People who avoid gluten for medical reasons
If the taaitaai is for someone with coeliac disease or another medical reason to avoid gluten, an explicit gluten-free claim and the allergen information on the current packaging are essential.
If you need taaitaai that is both gluten-free and organic, check each claim separately and read the allergen information on the current packaging. Albert Heijn describes Consenza Taai taai poppetjes gluten free as both gluten-free and organic, but the ingredients also include gluten-free oat flour and almonds. Other gluten-free varieties are not automatically organic, and some seasonal products listed are no longer available.
If the taaitaai is for someone with coeliac disease or another medical reason to avoid gluten, an explicit gluten-free claim and the allergen information on the current packaging are essential.
If you’re looking for taaitaai that is both gluten-free and organic for your Sinterklaas shopping, check both product claims. The EU organic logo can help you identify a certified organic product.
When buying treats for a group, you may need to check for oats, nuts, milk, lupin, egg or sesame as well as gluten. Check the information for the specific product.
When buying taaitaai that is both gluten-free and organic, first check the gluten-free claim, then the organic claim. Next, check whether the other allergens and current availability suit your shopping needs.
| What to look out for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free claim | Look for the explicit ‘gluten-free’ claim and check the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging. | If I’m buying taaitaai for someone who needs to avoid gluten for medical reasons, I don’t want to rely on which aisle the product is in. For around 42% of consumers, confidence that a product is gluten-free comes first. |
| Organic claim | As well as checking for ‘gluten-free’, look for an organic product claim or the EU organic logo. | When I’m doing my organic Sinterklaas shopping, I want to know that the taaitaai is certified organic too. This is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Other allergens and availability | Read any ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements, and check whether the seasonal product is available. | When I’m shopping for several people, I also need to check for their other allergens and don’t want to rely on an old product listing. Around 25% of consumers prioritise these practical considerations. |
An organic claim says nothing about whether a product contains gluten. For example, the regular taaitaai listed by PLUS and Jumbo contains wheat and rye.
Check ‘gluten-free’ and ‘organic’ as two separate requirements for the specific product.
Even gluten-free taaitaai may contain ingredients or traces that are relevant to someone eating it. Albert Heijn lists almonds and gluten-free oat flour for Consenza; the Maître Mathis product information mentions milk and lupin, and possible traces of egg, nuts and sesame.
Compare the full allergen information on the current packaging with the needs of the people you’re buying for.
The product listings for Maître Mathis at Albert Heijn and Gluten Free Bakery Holland at Jumbo say that these varieties are no longer in their ranges.
Check whether a specific seasonal product is currently available just before you shop.
A brand to consider if both the gluten-free and organic claims are essential to your purchase.
A gluten-free taaitaai option to assess based on its own product claims and allergen information if organic is also a requirement.
A listed gluten-free taaitaai option; check the product separately for an organic claim.
No. ‘Gluten-free’ and ‘organic’ are separate claims. Albert Heijn uses both for Consenza Taai taai poppetjes gluten free; for any other variety, check the organic claim yourself. According to the European Commission, the EU organic logo may only be used on products certified as organic.
Yes. Albert Heijn lists almonds and gluten-free oat flour for the Consenza variety. The listing for Maître Mathis mentions milk and lupin, and possible traces of egg, nuts and sesame. Read the allergen information on the packaging of the product you buy.
Choose taaitaai with an explicit gluten-free claim and check the current packaging for ingredients and relevant allergens. An organic claim or a place on an organic shelf is no substitute for a gluten-free claim.
Check the packaging label. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergen information must appear on the label of pre-packed foods. If you’re buying for someone with an allergy, always check the current packaging.
Follow the storage instructions on the specific pack. Albert Heijn says to store Consenza taaitaai in a dry, sealed container; instructions may vary for other varieties.