Who is this choice relevant to?

Hosting someone with coeliac disease

You’re looking for a crisp base that’s explicitly labelled gluten-free, and you check toppings and other snacks separately. An ingredients list that doesn’t mention wheat is not the same as a gluten-free label.

Putting together a savoury sharing platter

You want a base for savoury toppings, rather than the usual sweet combination of rusks and chocolate sprinkles. Schär describes its gluten-free Zwieback as a base for both sweet and savoury party bites.

Choosing a sweet rusk treat

You want to serve rusks with chocolate sprinkles at breakfast, brunch or as a sweet snack. If the combination needs to be suitable for someone with coeliac disease, check the current packaging for both the rusks and the topping.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you want to serve something sweet or savoury party bites. Then check the gluten-free label and allergen information for each product, bearing in mind your guests’ needs.

What to consider What to check when buying Who is this most important for?
Gluten-free labelling Check that each pre-packaged item is labelled gluten-free on its current packaging. Before buying unpackaged snacks, ask for allergen information. If someone with coeliac disease is eating with me, I don’t want to rely on an ingredients list that doesn’t mention wheat. Around 36% of consumers prioritise an explicit gluten-free label.
Sweet or savoury For savoury nibbles, choose toast, crackers or snacks explicitly labelled gluten-free; save rusks with chocolate sprinkles for a deliberately sweet occasion. For my sharing platter, I’m looking for a base for savoury bites, not just something crisp with a sweet topping. Around 29% of consumers prioritise how the food will be served.
Toppings and other allergens Check the current ingredients and allergen information for the topping or spread too, as well as any gluten-free labelling. As well as coeliac disease, my guests may need to avoid milk or soya, so I want to know what’s going on the rusks. Around 21% of consumers say this combination of considerations is their top priority.
Availability Look for the specific variety at your chosen retailer and check the packaging when you receive the product. I want to be able to buy my chosen rusks or toast without too much effort, while still checking the product carefully. For around 14% of consumers, this practical convenience matters most.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘gluten-free’ just because there’s no wheat listed

    An ingredients list that doesn’t mention wheat is not the same as an explicit gluten-free label. Under EU Implementing Regulation 828/2014, a product may be labelled gluten-free if it contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten as sold to the consumer.

    If you’re serving someone with coeliac disease, check the current packaging for both the rusks and each topping to make sure they’re labelled gluten-free.

  • Assuming sweet rusks are an obvious choice for savoury party bites

    Rusks with chocolate sprinkles are ideal for a sweet occasion, but they don’t answer the call for savoury party bites.

    Decide how you want to serve them. For savoury toppings, you could consider a toast base labelled gluten-free; remember to check the topping too.

  • Checking only the rusks

    A suitable base tells you nothing about the ingredients in the topping. For De Ruijter Chocoladehagel Puur, Albert Heijn lists ingredients including soya lecithin and milk fat.

    Check the current information for every packaged item. Before buying unpackaged party bites, ask for allergen information; the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says this information must also be available for unpackaged products.

  • Assuming every baker uses iodised baker’s salt

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers in the Netherlands are not required to use iodised baker’s salt. So don’t assume a particular iodine content based only on the type of bakery product.

    Check the ingredients or ask the baker which salt they’ve used if this matters to your choice.

Brands to consider

Schär

Schär describes its Zwieback as a gluten-free, toast-style base for sweet and savoury toppings, including party bites.

  • An option if you’d rather choose a base for party toppings than serve rusks with chocolate sprinkles.
  • Schär says its Zwieback may contain traces of soya. Check the current packaging and assess toppings separately.

Jumbo Lekker Vrij

Jumbo lists a rusk product labelled gluten-free in this range.

  • Worth considering if you’re looking for traditional rusks to serve in a sweet combination.
  • Check the current packaging before serving the rusks to someone with coeliac disease; toppings need to be checked separately.

Damhert

Jumbo lists Damhert Nutrition Glutenvrij Beschuiten Biscottes as gluten-free rusks.

  • Another rusk option if you’re not looking for a toast-style base for party bites.
  • The rusks don’t determine whether the finished combination is sweet or savoury, or whether your chosen topping is suitable.

De Ruijter

De Ruijter is relevant here as a brand of chocolate sprinkles for a sweet combination, not as a topping confirmed to be gluten-free.

  • For De Ruijter Chocoladehagel Puur, Albert Heijn lists ingredients including cocoa, soya lecithin and milk fat.
  • The ingredients list alone does not confirm that this variety is gluten-free. If the topping is for someone with coeliac disease, check the current packaging for an explicit label.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

When can a product be called gluten-free?

Under EU Implementing Regulation 828/2014, a product may be labelled gluten-free if it contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten as sold to the consumer. When buying, check the current label on the variety you want to serve.

Are De Ruijter Chocoladehagel Puur sprinkles suitable for someone with coeliac disease?

Don’t rely on the ingredients list alone. Albert Heijn’s displayed ingredients for this variety don’t include any gluten-containing cereals, but that information on its own doesn’t confirm that the product is labelled gluten-free. Check the current packaging before serving these sprinkles to someone with coeliac disease.

Are rusks with chocolate sprinkles suitable for a savoury party spread?

Rusks with chocolate sprinkles can work as a deliberately sweet treat; for a savoury party spread, a savoury snack or a base for savoury toppings is a more natural choice. Schär describes its gluten-free Zwieback as a base for both sweet and savoury party bites. If someone has coeliac disease, check every topping you choose too.

How can I check allergens in an unpackaged party bite?

Before buying, ask for allergen information about the snack and any toppings. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information for unpackaged foods must be provided to consumers in a way other than on packaging.

Are Dutch bakers required to use iodised baker’s salt?

No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers are not required to use iodised baker’s salt. Check the ingredients or ask the baker which salt was used in the product in question.