If you have coeliac disease, choose rusks or a direct alternative whose current packaging explicitly says ‘gluten-free’. For your weekly shop, you can look specifically for gluten-free rusks from Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten, Damhert and Schär. Check the label on each product, and choose a gluten-free alternative in advance in case your first choice is unavailable. If rusks regularly replace bread, compare the nutritional information too.
You’re looking for rusks for breakfast or lunch that fit a gluten-free diet. According to the Voedingscentrum, it’s important to read the label every time you buy a product: shopping at a familiar shop or choosing a familiar type of product doesn’t replace that check.
You want to make a suitable choice in one shop and avoid being left without a breakfast or lunch option if your usual rusks are unavailable. A gluten-free cracker you’ve chosen in advance could be an alternative, although it isn’t the same product as rusks.
You regularly eat gluten-free rusks or other bread alternatives and want to compare their nutritional information too. Check the fibre and ingredients; for iodine, it’s important to know whether products are made with iodised salt and what else you eat.
If you have coeliac disease, start by checking for a gluten-free statement on the current packaging. Then choose a product type and a back-up option for the week. Comparing nutritional information is particularly important if rusks often replace bread.
| What to check | Check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free suitability | Check the current ‘gluten-free’ statement, ingredients and allergen information on the packaging. | If I have coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely on the name ‘rusks’ or on a previous purchase. For around 50% of these consumers, gluten-free suitability comes first. |
| Stock for the week | Check the exact product listing with your shop and choose a clearly labelled gluten-free alternative in advance. | If my usual rusks are unavailable, I want to be able to choose a suitable alternative for breakfast or lunch. Around 30% of consumers prioritise having that peace of mind when doing their weekly shop. |
| Replacing bread | Compare the nutritional information, including fibre, and check the ingredients for iodised salt. | If you regularly replace bread with rusks, you’ll want to know how that choice fits into your overall diet. For around 20% of consumers, this nutritional consideration is the top priority. |
The type of grain or the word ‘wholemeal’ doesn’t mean that rusks are gluten-free. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, a product sold to the final consumer can be labelled ‘gluten-free’ if it contains no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg.
If you have coeliac disease, first check for a gluten-free statement on the current packaging, then read the ingredients and allergen information.
A shop with a gluten-free range may not have the rusks you’re looking for. A cracker or another bread product may also differ in how you use it and its nutritional value.
Search for the exact product name and decide in advance which separately labelled gluten-free product would work for you as a back-up.
Rusks and bread don’t automatically have the same nutritional value. The Voedingscentrum also points out that bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt, so you can’t assume that every bread or rusk product provides iodine as a result.
Compare the nutritional information and ingredients of the products you eat regularly. If you have questions about your overall diet while following a medically necessary gluten-free diet, speak to a specialist dietitian if needed.
Search these brands and shops by the exact product name: a wide gluten-free range on its own doesn’t tell you whether a particular type of rusk is available.
Jumbo lists Lekker Vrij van Gluten rusks 120 g in this own-brand range.
Damhert gluten-free rusks/biscottes 125 g are listed by Jumbo and Albert Heijn.
Albert Heijn lists Schär gluten-free Zwieback rusks.
Albert Heijn stocks the Damhert and Schär rusks listed above, as well as describing a wider gluten-free range.
PLUS lists gluten-free crackers and bread products, among other items, as possible alternatives for your shopping list.
Don’t assume they are: ordinary rusks may contain gluten-containing grains. Choose a product whose current packaging explicitly says ‘gluten-free’, and check the ingredients and allergen information too.
Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, a food sold to the final consumer can carry this statement if it contains no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg. This EU rule also applies in the Netherlands.
Yes, check the current packaging again. The Voedingscentrum advises checking the labels on gluten-free products carefully; don’t rely solely on a previous purchase or an online product name.
Keep them away from crumbs from ordinary bread products. Store the rusks separately, and take care when adding toppings or serving them to avoid shared spreads and utensils that have come into contact with products containing gluten.
No. Compare the nutritional information and ingredients of the products you use. According to the Voedingscentrum, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt, so don’t judge iodine content by the type of product alone; consider it in the context of what else you eat.
