If you’re buying for someone with coeliac disease, don’t choose a regular spritz biscuit made with wheat flour. Look for a pre-packaged biscuit labelled ‘gluten-free’ instead. Check the ingredients and warnings on the pack you’re buying, too. A gluten-free biscuit alternative may be a different type of biscuit from a spritz, and the range varies from shop to shop.
They want to choose a biscuit based on the current packaging, not its shape or where it sits in the biscuit aisle. Verkade lists wheat flour in NoboSprits Original; the Dutch Coeliac Society also highlights warnings about possible gluten-containing cereals.
They’re looking for a biscuit to enjoy with a coffee or as a snack, and are happy to try a different shape or flavour. Consenza lists gluten-free stroopwafels and speculaas biscuits, among other products; these are different types of biscuit from spritz.
They want to find a packaged alternative while doing their shopping. Product pages from retailers including PLUS and ALDI can point you in the right direction, but you’ll still need to check your chosen shop and the pack itself.
Start by looking for ‘gluten-free’ on the packaging, then check the ingredients and warnings. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, this claim may only be used if the food sold to the consumer contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. Only then should you compare the type of biscuit and its availability.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Label and ingredients | Look for ‘gluten-free’ on the pack. Read the ingredients and warnings about possible gluten-containing cereals, too; don’t choose a spritz biscuit made with wheat flour as a gluten-free alternative. | I’m buying for someone with coeliac disease and don’t want to judge by a biscuit’s shape; for around 50% of consumers, checking the gluten-free claim comes first. |
| Type of biscuit | Compare the type of biscuit and any additional ingredients. A stroopwafel, speculaas biscuit or coconut macaroon won’t automatically be similar to a spritz biscuit. | I’m looking for a biscuit to enjoy with coffee that can replace my usual spritz, even if the flavour and texture are different; around 30% of consumers put this first. |
| Availability | Check the range at your chosen shop or in your online basket, and read the label on the pack you receive. | When I’m stocking up on snacks, I want to be able to pick up a suitable biscuit without relying on one specific type; availability comes first for around 20% of consumers. |
Verkade lists wheat flour as an ingredient in NoboSprits Original. The type of product or its place among other biscuits tells you nothing about whether it carries a gluten-free claim.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack before choosing spritz biscuits as an alternative.
The Dutch Coeliac Society treats ‘may contain gluten-containing cereals’ as a relevant warning for people with coeliac disease.
Choose an alternative clearly labelled gluten-free and check the warnings on the current packaging.
The alternatives mentioned, such as speculaas biscuits, coconut macaroons and chocolate chip cookies, are different types of biscuit. Their shape, ingredients and eating experience may not be the same as a spritz.
First choose a biscuit with suitable labelling, then decide which type you’d like for your snack.
A product listed online may not be available at your chosen store.
Check your store or online basket before relying on it, and be open to choosing another type of biscuit that’s clearly labelled gluten-free.
These brands can help you find different types of biscuit; their inclusion here doesn’t tell you what’s in stock at a particular shop. Check the packaging of the specific product each time you choose.
A reference for regular spritz biscuits, not a gluten-free alternative.
A brand to look for when you want to try other types of gluten-free biscuit and don’t need a spritz shape.
A supermarket range where you can look for gluten-free products.
A supermarket with product pages for a range of gluten-free biscuit alternatives.
A place to look for gluten-free coconut biscuits.
Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, a food may only be labelled ‘gluten-free’ if the product sold to the consumer contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. Check the claim on the packaging of the biscuit you choose.
No, NoboSprits Original isn’t a gluten-free alternative for someone with coeliac disease. Verkade lists wheat flour as an ingredient and states that the product may contain other gluten-containing cereals.
Don’t automatically choose this type of biscuit as a gluten-free alternative for someone with coeliac disease. The Dutch Coeliac Society points out that this warning is relevant to possible cross-contamination; look for an alternative clearly labelled gluten-free and read the current label.
Not necessarily: an online range doesn’t guarantee that the product is in stock at your chosen branch. Check your shop or online basket, and read the packaging of the variant you actually receive when you buy it.
