients list. | If I’m choosing a snack because I have coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely on the product name or an online filter. Around 50% of consumers put this label check first. |
| Kano-style filling | Compare filled biscuits that contain almond paste or pastry filling, and check for any other allergens, too. | If you mainly miss filled biscuits, look for a similar filling after checking the gluten-free labelling. For around 30% of consumers, this similarity is the first thing they look for. |
| A different type of snack | Choose between an oat biscuit, chocolate digestive, mini cake or coconut macaroon, for example, and check the packaging of the product you select. | If I don’t need a Kano-style filling, what matters most is the type of biscuit I fancy in the evening. This is the top priority for around 20% of consumers. |
According to Albert Heijn, AH BASIC Kano’s contain wheat gluten. A biscuit’s name or shape doesn’t tell you whether it’s suitable for a gluten-free diet.
Don’t assume an ordinary Kano biscuit is suitable. Check the gluten-free labelling and ingredients on the current packaging.
A previous purchase or an online category listing is no substitute for checking the packaging of the product you’re choosing now.
Read the label again, even if you’ve bought the same product before.
According to Albert Heijn, AH Glutenvrij Gevulde koek contains almonds, egg, soya and lupin, among other ingredients. PLUS lists milk and soya in Schär Glutenvrije Digestive chocolate, and says it may contain egg and lupin.
As well as checking for gluten, check for any other allergens relevant to you.
Filled biscuits, oat biscuits, chocolate digestives and coconut macaroons all have different fillings and textures.
If you’re looking for the filled texture of a Kano, specifically search for a gluten-free filled biscuit rather than gluten-free biscuits in general.
Albert Heijn’s own-brand range includes a gluten-free filled biscuit for anyone looking for a Kano-style filling.
Verkade Oaties is an option if you’re looking for a gluten-free oat biscuit rather than a filled biscuit.
A Jumbo range featuring a selection of gluten-free sweet snacks.
An option if you’re after a gluten-free chocolate digestive rather than a filled biscuit.
A different type of biscuit for anyone who prefers coconut flavour to an almond paste filling.
Don’t assume an ordinary Kano biscuit is gluten-free: according to Albert Heijn, AH BASIC Kano’s contain wheat gluten. Only choose a product based on the gluten-free labelling and ingredients on its current packaging.
Look for the word gluten-free or the Crossed Grain symbol on the current packaging, then check the ingredients and allergens. The Dutch Coeliac Society recommends checking the label. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that cereals containing gluten must be clearly identified in the ingredients list.
No. Don’t rely on the word ‘oat’ alone. Verkade says Oaties are made with gluten-free oat flakes; check that the current packaging of the product you’re buying says gluten-free.
Ingredients and allergen information can change, so the packaging of your current purchase is what matters. Check it even if an earlier pack or online product page met your needs.
Compare the pack size and number of biscuits. Albert Heijn lists AH Glutenvrij Gevulde koek as a single 60 g biscuit. Also check the current label for gluten-free labelling and any other allergens relevant to you.
