For a secondary school lunch, if your child has coeliac disease, choose speculaas whose current packaging explicitly says ‘gluten-free’ or carries the Crossed Grain trademark; ordinary speculaas is not a suitable substitute. Also check for any allergens relevant to the pupil, and pack the biscuit in a sealed container, separate from ordinary bread and crumbs.
For them, clear gluten-free labelling on the packaging and avoiding contact with bread crumbs are essential. The Voedingscentrum points out that even a stray bread crumb can cause symptoms for someone with coeliac disease.
A gluten-free biscuit is not automatically free from egg, milk, lupin, soya, nuts or sesame. Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging for anything relevant to your child.
They want to be able to pack speculaas without any preparation and keep it separate from other lunch items during the school day. Even with a familiar product, it’s important to check the current label: Albert Heijn advises reading the packaging because product information can change.
For a school lunch, first check the gluten-free labelling and any other allergens. Then consider how to keep the biscuit separate and which portion size works best.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free options for coeliac disease | Look for ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain trademark on the current packaging. When packing the biscuit, keep it away from ordinary bread crumbs too. | If I have coeliac disease, I want to be able to check the gluten-free labelling for myself and avoid contact with crumbs. For around 36% of consumers, that reassurance comes first. |
| Other allergens | Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging for anything relevant to the pupil; ‘gluten-free’ does not mean ‘free from all allergens’. | If I also need to watch out for another allergen, the gluten-free label shouldn’t distract me from checking for it. For around 29% of consumers, checking for other allergens is the top priority. |
| Keeping it separate | Choose packaging that can be packed separately, or use a clean, tightly sealed container. Keep the biscuit away from ordinary bread and crumbly snacks. | I’m packing the biscuit in a school bag, so I want to be able to keep it separate easily while it’s being carried and eaten. For around 21% of consumers, lunchbox convenience matters most. |
| Flavour and portion size | Only compare size, number of portions and ingredients once the products meet your gluten-free and personal allergen requirements. | Once I’ve checked those requirements, I want to choose a flavour and portion size that suits my lunch. For around 14% of consumers, flavour and portion size are the main factors when choosing between suitable products. |
Gluten-free speculaas may contain other allergens. For example, Jumbo lists egg in its Lekker Vrij van Gluten Speculaas; the gluten-free label doesn’t tell you whether other allergens are present.
As well as checking the gluten-free label, read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the product you’re actually packing.
Labels and product ranges can change. An old Jumbo listing for Consenza Speculaas Brok also contains conflicting information: it describes the product as gluten-free but lists wheat as an allergen.
Don’t rely on that listing to confirm a product is suitable for someone with coeliac disease; check the current packaging of the specific product.
On 9 September 2026, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority warned about AH Glutenvrij Speculaasbrok with a best-before date of 26-03-2027 because it may contain an undeclared almond allergen. The warning applies to that speculaas brok with that best-before date; it does not automatically apply to AH Glutenvrij Speculaas.
Follow the warning for the specific product. For other products, check their own packaging and any current safety warnings.
Bread crumbs can be a problem for someone with coeliac disease, even if the biscuit itself is labelled gluten-free. The Voedingscentrum notes that even a stray crumb can pose a risk.
Pack the speculaas separately or place it in a clean, sealable compartment, away from the bread.
Jumbo lists Lekker Vrij van Gluten Speculaas as a dedicated gluten-free product in a 125 g pack.
Albert Heijn has a product page for AH Glutenvrij Speculaas.
Consenza describes itself as a supplier of a wide range of gluten-free products, including snacks.
Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, the term ‘gluten-free’ may be used if the food sold to the final consumer contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. Check this label on the current packaging of the speculaas you want to pack.
No. The fact that an online description doesn’t mention wheat doesn’t confirm that ordinary speculaas is gluten-free. Look for ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain trademark on the current packaging. The Voedingscentrum also stresses the importance of checking labels and avoiding bread crumbs if you have coeliac disease.
Not necessarily: ‘gluten-free’ says nothing about whether other allergens are present. For example, Jumbo lists egg in Lekker Vrij van Gluten Speculaas. Check the current ingredients and allergen information for every product if egg, nuts or other ingredients are relevant to the pupil.
Pack the biscuit separately or use a clean, sealable compartment, away from ordinary bread and crumbly snacks. The Voedingscentrum points out that even a stray bread crumb can cause symptoms for someone with coeliac disease.
