For a canteen lunch for someone with coeliac disease, choose rusks labelled ‘gluten-free’ or bearing the Crossed Grain symbol, rather than ordinary rusks. Albert Heijn and PLUS list Schär Zwieback as gluten-free rusks; check the packaging and any other allergens when you buy it. Store and serve the product separately from ordinary bread, using clean cutlery and spreads that have not come into contact with bread crumbs.
You need a gluten-free lunch and cannot use ordinary rusks as a back-up. Check the label on the packaging and prevent contact with crumbs from ordinary bread. The Dutch Nutrition Centre points out that even a small amount of gluten can cause symptoms in people with coeliac disease.
You are responsible not only for buying the food, but also for storing, preparing and serving it. The Dutch Coeliac Society recommends preparing gluten-free foods separately; clean cutlery and spreads that have not come into contact with bread crumbs are part of this approach.
You want to know whether your chosen rusks can be ordered in time for the planned lunch. If you opt for gluten-free crackers instead, check the label again and make it clear that you are not serving rusks.
Start by checking the gluten-free label on the packaging. Then consider whether the canteen can store and serve the product without it coming into contact with ordinary bread.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free suitability | Look for ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging, and check the allergens in the chosen product. According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, ‘gluten-free’ means the product contains less than 20 mg of gluten per kg. | If the lunch is for someone with coeliac disease, I want to be able to check the gluten-free label on the packaging I buy; around 42% of consumers put this suitability first. |
| Preparation and serving | Arrange a clean preparation area, clean cutlery and spreads that have not come into contact with ordinary bread products. | In a canteen that also serves ordinary sandwiches, I want to prevent crumbs getting into my lunch via a knife or shared spreads. Around 33% of consumers prioritise safe serving. |
| Availability and product type | Check that the chosen product can be ordered. If you are considering an alternative, check whether it is actually a rusk or a cracker, and check separately for any other relevant allergens. | When buying for a canteen lunch, I want to choose an available product without mistaking a cracker for a rusk; around 25% of consumers put this practical consideration first. |
A crisp texture tells you nothing about gluten. Bolletje lists wheat and rye among the ingredients in its Echte Beschuit, for example.
For a lunch for someone with coeliac disease, choose a product labelled ‘gluten-free’ or one bearing the Crossed Grain symbol.
A gluten-free product can still come into contact with bread crumbs via a worktop, knife or shared spreads. The Dutch Coeliac Society therefore recommends preparing it separately.
Keep the product wrapped and separate, use a clean area and clean cutlery, and choose spreads that have not been used with ordinary bread.
Jumbo lists egg and milk in Damhert Glutenvrije beschuit; according to Jumbo’s product information, Schär Fette Croccanti may contain soya.
If you have other allergies, check the full allergen information on the current packaging of the exact product you are serving.
A product page may remain visible even when online ordering is no longer possible. On the pages for Damhert Glutenvrije beschuit and Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten Beschuit, Jumbo states that the products are no longer available.
Confirm that the product can be ordered before planning the lunch. An explicitly labelled gluten-free cracker can be an alternative if rusks are not essential, but check its label too.
Albert Heijn and PLUS product pages list Schär Zwieback as gluten-free rusks. According to Jumbo, Schär Fette Croccanti is a gluten-free cracker, so it is a different type of product.
Damhert Glutenvrije beschuit is a specifically named 125 g rusk product listed on Jumbo’s product page.
Bolletje Echte Beschuit is an ordinary rusk, not a gluten-free option for a colleague with coeliac disease.
No. Bolletje lists wheat and rye in Echte Beschuit. For this lunch, choose rusks labelled ‘gluten-free’ or bearing the Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging.
Prepare and store the gluten-free rusks separately, and use a clean work surface, clean cutlery and spreads that have not come into contact with ordinary bread. The Dutch Coeliac Society recommends preparing gluten-free foods separately.
Albert Heijn and PLUS describe Schär Zwieback as lactose-free in their product information. Check the packaging of the product you buy; this claim does not automatically apply to other Schär products.
No, gluten-free says nothing about those other allergens. Jumbo lists egg and milk in Damhert Glutenvrije beschuit and warns that Schär Fette Croccanti may contain soya; always check the current packaging.
No. You cannot tell from the ‘gluten-free’ label what type of salt has been used or whether the product contains iodine. If this matters when buying, check the ingredient information or ask the manufacturer of the rusks you have chosen.
