If a child has coeliac disease, choose rusks whose current packaging explicitly says ‘gluten-free’; ordinary rusks are not a suitable substitute. Check for other allergens too, and agree with the child’s parents and the childcare setting how the lunch will be stored, prepared and served separately. If gluten-free rusks aren’t available, another explicitly gluten-free lunch product may be suitable, provided the label and preparation arrangements are right too.
They need to choose a gluten-free product and make sure it doesn’t come into contact with crumbs or shared spreaders at lunchtime. The Dutch Coeliac Association advises speaking to parents in advance when the childcare setting is arranging a meal.
For them, checking the label for ‘gluten-free’ is only the start. According to Jumbo, Damhert Nutrition Glutenvrij Beschuiten Biscottes lists egg and milk as allergens; Albert Heijn and PLUS describe Schär Zwieback as lactose-free. The packaging of the product you choose is what matters.
They need a product that’s available when they shop, as well as an agreed alternative. Albert Heijn and PLUS list Schär Zwieback online; the Jumbo product pages reviewed say that the Damhert and Jumbo rusks mentioned are no longer part of their online range.
Start with the child’s dietary needs and the childcare setting’s procedures. Then check for other allergens and consider how easy it is to find rusks or a practical lunch alternative.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it’s most relevant to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten and cross-contact | Look for the ‘gluten-free’ wording on the current packaging, and agree that the product will be stored separately and spread with clean utensils. | If a child with coeliac disease is eating with us, I want to prevent gluten from getting onto their plate through the product or shared kitchen utensils. For around 50% of consumers, this gluten-free approach comes first. |
| Other allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack you’re buying, even if it says ‘gluten-free’. | If a child also needs to avoid egg or milk, I don’t want to rely on the gluten-free label alone. Around 30% of consumers prioritise checking for other allergens. |
| Availability and alternatives | Check stock at your chosen shop or delivery service, and agree on a suitable gluten-free alternative in advance. | If I need to arrange the same nursery lunch regularly, I want to know in good time what I can send in if the rusks I’ve chosen aren’t available. Having an available product and a back-up plan comes first for around 20% of consumers. |
The Dutch Coeliac Association lists rusks as a product that contains gluten. Ordinary rusks are therefore not a suitable substitute for a gluten-free lunch option for a child with coeliac disease.
Check that the packaging explicitly says gluten-free, and keep the product you choose separate from ordinary rusks and crumbs.
A gluten-free product can still contain other allergens. For example, Jumbo lists egg and milk in Damhert Nutrition Glutenvrij Beschuiten Biscottes.
Agree with the parents which allergens matter for the child, and read the full ingredients and allergen information every time you buy a new pack.
Jumbo still has pages for Damhert and Jumbo Lekker Vrij rusks, but says these products are no longer part of its online range.
Check stock just before you shop, and agree on another explicitly gluten-free lunch product in case the rusks aren’t available.
Baker’s salt is iodised salt that may be used when making bakery products. This doesn’t tell you how much iodine a particular gluten-free rusk contains.
Check the product information or ask the manufacturer about the specific product if its iodine content matters to your choice.
Schär Zwieback 175 g is a rusk-style option that Albert Heijn and PLUS describe as gluten-free.
Damhert Nutrition Glutenvrij Beschuiten Biscottes 125 g is a gluten-free rusk product to consider if you find it in a local shop.
Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten Beschuit 120 g is a supermarket own-brand product to consider only if it’s actually available.
These mini baguettes are a different kind of lunch product from rusks. Consider them for nursery only if the current packaging fits the child’s dietary requirements and there’s time to bake them as part of the lunch routine.
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As an alternative to rusks, these mini baguettes need to be checked separately for a gluten-free claim and allergen information on the current packaging. The product name states that the pack contains seven pieces; baking them takes preparation and requires arrangements with the childcare setting. If there are other allergies, check the information on soya, lupin and mustard specifically.
No, ordinary rusks are not a suitable substitute for a gluten-free option. The Dutch Coeliac Association lists rusks as a product that contains gluten. Choose a product with an explicit gluten-free claim and prevent it from coming into contact with ordinary rusks during preparation.
Yes, agree in advance which product the child will have and how the childcare setting will store, prepare and serve it. The Dutch Coeliac Association advises speaking to parents when the childcare setting is arranging a meal for a child with coeliac disease.
No. Check for egg, milk and any other relevant allergens separately on the current packaging. Jumbo lists egg and milk in Damhert Nutrition Glutenvrij Beschuiten Biscottes; a gluten-free claim on its own says nothing about these allergens.
No, a ‘gluten-free’ claim doesn’t tell you the iodine content. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre notes that baker’s salt can be a source of added iodine, but you’ll need to check the product information or ask the manufacturer about a specific rusk.
