According to Verkade, Verkade NoboSprits Original contains wheat flour, so it is not suitable if you follow a strict gluten-free diet. For coffee on the go, look for a biscuit explicitly labelled gluten-free, such as Verkade Oaties or AH Gluten-Free Oat Biscuits with Hazelnut. Check the current packaging for any other allergens relevant to you, too.
When you’re having coffee on the go, your biscuit needs to fit into a strict gluten-free diet. The Dutch Coeliac Association also highlights the importance of avoiding cross-contamination, so check the current packaging rather than judging by the shape of the biscuit.
You want a biscuit that’s easy to take with you for your coffee. A gluten-free oat biscuit or digestive could fit the bill, even if its shape and taste are different from a spritz biscuit.
As well as checking for a gluten-free label, look at the ingredients for oats, hazelnuts, milk and soya. Which of these matter to you will depend on the product and the person.
If you follow a strict gluten-free diet, start by checking the label and allergen information on the packaging. Then consider how practical the biscuit is to take with you for coffee on the go.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free status and cross-contamination | Read the current gluten-free label, ingredients list and any warnings about possible cross-contamination. | If I eat strictly gluten-free because I have coeliac disease, I don’t want to choose a biscuit for my coffee based on its name or appearance alone. For around 50% of consumers, gluten-free suitability is the top priority. |
| Taking it with you for coffee | Check the packaging and portion size if you want to carry the biscuit in a bag. | For a quick coffee break on the go, I want to be able to take a biscuit with me without opening a large pack. Portability matters most to around 30% of consumers. |
| Other dietary needs and shopping preferences | Check the label for other allergens and see which types of biscuits are available at your usual shop. | If I need to avoid other allergens too, or shop at a particular retailer, I want to be able to choose a suitable alternative there. For around 20% of consumers, these additional requirements are the top priority. |
The shape of a biscuit tells you nothing about its ingredients: Verkade lists wheat flour in NoboSprits Original.
First check the gluten-free label and ingredients list on the biscuit you’re actually buying.
A title doesn’t tell you everything about the ingredients and allergens in the pack you receive or pick up in store.
Check the label again every time you buy it, even if you already know the product.
According to Albert Heijn, AH Gluten-Free Oat Biscuits with Hazelnut contain oats and hazelnuts. Verkade Oaties Milk Chocolate also contains milk and soya, according to Verkade.
As well as gluten, check for all allergens that matter to you.
Verkade highlights the difference between classic spritz biscuits and a gluten-free-labelled alternative.
The hazelnut oat biscuit is an alternative worth considering if you’re looking for a biscuit to take with you.
This range offers types of biscuits other than spritz, including digestives and speculaas labelled gluten-free.
PLUS Choco Chip Cookies are a different type of biscuit for anyone who isn’t set on the spritz shape.
Schär Digestive Landtaler is a biscuit worth considering if you don’t need a spritz shape.
The raisin and cranberry biscuits are a fruity alternative to spritz.
This Oaties biscuit is labelled gluten-free and offers an alternative to spritz with your coffee; it isn’t a gluten-free version of spritz itself. If you need to eat strictly gluten-free, always check the current packaging.
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A biscuit to consider if you’re looking for an alternative to spritz to have with your coffee on the go; Verkade describes Oaties Milk Chocolate as gluten-free.
This variety contains gluten-free oats, milk and soya. Before buying, check the current packaging for the gluten-free label, other allergens and warnings about possible cross-contamination.
Don’t assume they are: according to Verkade, NoboSprits Original contains wheat flour and may contain other gluten-containing cereals. Choose based on the current gluten-free label and ingredients list, not the name ‘spritz’.
Check that the biscuit is explicitly labelled gluten-free, that oats and any other listed allergens are suitable for you, and that you can keep the packaging sealed and undamaged while you’re out. According to Albert Heijn, AH Oat Biscuits with Hazelnut contain oats and hazelnuts; according to Verkade, Verkade Oaties Milk Chocolate contains milk and soya.
Yes, read them alongside the gluten-free label and ingredients list. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority describes these label warnings as information about possible cross-contamination with allergens. The Dutch Coeliac Association points out that cross-contamination with gluten can have consequences for people with coeliac disease.
Look at oat biscuits, digestives or other biscuits labelled gluten-free if the spritz shape isn’t essential. Albert Heijn lists oat biscuits with hazelnut, Jumbo’s Lekker Vrij range includes digestives and speculaas, and PLUS lists Schär Digestive Landtaler. Always check the label on the product you choose.
