If you have coeliac disease and want to pick up some speculaas quickly, choose a pack clearly labelled ‘gluten-free’ and check the label on the one you buy. Under European Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, this claim can only be used if the final product sold contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. Check for other allergens too, and confirm that the product is currently available. A gluten-free product is not automatically suitable if you have an additional allergy, and a product page does not guarantee that it is in stock in store.
If you’re making a quick top-up shop, the gluten-free claim on the packaging is the deciding factor. A familiar flavour, brand name or impression that it contains no wheat is no substitute for checking.
If you need to avoid gluten as well as, for example, eggs, milk, nuts, sesame or lupin, compare the ingredients and the ‘Contains’ and ‘May contain’ statements on each pack.
Standard speculaas biscuits and filled speculaas are different products. If you’re looking for a particular type, check that it’s available and read the current label too.
Start by checking for a gluten-free claim on the pack. Then compare the other allergens, and only after that look for the type of speculaas you want.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free claim | Look for ‘gluten-free’ on the final product’s packaging; don’t rely on the product name or ingredients list alone. | If I’m buying for someone with coeliac disease, I want to check first that the pack is clearly labelled gluten-free. Around 50% of consumers put this check at the top of their list of distinguishing needs when buying. |
| Other allergens | Read the ingredients and check both ‘Contains’ and ‘May contain’, even for a gluten-free product. | If I also need to avoid another allergen, that information determines which gluten-free pack is suitable for me. For around 30% of consumers, this additional check is the most important factor in their choice. |
| Type and availability | Choose between biscuits and filled speculaas, and confirm that the product you want is available. | If I’m making a quick shop, I want to know whether I can actually pick up the type of speculaas I’m looking for. Around 20% of consumers prioritise immediate availability or a particular product type. |
A familiar brand name tells you nothing about whether a particular variety is gluten-free. For Lotus Biscoff The Original Speculoos, Lotus Bakeries Nederland lists wheat, rye, spelt and barley among the ingredients.
If you have coeliac disease, only buy a final pack that is clearly labelled ‘gluten-free’.
According to product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo, both of their gluten-free speculaas products mentioned here contain egg. Their statements about possible other allergens also vary by product.
Compare the allergen information on the pack with the needs of the person you’re buying for.
Jumbo listed Consenza Glutenvrije Speculaasjes and Gluten Free Bakery Holland Gevulde Speculaas Glutenvrij as no longer part of its online range. So an existing product listing doesn’t confirm that you’ll be able to pick up the item during your shop.
Check whether a particular variety is currently available, or choose another pack in store that is clearly labelled gluten-free.
Albert Heijn says that ingredient, nutritional and allergen information can change. So the page you looked at earlier may not match the pack in your hand.
Before buying, read the label on the actual pack you’re taking home.
Albert Heijn describes AH Glutenvrij Speculaas 125 g as ready-to-eat speculaas biscuits and says they are produced in a completely gluten-free environment.
Jumbo describes its Lekker Vrij van Gluten Speculaas 125 g as gluten-free and shows the crossed-grain symbol on the product page.
According to Consenza, traditional gluten-free speculaas biscuits are part of the brand’s biscuit range.
A Jumbo listing for Gluten Free Bakery Holland Gevulde Speculaas Glutenvrij 230 g shows the type of filled speculaas on offer.
No. Choose a final product that is clearly labelled ‘gluten-free’. Under European Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, this claim can only be used if the final product sold contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. Check the pack you’re buying.
Not automatically. According to product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo, both of their gluten-free speculaas products mentioned here contain egg. Albert Heijn lists possible sesame and nuts; Jumbo lists possible milk, nuts, lupin, sesame and gluten-free oats, among other things. So check both ‘Contains’ and ‘May contain’ on each pack.
Follow the storage instructions on the pack you bought. The Albert Heijn and Jumbo product pages mentioned here recommend storing their speculaas in a cool, dry place. Jumbo says to check the side of the pack for the best-before date.
No. A product page doesn’t confirm that an item is in stock at a particular branch. Jumbo listed Consenza speculaas biscuits and Gluten Free Bakery Holland filled speculaas as no longer part of its online range. Check current availability or choose another pack in store that is clearly labelled gluten-free.
