If you have coeliac disease, start by checking that the packaging currently says ‘gluten-free’—the ingredients list alone isn’t enough. A sealed pack for one snack break is easy to carry separately, while a larger pack is best if you can divide it into clean portions at home and seal them. Also check for any other allergens that matter to you.
You want to take a stroopwafel with you, but first check that the packaging currently says ‘gluten-free’. Keep the pack sealed and separate from snacks containing gluten while you’re out to reduce the risk of contact with crumbs.
You’re looking for a portion you can put in a jacket pocket or rucksack without dividing it up at home. A sealed pack of two stroopwafels may be more practical than a larger pack that has already been opened.
As well as gluten, ingredients such as lupin, egg, milk, nuts, soya or sesame may affect your choice. So read the full allergen information for the stroopwafel you’re taking with you.
Best for: a short walk when you want to wait until your break to open the stroopwafels.
Bear in mind: even with a small pack, check the current allergen information; the Leev version described by Albert Heijn lists lupin and egg.
Best for: several snack breaks, if you can divide the stroopwafels into individual portions with clean hands and seal them beforehand.
Bear in mind: once opened, you’ll need to keep the stroopwafels away from crumbs and snacks containing gluten.
Best for: a walk where a stroopwafel doesn’t meet your packaging or allergen requirements.
Bear in mind: check the ‘gluten-free’ claim and allergens on the packaging of the specific alternative you choose.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free claim and contact with crumbs | Check the current ‘gluten-free’ claim and any warnings; keep the snack sealed and separate. | If I have coeliac disease, I want to be able to check my stroopwafel and keep it away from snacks containing gluten while I’m out. This would be the main purchasing concern for around 50% of consumers. |
| Packaging and portion size | Check how many pieces are in each pack and whether you’ll need to divide it into portions at home. | For one break, I want to take a sealed portion without first opening a larger pack. A portion that’s ready to take with you would be the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Other allergens and nutritional information | Read the allergen list and, if it matters to your choice, the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion. | If I’m also checking for other allergens or keeping an eye on what’s in my snack, ‘gluten-free’ on its own isn’t enough to make a choice. For around 20% of consumers, these other details on the label would matter most. |
Gluten can also get into a product through cross-contamination. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, the ‘gluten-free’ claim may be used when the final product contains no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg.
If you have coeliac disease, check the current claim on the packaging and read any warnings too.
The Dutch Coeliac Society notes that crumbs and contact through hands can contaminate gluten-free food.
Wait until your break to open the pack, and keep gluten-free snacks separate from sandwiches or biscuits containing gluten.
The Leev stroopwafel described by Albert Heijn lists lupin and egg, and also states that it may contain milk, nuts, soya and sesame. A ‘gluten-free’ claim says nothing about these other allergens.
Compare the full allergen information on the current packaging with the ingredients you need to avoid.
Albert Heijn’s product information states that AH Glutenvrij Stroopwafels contain 41 g of sugars per 100 g. This figure applies to this product, not to all gluten-free stroopwafels.
Check the nutritional information and decide separately what other food and drink you want to take with you.
Albert Heijn describes AH Glutenvrij Stroopwafels as a 240 g pack containing eight 30 g portions.
The gluten-free Leev stroopwafels described by Albert Heijn come in pairs, with two weighing 60 g in total.
According to Consenza, its gluten-free biscuit range includes classic stroopwafels and a salted caramel version.
The absence of wheat from the ingredients list doesn’t replace a ‘gluten-free’ claim. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, that claim applies to products containing no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg of finished product. Check the current packaging for warnings too.
Take the snack with you sealed and keep it separate from foods containing gluten. The Dutch Coeliac Society highlights the risk of cross-contamination from crumbs and hands, so open the pack with clean hands and don’t put the snack down where there are bread crumbs.
No, the terms don’t mean the same thing. Albert Heijn describes the Leev stroopwafel as lactose-free, but also states that it may contain milk. If you have a milk allergy, check the current allergen information.
For one snack break, a small, sealed pack is easier to keep separate. A larger pack may suit several breaks, as long as you divide the stroopwafels with clean hands and take the portions with you sealed and separate.
