If coeliac disease is your main consideration, choose rusks explicitly labelled ‘gluten-free’ and check the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging. Schär Zwieback is one rusk option; if rusks regularly replace bread, compare the nutritional information too. If gluten-free rusks aren’t available, clearly labelled gluten-free crackers or crispbread can offer another crunchy snack option.
When choosing an autumn half-term snack, they first look for a product clearly labelled gluten-free, then check the current label. The Dutch Coeliac Society also advises checking for a gluten-free logo or claim on products that appear to be naturally gluten-free.
If you’re looking for a crunchy snack to enjoy on several occasions, you could also consider gluten-free crackers or crispbread if your preferred rusks aren’t available. Check the label and allergen information again for each alternative.
As well as checking the gluten-free label, they compare the fibre and salt content. Iodine also deserves separate attention: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread doesn’t have to be made with iodised baker’s salt.
For a snack when you have coeliac disease, first check the gluten-free label and the current packaging. Then see which snack options are available and whether the nutritional information suits how you plan to use them.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free label and packaging | Look for the ‘gluten-free’ label and read the current ingredients and allergen information. Under EU Regulation 828/2014, products using this label must contain no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. | If I’m taking rusks for someone with coeliac disease, I want to be able to check the packaging rather than rely on the ingredients. For around 42% of consumers, this reassurance comes first. |
| Availability and snack options | Check whether your preferred rusks are available to order. If not, consider crackers or crispbread with their own gluten-free label. | When planning several snacks for the autumn half-term, I don’t want to be searching for an alternative at the last minute. For around 33% of consumers, finding an available crunchy snack option matters most. |
| Fibre, salt and iodine | Compare fibre and salt per 100 g. If you regularly replace bread, also consider your sources of iodine separately as part of your diet. | If rusks often replace bread, I want to look beyond the gluten-free label. For around 25% of consumers, nutritional information and overall iodine intake are the main considerations. |
According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, even ingredients that are naturally gluten-free can come into contact with gluten. So checking only what you think the product contains is no substitute for looking at its label.
If you have coeliac disease, choose a product with a clear gluten-free label and read the current packaging.
Jumbo says that its Lekker Vrij van Gluten rusks and Damhert Nutrition rusks are no longer part of its online range. So just because you can find a product page doesn’t mean you can order the item.
Before you shop, check that your preferred rusks are actually available to order, and keep a gluten-free snack alternative in mind if needed.
Albert Heijn lists Schär Zwieback as containing 8.1 g of fibre and 1.8 g of salt per 100 g. These figures alone don’t show how rusks compare with bread as part of your overall diet. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also says that bread doesn’t have to be made with iodised baker’s salt.
Compare the nutritional information for the specific products, and consider iodine separately if you regularly replace bread.
Albert Heijn lists Schär Zwieback as gluten-free rusks in a 175 g pack.
Damhert Nutrition has a product listing for 125 g packs of gluten-free rusks or biscotti.
Jumbo has a product listing for 120 g packs of Lekker Vrij van Gluten rusks.
These lentil wafers are labelled gluten-free and offer a crunchy alternative if you’re looking for an autumn half-term snack. They aren’t rusks, so consider whether this different kind of snack suits your plans.
Image unavailable
A crunchy snack option if you don’t need rusks; the product description labels these lentil wafers gluten-free.
The pack contains 54 g, and the product description mentions rosemary and 83% lentil flour. Check the ingredients and allergens on the current packaging, including the listed milk and soya. Only compare nutritional values once you’re clear about the quantity they refer to.
Don’t choose regular rusks unless the specific packaging labels them gluten-free. Under EU Regulation 828/2014, a product labelled ‘gluten-free’ can contain no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten; a crunchy texture or a fibre claim tells you nothing about this.
Check the gluten-free label, ingredients list and allergen information on the pack you’re buying. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens must be clearly identifiable in the ingredients list. If the product variety or packaging has changed, don’t assume the label is the same as one you’ve read before.
No. The ‘gluten-free’ label says nothing about the amount of iodine. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that bread doesn’t have to be made with iodised baker’s salt. If you regularly replace bread, consider the sources of iodine in your overall diet.
Crackers or crispbread labelled gluten-free can offer another crunchy snack option. Check the chosen product’s current availability, ingredients, allergens and nutritional information; an alternative doesn’t have to be the same as rusks.
