If you have coeliac disease, your choice doesn’t start with plain or chocolate, but with a current pack labelled ‘gluten-free’. Then choose an unsalted rice cake if you want to add your own gluten-free topping, or a chocolate-coated one if you’re looking for a ready-made sweet snack. For the latter, check the allergen and nutritional information too. Serve the rice cakes separately from ordinary cake to avoid contact with crumbs containing gluten.
You’re looking for something crunchy to enjoy with your coffee while ordinary cake is also being served. Check the gluten-free label, ingredients and allergen information on the current pack, and keep the food separate when serving.
You want an unsalted rice cake so you can choose your own gluten-free topping, rather than a coated rice cake.
You’re looking for a chocolate rice cake that doesn’t need a separate topping. For this type, it’s also important to check the coating’s ingredients, the allergen declaration and the nutritional information.
If you have coeliac disease, first check the current gluten-free label, then choose between a plain option and a sweet one.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free label | Check for ‘gluten-free’ on the current pack and read the ingredients and allergen information. | If I have coeliac disease, I want to be able to serve the rice cake alongside ordinary cake without relying on the product name alone. Around 50% of consumers prioritise this reassurance that the product is gluten-free. |
| Plain option | Check whether the variety is unsalted or plain, and check the gluten-free label separately. | I want to choose my own gluten-free topping to enjoy with coffee, without a chocolate coating on the rice cake. A plain option is the first choice for around 30% of consumers. |
| Sweet option | Read the allergen declaration and compare the nutritional information per 100 g for the specific varieties. | When I don’t want to prepare a topping, I’m looking for a ready-made sweet rice cake to have with coffee. This is the priority for around 20% of consumers. |
The name ‘rice cake’ doesn’t tell you whether the current pack carries a gluten-free label. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, the term ‘gluten-free’ may be used for products containing no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg.
If you have coeliac disease, check the label, ingredients and allergen information on the pack you actually receive.
A coating changes the ingredients and nutritional value. The Consenza chocolate variety listed by PLUS may contain traces of soya, milk, nuts and sesame. This information isn’t interchangeable with that for the unsalted variety.
Choose the type of product you want first, then compare the allergens and nutritional information on the pack for each variety.
Crumbs containing gluten or shared serving utensils can come into contact with gluten-free rice cakes. The Dutch Coeliac Society advises that cross-contamination must be avoided if you have coeliac disease.
Use clean hands and separate utensils, and set the gluten-free rice cakes apart on the table.
Consenza offers both an unsalted wholegrain rice cake and a chocolate rice cake, each described as gluten-free on the relevant PLUS product pages.
ALDI lists Goud Gebakken rice cakes with sea salt as gluten-free and vegan.
In January 2026, Albert Heijn announced an expansion of its gluten-free range and VrijVan section.
Jumbo lists the 100 g Consenza Gluten Free Wholegrain Unsalted Rice Cake as gluten-free and free from wheat starch.
Lidl includes rice cakes in the Sondey range of biscuits and snacks.
No, the product name alone isn’t enough. Choose a current pack labelled ‘gluten-free’ and read the ingredients and allergen information too.
Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, products labelled ‘gluten-free’ must contain no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg. Check that the pack for your chosen variety carries the label.
Keep the rice cakes separate from the cake and use clean, separate serving utensils. The Dutch Coeliac Society advises avoiding cross-contamination with gluten, so watch out for crumbs and shared toppings too.
The coating changes the ingredients, potential allergens and nutritional value. For the Consenza chocolate variety reviewed, PLUS lists 24 g of sugars and 18 g of fat per 100 g, compared with 0.9 g of sugars and 2.9 g of fat per 100 g for the unsalted variety reviewed. These values apply to those specific products, not all rice cakes.
