Who is this choice relevant for?

Parents of children with coeliac disease

Looking for a gluten-free snack for after school, they check both the label and how to avoid contact with ordinary bread crumbs when preparing it.

Families dealing with additional food allergies

As well as checking that a product is labelled gluten-free, they need to check for other allergens. For example, the ingredients listed for Damhert Gluten-free Rusks include egg, milk and lupin.

Families looking for a crunchy snack

They want a choice of round rusks, toast-style Zwieback or another gluten-free baked product, depending on what is easy to pack and top.

What should you look for when choosing?

First check that the product is labelled gluten-free and look for any other allergens. Then choose the product shape and think about how to prepare the snack without contact with crumbs from ordinary bread.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Gluten-free labelling and contact with crumbs Look for an explicit gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain trademark. Think about how to avoid crumbs from ordinary bread when preparing the snack. When I prepare rusks for a child with coeliac disease, I want to be sure I have the right product and that it won’t come into contact with ordinary bread crumbs at home. This check comes first for around 26% of consumers.
Other allergens Read the current ingredients and allergen information; the ingredients listed for Damhert Gluten-free Rusks include egg, milk and lupin. If I have an additional allergy, I also need to check that the other ingredients are suitable. This is the most important consideration for around 21% of consumers.
Shape and use Compare round rusks with toast-style Zwieback and decide whether you can pack the topping separately. For an after-school snack, I want a crunchy product my child will enjoy eating and that’s easy to pack. Around 16% of consumers prioritise this convenience.
Finding a suitable alternative Check that the specific product is labelled gluten-free, even if you choose a different baked product instead. If the rusks I’m looking for aren’t suitable, I want to be able to choose another product without mistaking ordinary rusks for gluten-free ones. Finding an alternative like this is the main priority for around 16% of consumers.
Ingredients and iodine Check the ingredients of each product to see whether it contains iodised salt; don’t assume this applies to all rusks. I want to know what ingredients are in this snack, including whether it contains iodised salt. Around 21% of consumers pay the most attention to this ingredients check.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking ordinary rusks for a gluten-free version

    The product name ‘rusk’ on its own says nothing about whether it is gluten-free. Ordinary and explicitly labelled gluten-free products are often sold alongside each other.

    Check the ‘gluten-free’ label or Crossed Grain trademark on the packaging of the product you are actually buying.

  • Assuming gluten-free means free from other allergens

    The ingredients listed for Damhert Gluten-free Rusks include egg, milk and lupin. A gluten-free label does not mean these allergens are absent.

    Check the current ingredients and allergen information when you buy, especially if the packaging or recipe has changed.

  • Checking only the label, not how you prepare the snack

    According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, crumbs can get onto gluten-free food from a shared chopping board or knife.

    Use clean utensils and spreading tools, and pack the gluten-free snack separately from ordinary bread or rusks.

  • Assuming all rusks contain iodised salt

    The ingredients listed for Damhert Gluten-free Rusks include iodised salt. This tells you nothing about the ingredients in other products.

    Check the ingredients on the packaging you choose if iodised salt is relevant to your decision.

Brands to compare

Schär

Schär describes its Zwieback as gluten-free toast. PLUS lists this product in a 175 g pack.

  • Its toast-style shape can be topped with sweet or savoury spreads, as Schär describes the product.
  • Zwieback is not a traditional round rusk; check the current ingredients and allergen information for this product too.

Damhert Nutrition

Damhert Nutrition makes a 125 g gluten-free rusk option, listed by Jumbo as Beschuiten Biscottes.

  • A rusk option for anyone specifically looking for gluten-free rusks.
  • Plein.nl lists egg, milk and lupin in the ingredients; check the current packaging if you have additional allergies.

Products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

When can rusks or toast be labelled ‘gluten-free’?

According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, a product can be called gluten-free if it contains less than 20 mg of gluten per kg of product. The Crossed Grain trademark is another recognisable check on the packaging.

Is avoiding wheat enough if you have coeliac disease?

No. Choose a product with an explicit gluten-free label and also avoid contact with crumbs from ordinary bread. The Dutch Coeliac Society highlights the transfer of crumbs via shared chopping boards and knives, among other things.

Are Damhert Gluten-free Rusks also free from milk and egg?

No. The ingredients information listed by Plein.nl includes egg, milk ingredients and lupin protein concentrate. Check the current packaging if any of these allergens are a concern.

Do gluten-free rusks automatically contain iodised salt?

No, check each product individually. The ingredients listed for Damhert Gluten-free Rusks include iodised salt, but that doesn’t mean other gluten-free rusks contain it too.