If you have coeliac disease, choose biscuits clearly labelled gluten-free, then check the current packaging to confirm that the exact product is also vegan. A gluten-free biscuit may contain egg, while a vegan biscuit may contain wheat. Online filters can help you search, but they’re no substitute for checking the ingredients and allergen information on the pack.
For you, a clear gluten-free label is the first requirement. You also need to check that the exact product is suitable for vegans; a brand name or category page doesn’t prove that it meets both requirements.
You can use categories and filters to find biscuits that may meet both requirements. Make your final choice by checking the current product packaging.
You’re looking for an alternative with a familiar flavour or in a familiar variety. Check that it’s both gluten-free and vegan separately, even if one of those claims is already clearly shown on the product.
Start by checking the gluten-free label on the exact product, then look at the vegan claim and ingredients list. After that, compare the types of biscuits that suit you.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who should give this more weight? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free label | Look for an explicit ‘gluten-free’ label on the packaging of the exact product; don’t rely on ‘vegan’ or ‘plant-based’ alone. | When I have coeliac disease, I want to see the gluten-free label before considering a favourite flavour. For around 50% of consumers, this confirmation matters most. |
| Vegan suitability | Check the vegan claim and ingredients list for the product, paying particular attention to egg and milk. | When I shop strictly vegan, I don’t want to choose a gluten-free biscuit that still contains animal-derived ingredients. Around 30% of consumers prioritise this vegan check. |
| Types of biscuits available | Use categories and filters to find products, but check each one individually against both requirements. | I want to be able to choose from the types of biscuits that meet my requirements, rather than relying on a filter result. This freedom of choice is the priority for around 20% of consumers. |
These terms aren’t interchangeable. For example, Albert Heijn lists free-range egg in AH Glutenvrij Koekjes amandel.
After checking that it’s gluten-free, also read the vegan claim and ingredients list for the exact product you’re buying.
Lotus Biscoff describes its original Biscoff cookie as vegan, but the product information also lists wheat flour and gluten. So the vegan label doesn’t mean that this product is gluten-free.
If you have coeliac disease, don’t choose a product based on ‘vegan’ alone: check separately for an explicit gluten-free label.
A gluten-free category may also include products that aren’t vegan. A filter can help you search, but it doesn’t tell you everything about an individual pack.
Open the information for the exact product, then check the current packaging when it arrives.
Albert Heijn points out that ingredients and allergy information can change. So just because something was correct when you last bought it doesn’t mean it will still be true of another pack without a fresh check.
Check the claims, ingredients and allergens again whenever you buy a new product or pack.
Albert Heijn’s gluten-free biscuit category also has a vegan filter. This can help you find potential options, but it doesn’t mean that every product in the category is vegan.
Jumbo’s gluten-free category includes products with a range of ingredients and dietary claims. A claim made for one product doesn’t automatically apply to the rest of the category or product range.
The original Biscoff cookie shows why a familiar vegan option may still not meet a gluten-free requirement.
No. Lotus Biscoff describes its original Biscoff cookie as vegan, while the product information lists wheat flour and gluten. If you have coeliac disease, check that the exact product is explicitly labelled gluten-free too.
No. Albert Heijn lists free-range egg in AH Glutenvrij Koekjes amandel. As well as checking the gluten-free label, read the vegan claim and ingredients list on the pack.
Filters are useful for finding potential products, but they aren’t a definitive check of an individual biscuit. Look at the exact product and check the current packaging for both the gluten-free label and information about vegan suitability.
Yes. Albert Heijn warns that ingredients and allergy information can change. So check the claims, ingredients and allergens on the pack you’re actually buying, especially if both gluten-free and vegan are requirements.
