If you’re choosing a stroopwafel for a child with coeliac disease, pick one whose current packaging explicitly says ‘gluten-free’. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, this claim may only be used if the food as sold contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. Also check for other allergens and agree how to keep the stroopwafels separate from ordinary biscuits at the school fair.
You’re looking for a stroopwafel with a clear gluten-free claim and want to prevent it coming into contact with ordinary biscuits when it’s handed out. The Dutch Coeliac Society stresses that food for a child with coeliac disease must remain gluten-free.
As well as gluten, you may need to check the ingredients and warnings for allergens such as egg, lupin, nuts or sesame. A gluten-free claim alone doesn’t tell you whether these are present.
You want to know before the fair which packs will be kept separate, who will hand them out and what information is on the packaging. That way, you won’t have to make those decisions at the stall.
Start by checking the gluten-free claim on the pack. Then compare the allergen information and agree with the school and the child’s parent or carer how the stroopwafels will be stored and handed out separately.
| What to check | Check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free claim | Read the current packaging: does it explicitly say ‘gluten-free’? Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, this claim means the food as sold must contain no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. | If a child with coeliac disease will be eating, I want to see the claim on the pack rather than rely on the product name alone. This check is the top priority for an estimated 39% of consumers. |
| Other allergens | Compare the ingredients and allergen declaration on the pack with the arrangements for the children who will be eating. The stroopwafels described from Jumbo, AH and PLUS contain egg and lupin. | If a child has an allergy as well as coeliac disease, I need to know which ingredients and warnings are relevant to them. Other allergens are the top priority for an estimated 23% of consumers. |
| Handing them out separately | Check whether the packs can stay sealed until they’re handed out, and agree how to store them separately and serve them with a clean, separate pair of tongs or on a separate plate. | If ordinary stroopwafels are also being sold at the stall, I want to prevent the gluten-free treat from coming into contact with them. Handing them out separately is the top priority for an estimated 23% of consumers. |
| Stock and quantity | Check local stock and the quantity in each pack just before buying. The packs described from Jumbo, AH and PLUS each state 240 g; work out separately how many sealed packs you’ll need. | If I’m buying supplies for the fair, I want to take enough suitable packs without relying on an outdated product range list. For an estimated 15% of consumers, this practical shopping check comes first. |
According to their product information, the gluten-free stroopwafels described from Jumbo, AH and PLUS contain egg and lupin. Jumbo also mentions that nuts and sesame may be present.
Ask which allergens are relevant to the children and read the current label. Don’t use the general description ‘allergen-free’ for these products.
Even a carefully chosen product can come into contact with biscuits containing gluten when it’s opened or handed out. The Dutch Coeliac Society stresses the importance of keeping food gluten-free for children with coeliac disease.
Store and serve the stroopwafels separately. Agree in advance with the school and the child’s parent or carer who will hand them out and whether the pack should stay sealed until then.
Product information and ranges can change. A general list of gluten-free products also doesn’t confirm whether a specific pack of stroopwafels is suitable.
Check shortly before the fair that the product is available, and read the gluten-free claim and allergen information on the packaging again when you buy it.
Compare specific packs, not just brand names: the gluten-free claim and information about other allergens will help you decide whether a product fits the arrangements you’ve made.
Jumbo describes its 240 g Stroop Wafels as gluten-free and displays the Crossed Grain symbol.
AH lists a 240 g pack of organic gluten-free stroopwafels and also describes the product as vegetarian and lactose-free.
PLUS lists gluten-free stroopwafels in a 240 g pack, with ingredient and allergen information.
Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, ‘gluten-free’ may only be stated on a food sold in the EU if the product as sold contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. Before the school fair, check the current packaging: the product name or an estimate based on the ingredients is no substitute for this claim.
No, the gluten-free claim doesn’t tell you that. The options described from Jumbo, AH and PLUS contain egg and lupin; Jumbo also lists nuts and sesame as possible allergens. Compare the current label with the arrangements made with the parent or carer.
Store them separately and use clean, separate tongs or a separate plate when handing them out, or keep them sealed until the agreed time. The Dutch Coeliac Society advises schools to agree in advance with parents when arranging a food event.
No, check the specific pack of stroopwafels you want to buy. A product range list doesn’t confirm which pack is available at the time or what the current label says.
