For a Vlaggetjesdag treat for someone with coeliac disease, packaged taaitaai is only suitable if the current label states ‘gluten-free’. Albert Heijn listed Consenza Taai taai poppetjes with this claim, but the variety also contains gluten-free oats and almonds. So check the packaging, any other relevant allergens and availability before buying. If you’re baking your own, check each ingredient separately.
You’re looking for taaitaai with an explicit gluten-free claim, not an ordinary festive biscuit that looks similar. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, ‘gluten-free’ may only appear on a food if the product sold to consumers contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. Check the label on the pack you buy, too.
Other ingredients or allergens may also affect your choice. Albert Heijn lists gluten-free oats and almonds in its Consenza product. According to the product information, the Maître Mathis variety previously listed there contains milk and lupin and may contain egg, nuts and sesame.
You’ll want to know in good time which pack you can use and how many portions it contains. Albert Heijn listed Consenza as available to order, but marked Maître Mathis as no longer ranged. Jumbo marked the taaitaai from Gluten Free Bakery Holland as no longer available. Check the current status before planning a treat.
Choose this option: if you want a ready-made treat and can check the gluten-free claim on the current pack.
Bear in mind: the listed Consenza variety contains oats and almonds, so check whether these ingredients are suitable for the recipient.
Choose this option: if you want to decide the shape, portion size and ingredients yourself.
Bear in mind: ordinary taaitaai made with wheat or rye is not a gluten-free starting point; check every ingredient you use, including oats.
For packaged taaitaai, check the gluten-free claim first, then any other relevant allergens and whether the product will be available in time.
| What to check | Check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free claim and label | Look for ‘gluten-free’ on the current pack and read the ingredients and allergen information. | If I’m bringing taaitaai for someone with coeliac disease, I don’t want to judge by the shape or name of the biscuit. For around 56% of consumers, checking the gluten-free claim comes first. |
| Other allergens | For each variety, check both ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ information, where those allergens are relevant to the recipient. | If the treat is also for someone with another food allergy, I want to know which ingredients or potential allergens are listed on the pack. This additional check matters most to around 33% of consumers. |
| Availability and portions | Check the current range status and work out how much you need based on the pack size and contents. | If I want to hand out a treat shortly before Vlaggetjesdag, the taaitaai I choose needs to be available and suitable for the number of guests. For around 11% of consumers, convenience when choosing a treat comes first. |
Albert Heijn lists wheat and rye in its regular taaitaai; the Bolletje Taai Taai listed by Albert Heijn contains wheat flour and rye flour. These products are not a substitute for gluten-free taaitaai for someone with coeliac disease.
Go by the explicit gluten-free claim and the current label, not by the shape or product name.
According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Consenza contains almonds and gluten-free oats. The Maître Mathis variety previously listed there contains milk and lupin and may contain egg, nuts and sesame.
Ask which other allergens are relevant to the recipient, and read both the ingredients and the warnings on the packaging.
Albert Heijn marked Maître Mathis as no longer ranged; Jumbo said the taaitaai from Gluten Free Bakery Holland was no longer available.
Check the range status shortly before Vlaggetjesdag and decide in advance which other suitably labelled treat you could use.
Ingredients and allergen information can change. If you’ve looked at a product before, you’ll need to check it again next time you buy it.
Read the label on the pack you’re actually buying, especially if several allergens are a concern.
Albert Heijn lists Consenza Taai taai poppetjes as gluten-free taaitaai in a 125 g pack.
Albert Heijn has a product page for Maître Mathis Taai taai glutenvrij, 125 g, but marked the product as no longer ranged.
Jumbo listed Gluten Free Bakery Holland Taai Taai Glutenvrij, 130 g.
Choose taaitaai with a ‘gluten-free’ claim on the current label, and also check for any other allergens that are relevant to that person. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, the claim may only be used if the product sold to consumers contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten.
Yes, oats can be used in a product labelled gluten-free. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014 sets requirements for the production, preparation or processing of those oats to avoid contamination with wheat, rye, barley or their crossbred varieties; the gluten content of the oats must also not exceed 20 mg/kg. Check separately whether oats are a relevant allergen for the recipient.
No, not if the ordinary taaitaai contains wheat or rye. According to Albert Heijn, regular AH taaitaai lists wheat and rye flour. Choose a separate product with a verifiable gluten-free claim for someone with coeliac disease.
Before choosing the taaitaai, ask for allergen information and what supports any gluten-free claim. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that consumers must be given allergen information for unpackaged products in a way other than on a label. Allergen information alone does not confirm that a product is gluten-free.
