Hosting someone with coeliac disease
You’re looking for rusks explicitly labelled gluten-free and want to serve them separately from regular bread and rusks.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Preparing for Christmas dinner
You want to know in advance where a gluten-free rusk option is listed and check whether you can get it from your local shop or delivery area. Albert Heijn and PLUS list Schär Zwieback 175 g; Jumbo says that two other gluten-free rusk options are no longer in its online range.
Checking for other dietary requirements
As well as checking for a gluten-free label, you look at the ingredients, other allergens or whether iodised salt is listed. These features are not automatically guaranteed by the words ‘gluten-free’.
What should you look for when choosing?
First check for a gluten-free label and consider how you’ll serve the rusks. Then check availability and any other labelling details that matter to you.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten and crumbs | Look for ‘gluten-free’ on the current packaging. Use a clean plate and separate spread knives when serving. | If I’m hosting someone with coeliac disease, I want to keep regular bread crumbs away from their rusks. Around 46% of consumers put confidence that a product is gluten-free first. |
| Availability | Check whether your chosen option is available at your local shop or in your delivery area, and note the pack size. | I want to have the rusks at home before Christmas dinner, not find out when I place my order that my choice is unavailable. Around 36% of consumers prioritise current availability. |
| Other ingredients | Read the ingredients and allergen information. Look for iodised salt if iodine is something you need to consider. | If a guest also needs to avoid other ingredients, I don’t want to rely on the words ‘gluten-free’ alone. For around 18% of consumers, other labelling details are the most important factor. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming regular rusks are almost gluten-free
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, rusks often contain gluten. So regular rusks are not an alternative to an explicitly labelled gluten-free option for someone with coeliac disease.
Check the packaging and keep gluten-free rusks, spreads and serving utensils free from crumbs from regular products.
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Relying on an old product listing
On its pages for Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten Beschuit and Damhert Nutrition Glutenvrij Beschuiten Biscottes, Jumbo says these products are no longer in its online range.
Check availability at the shop or in the delivery area you plan to use shortly before buying.
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Overlooking other allergens
A gluten-free label does not, by itself, mean that rusks are also free from milk, egg or other ingredients.
Read the full ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the product you actually buy.
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Assuming a product category tells you whether it contains iodine
According to the Dutch baking industry, the use of iodine-containing baker’s salt is based on an agreement and is not a legal requirement.
If iodine is something you need to consider, check the ingredients list for baker’s salt or iodised salt rather than assuming it is used in rusks.
Brands with relevant rusk listings
Schär
Schär gluten-free Zwieback 175 g is listed at Albert Heijn and PLUS.
- Albert Heijn also describes this Zwieback option as ‘wheat-free’ and ‘lactose-free’.
- Check the current packaging for other ingredients and allergens; these claims do not automatically apply to other Schär products.
Damhert
Jumbo has a product page for Damhert Nutrition Gluten-Free Rusks Biscottes 125 g.
- The listing is for a specific option labelled gluten-free.
- Jumbo says this product is no longer in its online range.
Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten
Jumbo has a product page for Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten Beschuit 120 g.
- The listing clearly identifies the gluten-free rusk option.
- Jumbo says this option is no longer in its online range; check availability before counting on it for Christmas dinner.
Related products on Joybuy
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Are regular rusks suitable for someone with coeliac disease?
Don’t assume regular rusks are suitable: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists rusks as a product that often contains gluten. Choose an option whose current packaging explicitly says ‘gluten-free’, and prevent contact with crumbs from regular bread when serving.
What does ‘gluten-free’ on packaging mean?
Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, a food product for the final consumer can be labelled ‘gluten-free’ if it contains no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg. Check the label on the packaging of the rusks you buy.
How should I serve gluten-free rusks alongside regular bread?
Set the gluten-free rusks aside and use a clean plate, a clean knife and separate spreads. This helps prevent contact with crumbs when regular bread or rusks are also on the table.
Do Dutch rusks always contain iodine from baker’s salt?
No, you can’t tell from where they’re made or from the product category. According to the Dutch baking industry, using iodine-containing baker’s salt is not a legal requirement, but is covered by an agreement. Check the ingredients list if iodised salt is important to you.