If you have coeliac disease and want to take speculaas on a walk, choose a variety whose current packaging says ‘gluten-free’; the crossed-grain symbol can also help you identify it. Check for other allergens too, and take the biscuits with you in a sealed, undamaged pack. A familiar brand name or speculaas flavour alone tells you nothing about whether a product is gluten-free.
For you, the gluten-free label on the current packaging is what matters—not the flavour or brand name. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, even a small amount of gluten can cause symptoms if you have coeliac disease. So be careful to avoid contact with gluten-containing crumbs when packing your biscuits too.
As well as gluten, you may need to check for other ingredients or traces. Jumbo lists egg, lupin and milk in Consenza Speculaasjes, and lupin and almonds in Schär Speculoos. Check the allergen information for the exact variety you’re buying.
The size, an intact pack and the storage instructions all affect how practical a biscuit is to take in your rucksack. A low net weight doesn’t automatically mean the biscuits are individually wrapped.
First, check the gluten-free label and any other allergens. Then compare pack sizes and consider what you like to take as a snack.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free label | Look for ‘gluten-free’ on the current packaging. The crossed-grain symbol can also help you identify it, according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. | If I have coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely on a familiar biscuit name. For around 36% of consumers, the gluten-free label is the most important factor. |
| Other allergens | For the exact variety, check both the ingredients and the allergen and possible traces information. | If I need to avoid allergens other than gluten, a gluten-free biscuit may still not be suitable. Around 27% of consumers prioritise this check. |
| Packaging for taking on the go | Check the net weight, pack size and storage instructions, and make sure the pack will stay intact in transit. | I want to take biscuits with me without the pack opening or getting damaged in my rucksack. This practical consideration comes first for around 19% of consumers. |
| Flavour and portion | Once you’ve checked the essential label information, compare the variety, portion size and nutritional information. | When the biscuits meet my dietary requirements, I choose the ones I’d most enjoy taking along for a sweet break. For around 18% of consumers, this is the main consideration when choosing between suitable varieties. |
Lotus Bakeries describes Original Speculoos as a snack, but a flavour or brand name doesn’t confirm that the biscuit is suitable for a gluten-free diet.
Check the label on the current packaging for the exact variety before taking it with you.
According to Jumbo’s product information, Consenza Speculaasjes contains egg, lupin and milk; Schär Speculoos contains lupin and almonds. Information about possible traces can also vary.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you’re actually buying.
Albert Heijn points out that ingredient, nutritional and allergy information can change. An older product description may therefore not match the pack in your hand.
Use the product page to find a variety, then check the current label before buying.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, even a stray bread crumb can cause symptoms if you have coeliac disease. That makes the way you pack your food important, even when your biscuits are gluten-free.
Keep the pack sealed and separate from gluten-containing snacks; if needed, use a clean, sealable snack box.
Jumbo lists a 125 g pack of Speculaas as gluten-free and shows the crossed-grain symbol alongside it.
Albert Heijn lists AH Glutenvrij Speculaas as one of its own-brand products.
Jumbo lists both gluten-free speculaas biscuits and a 60 g filled speculaas biscuit under Consenza.
Jumbo lists 100 g Schär Gluten Free Speculoos as a gluten-free speculoos variety.
Lotus Bakeries describes Original Speculoos as a crunchy snack. Speculoos isn’t necessarily the same product variety as gluten-free speculaas.
These supermarkets are possible places to compare speculaas, but a standard product listing doesn’t mean a product is gluten-free.
Not on the basis of the brand name alone. Check that the current packaging for the exact variety says ‘gluten-free’; according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the crossed-grain symbol can also help you identify it.
Yes. If you need to avoid other allergens, it’s still important to check the allergen information for the exact variety. For example, Jumbo lists egg, lupin and milk in Consenza Speculaasjes, and lupin and almonds in Schär Speculoos.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging and take the biscuits with you sealed and separate from gluten-containing food. If you have coeliac disease, it’s important to prevent contact with crumbs, according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
