If you have coeliac disease and want to take speculaas on the NS train, choose a sealed pack clearly labelled ‘gluten-free’. Check the current label for any other allergens relevant to you, and keep the speculaas separate from food containing gluten while you’re travelling.
If you buy a snack before setting off, you’ll want to check the gluten-free label on the packaging. The Dutch Coeliac Society recommends keeping gluten-free food in its packaging for as long as possible and avoiding contact with crumbs containing gluten.
A gluten-free label doesn’t tell you whether the speculaas is also suitable if, for example, you’re allergic to egg, milk, nuts, lupin or sesame. Product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo shows that the listed allergens vary between products.
If you don’t want to search for a suitable snack while travelling, you can choose a sealed pack before you set off and take time to read the label. Check whether your preferred variety is available when you do your shopping.
Start by checking the gluten-free label, then read the ingredients and allergen information. Finally, choose packaging you can keep sealed and separate during your journey.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free label | Look for ‘gluten-free’ on the current packaging; don’t rely on the product name alone. Jumbo also displays the crossed grain symbol on its Lekker Vrij van Gluten Speculaas. | If you have coeliac disease, you’ll want to confirm which speculaas you’re taking before you set off. For around 50% of consumers, being sure a product is gluten-free comes first. |
| Other allergens and oats | Read both the ingredients and the allergen information. Check for oats separately if you don’t tolerate them. | If you have other allergies, a gluten-free product may still not be suitable. Around 30% of consumers therefore prioritise checking for other allergens or oats. |
| Packaging for travelling | Check that you can take the pack with you sealed, and whether your chosen variety is available when you do your shopping. | If you want to buy your snack in advance and keep it separate from other food while travelling, practicality is the top priority for around 20% of consumers. |
A brand name or the word ‘speculaas’ alone tells you nothing about whether that particular pack is suitable for a gluten-free diet.
Check the current label every time you buy it, and for this situation only choose speculaas labelled ‘gluten-free’.
Gluten-free varieties may still contain egg or list other allergens. Oats also need your attention if you don’t tolerate them.
Check the full ingredients and allergen information against your own needs.
Contact with crumbs containing gluten can contaminate gluten-free food. The Dutch Coeliac Society recommends keeping gluten-free products in their packaging for as long as possible.
Take the pack with you unopened, keep it separate from food containing gluten, and use clean hands when opening it.
Jumbo says on the pages for Schär Speculoos, Consenza Speculaasjes and Jumbo Speculaas Brok that these varieties are no longer available in its online range.
Check availability when you shop, and choose another suitable variety if your first choice isn’t available.
Compare the specific packaging and allergen information. A gluten-free product range doesn’t mean every variety is suitable for the same person.
Albert Heijn describes AH Glutenvrij Speculaas as a 125 g pack made in a completely gluten-free environment.
Jumbo lists its Lekker Vrij van Gluten Speculaas as a 125 g pack bearing the crossed grain symbol.
Jumbo describes Schär Gluten Free Speculoos as a 100 g gluten-free variety.
Jumbo describes Consenza Glutenvrije Speculaasjes as a 100 g pack.
Don’t assume so based on the brand name or type of product. Check the current packaging and choose speculaas with an explicit gluten-free label.
Ideally, take the speculaas with you in its unopened packaging and keep it separate from snacks containing gluten. The Dutch Coeliac Society recommends keeping gluten-free food in its packaging for as long as possible to help prevent contact with gluten.
Yes, check the label on the packaging again. Albert Heijn says that ingredients and allergen information may change.
No, it varies from person to person. The Dutch Coeliac Society says that a small number of people with coeliac disease also react to pure oats. If it’s relevant to you, check whether your chosen speculaas contains oats.
