For coffee on the go, first choose rusks clearly labelled gluten-free, then check the chocolate sprinkles separately: a list of ingredients with no obvious wheat ingredient does not, by itself, confirm that the sprinkles are gluten-free. If you have coeliac disease, preparation matters too; the Dutch Coeliac Society warns that gluten-containing crumbs can be transferred via packaging, cutlery and shared products.
Wants to check that the rusks and chocolate sprinkles are both gluten-free before setting off, and avoid getting gluten-containing crumbs on them when spreading. The Dutch Coeliac Society also warns about cross-contamination from previously opened packaging.
Is looking for a combination to enjoy with coffee on the go, but doesn’t want to assume that ordinary chocolate sprinkles are gluten-free just because of the product category. The current label on both items is what matters.
Checks for sugar, milk or lactose as well as gluten. Each requires a separate label check: gluten-free says nothing about other nutritional information or allergens.
Assess the rusks and chocolate sprinkles as two separate products. Then think about where you’ll prepare them and what other information on the label matters to you.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to most |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free status and cross-contamination | Check the gluten-free labelling and relevant warnings on both packs, and plan to prepare them on a clean surface. | If I have coeliac disease, I want both items to be suitable and to avoid getting gluten-containing crumbs on them when spreading. This check comes first for around 50% of consumers. |
| Taking them with you and preparation | Check the packaging and storage instructions, and whether you can take the rusks and chocolate sprinkles separately. | For coffee on the go, I want to be able to grab breakfast quickly without having to put it together in a shared coffee area. Around 30% of consumers give this convenience top priority. |
| Other dietary requirements | As well as the gluten information, read the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information for sugars and any other components relevant to you. | If I’m also keeping an eye on milk, lactose or sugars, I need to know whether the combination I’ve chosen meets those requirements. This additional check is the most important extra consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
If you have coeliac disease, the rusks need to be suitable too. Albert Heijn explicitly states that Schär Zwieback is gluten- and wheat-free; that label tells you nothing about the chocolate sprinkles you put on top.
Check the current packaging of both products separately before combining them.
According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, gluten-containing crumbs can be transferred via items such as a chopping board, knife or shared butter.
Use a clean surface and clean cutlery, avoid shared butter, and keep the two items separate when taking them with you.
Information about sugars answers a different question from a gluten-free label. You’ll also need to check milk and other allergens separately.
Read the full, current label if you want to check ingredients or nutritional values in addition to gluten.
A reference to iodised baker’s salt doesn’t tell you whether the rusks are gluten-free. What’s more, a 2008 agreement on baker’s salt published in the Government Gazette doesn’t confirm the recipe of any individual product.
Check the product packaging in question for gluten-free status; check the ingredients separately if you want to know what salt has been used.
Schär Zwieback is an alternative to rusks for anyone looking for a clear gluten-free label.
De Rit is an option if you’re specifically looking for chocolate sprinkles sold as gluten-free.
Albert Heijn provides product information for Schär Zwieback and promotes a gluten-free range.
Jumbo has an online category for gluten-free products and also lists individual chocolate sprinkle products.
Venz is a brand of chocolate sprinkles available from a supermarket.
Not automatically: the absence of an obvious wheat ingredient doesn’t, by itself, confirm that a product is labelled gluten-free. If you have coeliac disease, check the current packaging, including any relevant warnings; the Jumbo product pages for Venz Puur and De Ruijter Puur don’t state that they are gluten-free.
Use a clean, crumb-free surface and clean cutlery, and pack the rusks and chocolate sprinkles separately. Avoid shared butter that may have crumbs in it; the Dutch Coeliac Society also recommends checking previously opened packaging.
Don’t assume Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten Beschuit is available: Jumbo’s product page states that it is no longer part of its online range. Check what’s currently available at your local shop or for your delivery area, and check the packaging of any alternative.
No, information about the salt used is not proof that rusks are gluten-free. An agreement published in the Government Gazette in 2008 describes the use of iodised baker’s salt in bread and bread substitutes, but doesn’t confirm what’s in your specific pack. Check the ingredients for information about the salt and the separate gluten-free label to check for gluten.
