Who is this choice relevant to?

Parents whose baby needs to avoid gluten for medical reasons

If a healthcare professional has advised that your baby needs to avoid gluten, check the latest labelling and allergen information for both the rusks and any topping.

Parents starting baby-led weaning

You want to know whether your baby is ready for larger, dry pieces. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says babies should be able to sit upright and swallow and chew well before being offered larger pieces.

Parents weighing up sweet toppings

You’re considering chocolate sprinkles, but also want to check the sugar in the topping and the salt in the rusks. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says toppings aren’t needed for a baby’s first tastes.

What should you look for when choosing?

Before deciding whether chocolate sprinkles are a suitable topping, consider your baby’s eating skills and, where medically necessary, whether the food is gluten-free.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Gluten-free suitability If your baby needs to avoid gluten for medical reasons, look for a clear gluten-free statement on the current packaging. Also check the allergen and cross-contamination information for both the rusks and the topping. If my baby needs to avoid gluten for medical reasons, I don’t want to rely on an ingredients list that simply doesn’t show wheat. Around 40% of consumers would consider this gluten-free requirement their main concern when buying.
Eating skills and texture Before offering larger pieces, check whether your baby can sit upright and swallow and chew well. Bear in mind that rusks have a dry, crumbly texture. Before offering larger bites, I want to know whether my child can manage the texture. Around 40% of consumers would see eating skills as their main consideration.
Toppings and nutritional information First decide whether a topping is needed. Then compare the stated sugar content of the chocolate sprinkles and the salt content of the rusks, taking the portion you’re offering into account. I don’t want to add chocolate sprinkles automatically, so I check the nutritional information for both products. Around 20% of consumers would put this consideration about sweet toppings first.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a product is gluten-free just because it contains no visible wheat

    An ingredients list that doesn’t show wheat isn’t the same as a gluten-free statement. This distinction matters when gluten needs to be avoided for medical reasons.

    Check the current packaging for a gluten-free statement, and read the allergen and cross-contamination information too.

  • Confusing gluten-free with suitable for larger bites

    A gluten-free statement tells you nothing about the dry, crumbly texture of rusks. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, babies should be able to sit upright and swallow and chew well before being offered larger pieces.

    Let your baby’s eating skills guide you on whether larger pieces are suitable, and stay with your baby while they eat.

  • Thinking chocolate sprinkles are an essential topping

    The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says toppings aren’t needed for a baby’s first tastes. Albert Heijn lists 64 g of sugars per 100 g for De Ruijter Chocoladehagel Puur.

    First decide whether you want to add a topping, then read the nutritional information for the variety you’ve chosen.

  • Relying on an old product listing

    A previously described variety isn’t necessarily the same as the product you’re buying now. Jumbo says the Damhert and Jumbo rusk varieties described are no longer part of its online range.

    For any product that’s available, check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information on the packaging again.

Brands to consider

Schär

A rusk variety explicitly labelled gluten-free and wheat-free.

  • Albert Heijn describes Schär Zwieback as gluten-free and wheat-free.
  • Albert Heijn lists 1.8 g of salt per 100 g for this variety. So remember to factor in the nutritional information when choosing food for your baby.

Damhert

A brand with a gluten-free rusk variety described by Jumbo.

  • The variety described by Jumbo is labelled as gluten-free rusks.
  • Jumbo lists egg and milk as allergens, 27.4 g of sugars and 1.0 g of salt per 100 g for this variety. Check the current packaging and availability.

De Ruijter

A brand of chocolate sprinkles to consider when choosing a topping, not when choosing rusks.

  • Albert Heijn lists 64 g of sugars per 100 g for De Ruijter Chocoladehagel Puur.
  • According to Albert Heijn, De Ruijter Hagelfeest contains wheat and cereals containing gluten. If gluten needs to be avoided, assess each variety separately.

Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten

A supermarket own-brand range that previously included a 120 g gluten-free rusk variety.

  • Jumbo described a variety called Lekker Vrij van Gluten Beschuit.
  • Jumbo lists this variety as no longer available in its online range. When buying, rely on the information on the current packaging.

Related products at Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

When can rusks be labelled gluten-free?

Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, the term ‘gluten-free’ may be used if the food contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten when sold to the final consumer. If your baby needs to avoid gluten for medical reasons, check the statement on the rusk packaging and assess any topping separately.

Are gluten-free rusks with chocolate sprinkles automatically suitable for baby-led weaning?

No. A gluten-free statement tells you nothing about your baby’s eating skills or the texture of rusks. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, babies should be able to sit upright and swallow and chew well before being offered larger pieces.

Does a baby need chocolate sprinkles on rusks?

No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says toppings aren’t needed for a baby’s first tastes. If you do want to use chocolate sprinkles later on, read the nutritional information for the variety you’ve chosen rather than assuming all chocolate sprinkles have the same ingredients.

Is every chocolate sprinkle variety from the same brand suitable if gluten needs to be avoided?

No. Check the current packaging for each variety. Albert Heijn lists wheat and cereals containing gluten for De Ruijter Hagelfeest; information about another De Ruijter variety doesn’t mean Hagelfeest is suitable if gluten needs to be avoided.