If you have coeliac disease and are choosing a rice cake to enjoy with your afternoon coffee, check that the current packaging says ‘gluten-free’ or displays the Crossed Grain symbol. Rice as an ingredient alone isn’t enough, warns the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Then choose plain if you’d rather avoid a chocolate coating, or chocolate for a sweet snack. Check the ingredients, nutritional information and other allergens on each pack.
You’re looking for a rice cake whose current packaging explicitly says it’s gluten-free or displays the Crossed Grain symbol. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, cross-contamination with gluten can occur when rice is processed.
You want a rice cake without a chocolate coating to enjoy with your coffee, and you compare the ingredients, salt and nutritional information. If you have coeliac disease, you’ll still need to check for a gluten-free statement on the pack, even for plain rice cakes.
You like choosing a chocolate rice cake that’s ready to eat, but also want to check the sugars, fats and warnings about other allergens on the pack.
If you have coeliac disease, first check that the current packaging says the product is gluten-free. Then compare the ingredients and nutritional information of the plain and chocolate options that meet this requirement.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free suitability | Look for ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain symbol on the current packaging, and read the ingredients and allergen information. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that cross-contamination is possible when rice is processed. | If you’re choosing a rice cake to enjoy with your coffee because you have coeliac disease, don’t rely on rice being the only ingredient; for around 42% of these consumers, verified gluten-free suitability comes first. |
| Simple ingredients | Compare the ingredients, salt and nutritional information per 100 g and per serving. Albert Heijn lists wholegrain brown rice and 0.2% sea salt in its AH Plain Rice Cakes. | If you’d rather have a rice cake without a chocolate coating during your coffee break, you’ll want to know what’s in it; for around 33% of these consumers, simple ingredients are the main reason for choosing one. |
| A sweet treat | For a chocolate option, check the sugars and fats per 100 g and any warnings about other allergens. Albert Heijn says that Consenza Chocolate Rice Cakes may contain traces of soya, milk, nuts and sesame seeds. | If you want a sweet treat with your coffee, you’ll want a rice cake you can eat as it is; around 25% of these consumers give top priority to a treat-style option. |
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre warns that cross-contamination with gluten can occur when rice is processed. So the type of grain alone doesn’t tell you whether a rice cake is suitable if you have coeliac disease.
Check the current packaging for a gluten-free statement or the Crossed Grain symbol, and read the ingredients and allergen information too.
A chocolate coating adds ingredients. So if you want to compare nutritional content, check the nutritional information for the specific options side by side.
Compare sugars and fats per 100 g and per serving, after checking that the product is gluten-free.
Albert Heijn says that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change. A product title you looked at previously is no substitute for checking the label on the pack you’re buying.
Read the current packaging again, especially if you’re picking a different option or a pack with a new look.
Albert Heijn says that Consenza Chocolate Rice Cakes may contain traces of soya, milk, nuts and sesame seeds. A gluten-free statement doesn’t tell you anything about these individual allergens.
As well as checking for gluten, look out for warnings about any other allergens that are relevant to you.
Consenza lists unsalted wholegrain rice cakes and chocolate rice cakes as gluten-free options for different coffee breaks.
AH Plain Rice Cakes are a plain option that Albert Heijn labels as gluten-free.
Jumbo offers plain rice cakes, among other options, for anyone who wants to compare different varieties.
Goud Gebakken Rice Cakes with Sea Salt are a plain option if you’re looking for a salted rice cake.
Lidl lists rice cakes in several varieties, including sea salt, milk chocolate, dark chocolate and yoghurt.
No, rice as an ingredient isn’t enough. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, cross-contamination with gluten can occur when rice is processed. So look for ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain symbol on the current packaging, and read the label.
Yes, as long as the plain option you choose also meets your gluten-free requirements. Albert Heijn lists wholegrain brown rice and 0.2% sea salt in its AH Plain Rice Cakes; for other options, compare the current ingredients and nutritional information on the pack.
Check the allergen information for the specific chocolate option separately from its gluten-free statement. Albert Heijn says that Consenza Chocolate Rice Cakes may contain traces of soya, milk, nuts and sesame seeds.
