If you’re choosing rusks for someone with coeliac disease, look for an explicit ‘gluten-free’ claim or a suitable gluten-free symbol on the packaging; ‘wheat-free’ alone isn’t enough. Keep the rusks separate from regular snacks during the Sinterklaas procession and use clean utensils, as advised by the Dutch Coeliac Society. Before buying, also check the label and whether the exact product is available.
You’ll want to check the packaging to confirm that the rusks are gluten-free and prevent them coming into contact with crumbs from regular snacks when serving. The Dutch Coeliac Society highlights the importance of reading labels and preparing food separately.
You need to be able to identify and store gluten-free food separately, and hand it out without mixing it with other snacks. At a serving point with a range of snacks, shared packaging, surfaces and utensils need particular care, according to the Dutch Coeliac Society.
You’re looking for rusks rather than crackers or rice cakes. Check the exact product: Albert Heijn and Jumbo list gluten-free rusks separately, but a product listing doesn’t guarantee that the item will be available when you buy it.
If the rusks are for someone with coeliac disease, first check the packaging for a gluten-free claim. Then consider how you’ll hand them out separately and whether the rusk shape itself matters.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free claim | Look for ‘gluten-free’ or a suitable gluten-free symbol on the packaging; don’t rely on ‘wheat-free’ alone. | If someone with coeliac disease is eating, I want to see a gluten-free claim on the packaging rather than guess from the ingredients. Around 42% of consumers put this check first. |
| Separate serving | Choose packaging you can keep sealed and separate until serving, and use clean utensils. | When handing them out alongside regular snacks, I want to prevent crumbs getting onto the gluten-free rusks. For around 33% of consumers, being able to serve them separately is the main concern. |
| Rusk shape and availability | Check the exact item just before buying, and choose a different type of product only if it’s suitable for the person who’ll be eating it. | I want to serve rusks rather than crackers at the procession, and I need to be able to find the item I’ve chosen. Product shape and availability are the main priorities for around 25% of consumers. |
A ‘wheat-free’ description doesn’t confirm that a product is labelled gluten-free. For coeliac disease, the Dutch Coeliac Society advises checking for a gluten-free claim or a suitable symbol.
Check the label on the exact product you’re buying.
Even after taking care when buying, crumbs can get onto the rusks via a shared surface, knife or packet.
Keep the packet sealed and separate. Open it when you’re ready to serve, using clean hands and utensils, as advised by the Dutch Coeliac Society.
Albert Heijn listed Damhert Gluten-Free Rusks as ‘Discontinued’; Jumbo said its gluten-free rusks were no longer available online. So a listing doesn’t guarantee that the product will be available when you plan to buy it.
Check shortly before the procession whether the exact item is available. If not, choose another product with a gluten-free claim on the packaging.
If the item you planned to buy isn’t available, you may need to make an extra trip to the shops.
Albert Heijn lists Schär Zwieback as gluten-free rusks.
Albert Heijn has a listing for Damhert Gluten-Free Rusks, 125 g.
Jumbo has a separate listing for Lekker Vrij Gluten-Free Rusks, 120 g.
Bolletje Echte Beschuit is included here as an example of regular rusks, not as a confirmed gluten-free alternative.
Under European Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, the claim ‘gluten-free’ may be used if the food contains no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg when sold to the final consumer. Check the claim on the packaging of the product you’re actually buying.
No. ‘Wheat-free’ on its own isn’t a gluten-free claim. The Dutch Coeliac Society advises looking for the words ‘gluten-free’ or a suitable gluten-free symbol on the packaging.
Keep gluten-free rusks separate and only open the packet when you can serve them separately. Use clean hands and utensils, and keep regular bread crumbs and shared spreads away, as advised by the Dutch Coeliac Society.
No, don’t assume that every product contains baker’s salt. The Dutch Commodities Act Decree on the Addition of Micronutrients to Food defines baker’s salt as iodised table salt used for bread and other bakery products. If the type of salt used matters to you, check the ingredients of the specific rusks.
No. Check both availability and the label of the exact item before buying. Albert Heijn notes that product information, including ingredients and allergen information, can change and advises customers to read the packaging.
