Hosting someone with coeliac disease
You’re looking for packaged taaitaai with an explicit gluten-free statement. What the packaging says about the product and its allergens matters more than a familiar product name.
Who is this for?
Organising a gathering where guests have multiple food allergies
As well as gluten, you may need to consider nuts, milk, lupin, sesame or egg. So check the full allergen information for the product you’re actually buying.
Buying a seasonal biscuit for a Christmas party
You want to find enough treats in good time. Seasonal products can disappear from online ranges, so it’s worth considering another suitable biscuit in advance.
What should you look out for when buying?
First, check that the specific packaging states the product is gluten-free. Then check the other allergens and make sure the pack size and availability suit your party.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free statement | Read the statement on the pack you buy and check the ingredients list. | If I’m serving taaitaai to a guest with coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely on the product name. For around 50% of consumers, confirming that the specific product is gluten-free comes first. |
| Other allergens | Check the allergen information and any warnings against the allergens your guests need to avoid. | Even with gluten-free biscuits, I can’t cater for everyone at the table if, for example, a guest needs to avoid nuts or milk. For around 30% of consumers, this combination of allergens is the main concern. |
| Portions and availability | Check the pack size, the number of guests and current availability. | For a party, I want to make sure I have enough suitable biscuits in good time, even if a seasonal item goes out of stock. Having enough portions and an available alternative is the main concern for around 20% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ordinary taaitaai is gluten-free
A festive name or appearance doesn’t confirm that a biscuit is suitable as a gluten-free treat for a guest with coeliac disease.
Choose a specific product with an explicit gluten-free statement and keep the packaging until after serving.
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Checking only for gluten
A gluten-free version may contain other allergens. For its Consenza version, Albert Heijn lists ingredients including almonds and other nuts.
Ask your guests in advance which allergens they need to avoid, and check the information on the exact pack you’re serving.
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Mistaking a product page for confirmation that it’s in stock
Albert Heijn listed the gluten-free Maître Mathis version as discontinued, while Jumbo said the Gluten Free Bakery Holland version was no longer available online.
Check availability before you shop, and think of another biscuit explicitly labelled gluten-free that would suit your guests.
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Relying on an ingredients list you read earlier
Ingredients and allergen information can change, even when the product name stays the same.
Check the current packaging when you buy, especially if you’re catering for someone with coeliac disease or multiple allergies.
Brands to consider
Consenza
Albert Heijn describes Consenza Taai taai poppetjes, 125 g, as gluten-free and organic.
- Albert Heijn’s product page states that this specific version is gluten-free.
- Albert Heijn also lists gluten-free oats, almonds and other nuts. Check that the current packaging is suitable for your guests’ allergies.
Maître Mathis
The gluten-free taaitaai version is a useful reference for comparing allergen information; Albert Heijn marked it as discontinued.
- The version described is explicitly labelled gluten-free.
- According to Albert Heijn, this version contains milk and lupin and may contain nuts, sesame and egg. The product page does not confirm that it is currently available.
Gluten Free Bakery Holland
Jumbo describes a 130 g gluten-free taaitaai version, but reported that it was no longer available online.
- The product name identifies it as a gluten-free version and gives the pack size.
- Check current availability and the packaging before planning to serve this version at a party.
A biscuit alternative on Joybuy
This biscuit is an alternative if you can’t find suitable gluten-free taaitaai for your Christmas party; it isn’t taaitaai itself. If you’re catering for a guest with coeliac disease, check the gluten-free statement and allergens on the packaging you buy.
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Verkade Gv Oaties Milk Chocolate, 150 g
A biscuit alternative for a Christmas party if suitable taaitaai isn’t available; this product is not taaitaai.
The pack contains 150 g. Before serving, check the gluten-free statement and the information about oats, milk, soya and possible traces of nuts on the current packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Is taaitaai without a gluten-free statement suitable for a guest with coeliac disease?
Not as a confirmed gluten-free option. Choose a specific product explicitly labelled gluten-free and check the statement on the packaging before serving it.
Should I check for other allergens in gluten-free taaitaai too?
Yes. A gluten-free statement tells you nothing about other allergens. For its Consenza version, Albert Heijn lists ingredients including almonds and other nuts; check the current packaging against the allergens your guests need to avoid.
What should I do if I want to serve loose or homemade taaitaai?
Before serving, ask about the ingredients used and relevant allergens, including cereals containing gluten. Don’t present the biscuit as gluten-free to a guest with coeliac disease unless you can confirm that this is true for the specific biscuit.
Why should I check both availability and the packaging?
A product page doesn’t guarantee that a seasonal item is still for sale, and packaging information can change. So check that the product is available before buying, then read the packaging you’ve bought before serving.