If you’re looking for a Valentine’s treat for someone with coeliac disease instead of kano pastries, choose a product whose current packaging says ‘gluten-free’ and check for cross-contamination warnings too. Don’t assume the kano pastries in question are suitable without these checks. Then choose between a biscuit, a small cake or a dessert to share, depending on when you’ll serve it and whether the recipient has any other allergies.
They want to choose a treat without assuming it’s suitable based on the type of product. The current gluten-free claim and any warnings about possible cross-contamination are key, as the Dutch Coeliac Association emphasises when advising people how to read labels.
They want to give something sweet without having to prepare a dessert first. A wrapped biscuit or a single-portion cake may fit the occasion, provided that specific product is suitable for the recipient.
They’re looking for a treat to share and may also need to consider milk, egg, soya, peanuts or nuts. When choosing a dessert for several people, it’s important to check the allergen information for every person eating it.
If you’re buying for someone with coeliac disease, check the current gluten-free claim and any warnings first. Then choose a format that suits the occasion and the recipient. A gluten-free biscuit or small cake isn’t automatically a filled pastry like a kano.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Confirmed gluten-free status | Read the current gluten-free claim on the specific product and check for warnings about cereals containing gluten. According to the European Union, ‘gluten-free’ may be used for products containing no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg of finished product. | If I’m buying for someone with coeliac disease, I don’t want to guess based on a pastry’s name or appearance. That’s why confirmed suitability comes first for around 50% of consumers. |
| How it’s served | Compare portion size and preparation: a biscuit is a different kind of treat from a small cake or a dessert that needs to be defrosted first. | If I want to give someone a gift straight away, I’ll choose a different format than if we’re having dessert together at home. Around 30% of consumers prioritise the occasion most. |
| Flavour and other allergens | Check the ingredients and allergens for your chosen product, including any mention of oats, milk, egg, soya, peanuts and nuts. | A crunchy biscuit won’t appeal to everyone as much as a soft cake, and ingredient choices matter if someone has another allergy. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this combination of preferences. |
A product’s appearance or name doesn’t confirm that a kano or an alternative meets the requirements for a ‘gluten-free’ claim.
Before choosing anything for someone with coeliac disease, check the current gluten-free claim, ingredients and allergens on the specific product’s packaging.
A warning about possible cereals containing gluten needs to be assessed separately. The Dutch Coeliac Association also explains that, in this context, ‘not suitable for people with coeliac disease’ indicates this risk.
If you see such a warning, choose another product for the person with coeliac disease. When serving it, avoid contact with crumbs from food containing gluten.
A gluten-free treat may still contain ingredients such as egg, milk, soya, peanuts or nuts.
Ask which allergens the recipient needs to avoid, then check the allergen information for the exact product you’re buying.
A dessert that needs to be defrosted and then kept chilled requires different preparation from a wrapped biscuit.
Check the preparation and storage instructions, and make sure the number of portions suits your plans.
The Oaties range is an option if you’d like to give someone a crunchy biscuit instead of a filled pastry. Verkade describes Oaties as gluten-free and lists gluten-free rolled oats and gluten-free oat flour.
The chocolate- and tiramisu-flavoured Raw cakes are a dessert option with four portions. Albert Heijn describes this product as gluten-free.
The Madeleines we looked at are soft, individually portioned cakes rather than crunchy biscuits. Jumbo describes this product as gluten-free.
Don’t assume that it is. Only choose the product in question if its current packaging explicitly says ‘gluten-free’ and you’ve checked the ingredients, allergens and any cross-contamination warnings.
Under European rules for the ‘gluten-free’ claim, the finished product may contain no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg. Even when a product carries this claim, it’s important to read the current packaging if other allergens or warnings are relevant.
Treat it as a warning about possible cross-contamination and choose an alternative without a relevant warning for someone with coeliac disease. The Dutch Coeliac Association explains that the wording ‘not suitable for people with coeliac disease’ also indicates this risk.
A wrapped biscuit or a single-portion cake generally suits a different occasion from a dessert that needs to be defrosted first. Whatever you choose, always check the gluten-free claim, relevant allergens and the storage and preparation instructions on the specific product’s packaging.
It may be an option if the venue can cater for the recipient’s needs. The Dutch Coeliac Association recommends planning a restaurant visit carefully in advance, so discuss the ingredients and how the venue handles cross-contact before you book.
