If you have coeliac disease, first choose gingerbread whose current packaging explicitly says ‘gluten-free’ or displays the Crossed Grain symbol. If you also want to buy a sugar-free option, check the exact claim on that same packaging: ‘zero’ and ‘no added sugars’ do not automatically mean sugar-free or gluten-free. The gluten-free and zero options discussed below do not confirm that they meet both requirements; some zero options contain rye.
A ‘zero’ name doesn’t tell you whether gingerbread is gluten-free. The Dutch Nutrition Centre recommends looking for the ‘gluten-free’ label or the Crossed Grain symbol. Check the current packaging for either.
You want to know what ‘sugar-free’, ‘zero’ and ‘no added sugars’ mean for a particular gingerbread. Compare the exact claim with the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g in the nutritional information.
Individually wrapped portions can be handy when you’re out and about, but they’re no substitute for a gluten-free label if you have coeliac disease. Snelle Jelle Zero is sold in individual portions and lists rye as an ingredient.
If you have coeliac disease and want sugar-free gingerbread, first check for a gluten-free label, then check the exact sugar claim on the same current packaging. Portion size only becomes a deciding factor once the requirements you need have been met.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free label | Look for ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain symbol on the current packaging, and read the allergen information. | If I have coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely on a ‘zero’ name when choosing gingerbread. Around 50% of consumers prioritise an explicitly gluten-free option. |
| Exact sugar claim | Read the exact claim and compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g in the nutritional information. | Once my essential dietary requirement is covered, I want to know whether it actually says ‘sugar-free’, rather than just ‘zero’. Around 30% of consumers prioritise a precise sugar claim. |
| Portions and packaging | Compare the packaging format and check the product information on the packaging again when you buy it. | When I’m out and about, I look for a portion that’s easy to take with me, without compromising on my dietary requirement. For around 20% of consumers, portion size matters most once that requirement is covered. |
They’re different claims. Rye is listed among the ingredients of Snelle Jelle’s Zero option; the name doesn’t make this gingerbread suitable for people with coeliac disease.
Check separately for a gluten-free label and the exact sugar claim on the same current packaging.
Peijnenburg’s gingerbread with no added sugars contains 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g. So the claim doesn’t mean the product contains no sugars.
Check the exact claim and the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g before you choose.
Albert Heijn says that product ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change. Previous product information is therefore no substitute for checking the label on the product you buy.
Check the current packaging even when buying the product again.
PLUS says that excessive consumption of Snelle Jelle Zero may have a laxative effect. This warning applies to this product and not automatically to every gingerbread with a sugar claim.
Read the warnings and instructions on the packaging of the option you’re considering.
Peijnenburg has a gluten-free gingerbread and a separate option with no added sugars.
Jumbo’s Lekker Vrij range includes a 300 g unsliced gluten-free gingerbread.
Albert Heijn lists gluten-free gingerbread products and also has a separate Ontbijtkoek Zero option.
Snelle Jelle sells Zero spiced gingerbread in individual portions.
Lidl lists a 485 g Ontbijtkoek Zero as a store product.
No, these claims aren’t the same as the exact claim ‘sugar-free’. Peijnenburg’s option with no added sugars contains 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g, so check both the claim and the ‘of which sugars’ figure in the nutritional information.
Only if the current packaging also explicitly says ‘gluten-free’ or displays the Crossed Grain symbol. According to the brand information, Snelle Jelle Zero contains rye; the ‘zero’ claim is no substitute for a gluten-free label.
Iodised baker’s salt doesn’t determine whether gingerbread meets your gluten-free and sugar-free requirements. If you want to know what salt a particular gingerbread contains, check the current packaging or ask the manufacturer.
Read the warnings on the packaging of the specific product. PLUS says that excessive consumption of Snelle Jelle Zero may have a laxative effect; don’t draw conclusions about all zero or sugar-free gingerbread from this.
