Don’t serve someone with coeliac disease a regular kano without checking the label: the AH and Jumbo kanos we looked at contain wheat. For a sweet alternative, look for a product explicitly labelled gluten-free on its current packaging, then choose between a cake-like filled pastry and a biscuit for the drinks table. Keep the gluten-free product separate from anything containing gluten when serving.
You’re buying for someone with coeliac disease or another reason to avoid gluten completely. The label and avoiding contact with foods containing gluten matter more than finding something that looks like a kano.
You’re after something sweet with a cake-like feel, but it doesn’t have to match a kano in shape or filling. An explicitly labelled gluten-free filled pastry is one type of product to consider.
You want to serve biscuits alongside other drinks-party snacks. A kano-like shape matters less, as long as you can present your chosen gluten-free product separately.
First establish whether your guest needs to eat strictly gluten-free. Only then decide whether a filled pastry or a biscuit is a better fit for your drinks party.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free labelling | Check the current packaging for an explicit ‘gluten-free’ label or the Crossed Grain symbol. Also check the ingredients and allergen information. | If I’m buying for a guest with coeliac disease, the gluten-free label needs to be clear before I consider the product’s shape. For around 50% of consumers, this check comes first. |
| A cake-like alternative | Compare the type of product and filling of options explicitly labelled gluten-free; a filled pastry isn’t automatically the same as a kano. | Someone expecting a kano might prefer a separate cake-like treat to a crunchy biscuit. Around 30% of consumers say this similarity is their top priority. |
| Serving on a platter | Consider whether the biscuits can be presented separately, and check the label for other allergens. | For a drinks party with a range of snacks, I want to be able to serve something sweet without trying to replicate a kano. Ease of serving matters most to around 20% of consumers. |
The AH Roomboter kano’s and Jumbo Kano’s met Roomboter we looked at contain wheat. So the product’s shape doesn’t tell you whether it’s suitable for a guest who needs to eat strictly gluten-free.
Check the current packaging of the product you’re buying and look for the explicit ‘gluten-free’ label or the Crossed Grain symbol.
According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, cross-contamination can also affect people with coeliac disease. Crumbs and shared serving utensils are therefore important to consider when setting out food for your drinks party.
Keep the product separate until you’re ready to serve it, and use a clean plate and its own serving utensils.
Albert Heijn warns that ingredient and allergen information can change. A product page you viewed earlier is no substitute for checking the label on the pack you’re actually serving.
Check the packaging again just before you serve the product.
A gluten-free label doesn’t tell you whether a product contains milk, soya or other allergens. For example, Verkade lists milk and soya for Oaties Melkchocolade.
Ask which allergens are relevant to your guests and check the full allergen information for the product you’ve chosen.
Albert Heijn lists a gluten-free filled pastry as a cake-like alternative. The regular AH Roomboter kano’s are a different product.
Jumbo lists both its regular Kano’s met Roomboter and a separate gluten-free cakes category.
Verkade describes Oaties Melkchocolade as gluten-free biscuits. They’re an option if you want a biscuit for a separate drinks platter, but not if you’re looking for a kano filled with almond paste.
Don’t assume they are: AH Roomboter kano’s list wheat and gluten-containing cereals, while Jumbo Kano’s met Roomboter contain wheat flour. If your guest needs to eat strictly gluten-free, always check the current packaging of the specific product.
The term ‘gluten-free’ is subject to specific requirements. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority refers to Regulation (EU) No 828/2014 on this. When buying, check that the current packaging of your chosen product carries the label.
Serve it separately, using a clean plate and its own serving utensils. The Dutch Coeliac Society highlights the risk of cross-contamination for people with coeliac disease, so keep it away from crumbs from regular biscuits or bread.
Yes, if other allergens are relevant to your guest. For example, Verkade lists milk and soya for Oaties Melkchocolade. Check the full allergen information on the packaging of the product you plan to serve.
