Who is this relevant to?

An office worker with coeliac disease

Needs rice cakes with a clear gluten-free label that won’t end up among biscuits containing gluten or crumbs. The Dutch Coeliac Association also highlights the risk of cross-contamination at work.

A colleague who manages the office supplies

Wants to store the rice cakes separately and make them easy to identify, so the person eating them can check the packaging and label.

A buyer looking to offer a choice of flavours

Can choose, for example, an unsalted, salted or sweet variety, but should check the gluten-free label and relevant allergen information on each individual pack.

What should you look for?

Start by checking the gluten-free label on the packaging and how the rice cakes will be stored and served. Then compare the different options for your office supplies.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Gluten-free label Check the current packaging for the words ‘gluten-free’ and read the ingredients and allergen information. If I have coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely on rice being an ingredient. For around 50% of consumers, this check is their top priority.
Separate storage and serving Keep the packaging sealed and away from ordinary biscuits; when serving, use clean hands and clean, separate utensils. When I manage the office supplies, I want to stop crumbs from the shared biscuit tin getting onto the rice cakes. Around 30% of consumers give separate serving the highest priority.
Variety for the office supplies Once you’ve checked that it’s gluten-free, compare the flavour, salt, sugars and any other allergens for each variety. I want to offer colleagues a suitable choice without assuming that a sweet coating is right for everyone. Around 20% of consumers put choosing a variety first.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming all rice cakes are gluten-free

    Rice being the main ingredient is not the same as the finished product carrying a gluten-free label. For someone with coeliac disease, that distinction is crucial when choosing a product.

    Check the gluten-free label and the ingredients and allergen information every time you buy a new pack.

  • Putting gluten-free rice cakes loose next to ordinary biscuits

    The Dutch Coeliac Association says cross-contamination can also happen at work. Crumbs or shared serving utensils could come into contact with a product you bought separately.

    Keep the rice cakes sealed in a separate place, and serve them using clean hands and clean, separate utensils.

  • Assuming gluten-free means suitable for every allergy

    Gluten-free rice cakes may contain other allergens or carry a warning about possible traces. For example, PLUS lists possible traces of soya, milk, nuts and sesame seeds for the Consenza chocolate variety.

    If you have another allergy, also read the relevant allergen information on the current packaging. Don’t judge a variety by its gluten-free label alone.

Brands and retailers to consider

Consenza

Offers, among other products, an unsalted wholegrain rice cake and a chocolate-coated rice cake, both with product-specific gluten-free labels.

  • Albert Heijn lists the unsalted variety as gluten-free; PLUS lists the chocolate variety as gluten-free.
  • Check the packaging of your chosen product separately: according to PLUS, the chocolate variety also carries warnings about possible traces of other allergens.

ALDI / Goud Gebakken

ALDI describes its Goud Gebakken rice cakes with sea salt, 130 g, as gluten-free.

  • ALDI lists 17 rice cakes per pack for this particular variety.
  • The gluten-free label for the sea salt variety says nothing about other rice cakes from the same brand.

Albert Heijn

Provides product-specific information on items including Consenza unsalted wholegrain rice cakes.

  • The product information lists the unsalted Consenza variety as gluten-free.
  • A gluten-free range doesn’t automatically make every rice cake suitable; check the current packaging for the variety you’ve chosen.

Jumbo

Stocks several types of rice cakes and provides separate information for Consenza’s unsalted wholegrain variety.

  • Jumbo lists that Consenza variety as gluten-free.
  • Don’t assume information about one variety applies to the entire rice cake range.

PLUS

Provides product information for Consenza GV Rijstwafels choco vegan bio, 100 g.

  • PLUS lists the chocolate variety as gluten-free, with less than 20 ppm gluten.
  • The same product information warns of possible traces of soya, milk, nuts and sesame seeds.

Related Joybuy products

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are ordinary rice cakes automatically suitable for someone with coeliac disease?

No. Rice as an ingredient alone is not enough. Choose rice cakes with an explicit gluten-free label on the current packaging, and check the ingredients and allergen information too.

Can gluten-free rice cakes go in the same office biscuit tin as ordinary biscuits?

Not if they’re intended as a gluten-free option for someone with coeliac disease. The Dutch Coeliac Association says cross-contamination can also happen at work, so keep the rice cakes sealed and separate, and use clean serving utensils.

Does a gluten-free label mean a chocolate rice cake is free from other allergens?

No. PLUS lists the Consenza chocolate variety as gluten-free, but also warns of possible traces of soya, milk, nuts and sesame seeds. If a colleague has other allergies, check the relevant information on the current packaging.