For guests with coeliac disease, choose rice cakes with a current ‘gluten-free’ claim, rather than relying on rice as an ingredient alone. Under EU Implementing Regulation 828/2014, a product carrying this claim can contain no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg. Keep the rice cakes separate from snacks containing gluten when serving them, and make information about other allergens available too.
You need a product that is explicitly labelled gluten-free, as well as a serving arrangement that keeps it away from snacks containing gluten. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, even a stray breadcrumb can cause symptoms for someone with coeliac disease.
You want to serve rice cakes quickly and give guests clear allergen information before they eat. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that food and drink providers must inform customers about allergens, including for unpackaged products.
You may want to offer a flavoured option alongside plain rice cakes. If so, check the ingredients, warnings about other allergens and pack size for each product, as these can vary between options.
First check that the product you choose carries a gluten-free claim, then arrange separate serving and provide clear allergen information. After that, compare pack sizes and flavours for the planned break.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Verified gluten-free status | Check the current ‘gluten-free’ claim on the packaging or product specification, then compare it with the product you receive. | If I’m ordering rice cakes for guests with coeliac disease, I want to be able to verify that the finished product is gluten-free. This would be the main purchasing concern for around 40% of consumers. |
| Serving and allergens | Check whether individual portions or separate serving utensils are suitable for the break, and make sure allergen information is available for each product. | At a self-service break, I want to prevent guests from confusing a rice cake with a snack containing gluten or missing the allergen information. This would be the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Packaging and availability | Compare the number of usable portions in each pack and confirm availability at the chosen branch or in the delivery area. | When I’m ordering for a group, the pack size needs to suit the planned number of portions, and it must be available in time. Around 20% of consumers would put this practical consideration first. |
| Flavour and other requirements | Read the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ warnings for each plain or chocolate option. | I want to offer guests some variety, but I shouldn’t assume that a gluten-free chocolate option is also suitable for people with other allergies. This would be the main consideration for around 10% of consumers. |
The fact that rice is an ingredient doesn’t, by itself, tell you whether the finished rice cake is gluten-free. This distinction matters to guests with coeliac disease.
Before serving, check the current packaging or product specification for an explicit gluten-free claim.
A gluten-free rice cake may contain other allergens. PLUS lists possible traces of soya, milk, nuts and sesame for Consenza choco; Haust says that Dark Choco may contain milk.
Share allergen information for each product and keep options with different warnings clearly separated.
Contact with breadcrumbs or other food containing gluten can make a carefully chosen gluten-free option unsuitable for guests with coeliac disease.
Use a separate platter or individually wrapped portions, along with clean, separate serving utensils. Add a clear product label.
A product may be listed without being available at your chosen location. At the selected PLUS branch, the unsalted Consenza option was unavailable at the time of checking.
Confirm availability at the relevant branch or in the delivery area before finalising the menu, and check the packaging again when it arrives.
Albert Heijn lists its 130 g AH plain rice cakes as gluten-free, vegan and lactose-free.
For both Consenza unsalted rice cakes and the chocolate option, PLUS states ‘gluten-free <20 ppm’.
Jumbo’s rice and corn cake category includes plain rice cakes and rice cakes with a chocolate coating.
PLUS has product pages for the two Consenza options mentioned, with ingredient and allergen information.
Haust describes its Rijstwafel Dark Choco as gluten-free and packed in four portions of two.
No. Rice as an ingredient doesn’t confirm that the finished rice cake is gluten-free. Check that the product you choose carries a current ‘gluten-free’ claim. Under EU Implementing Regulation 828/2014, a product carrying this claim can contain no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg.
Yes. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that food and drink providers must inform customers about allergens, including for unpackaged food. This can be done in writing, for example on a label or menu. If the information is provided verbally, it must be clearly stated that guests can ask for it.
Place them apart from bread, crackers and other snacks containing gluten, and use clean, separate serving utensils or individually wrapped portions. Add a clearly identifiable product label so guests can find the rice cakes and their allergen information.
Yes, if the option you choose is explicitly labelled gluten-free and is kept separate from food containing gluten when served. Check for other allergens too: PLUS lists possible traces of soya, milk, nuts and sesame for Consenza choco, while Haust says that Dark Choco may contain milk.
First decide how many guests you want to offer a gluten-free option to, and how many portions you plan to provide per guest. Compare this with the portion and pack information for your chosen product, taking any other snacks at the break into account.
