If you have coeliac disease, don’t take regular kano biscuits as a gluten-free walking snack: the Albert Heijn and Jumbo varieties we checked contain wheat or gluten. Instead, look for a bar or biscuit clearly labelled as gluten-free, and check the current label, including the information on other allergens. An individually wrapped bar is handy to take with you, but it won’t necessarily have the same flavour and texture as a kano biscuit.
You’re looking for something to take with you, where a gluten-free label matters more than a kano-like flavour. The Albert Heijn and Jumbo kano biscuits we checked contain wheat or gluten. Check the current label of any alternative, and keep it separate from food containing gluten.
You want a snack that’s easy to take with you. An individually wrapped bar, such as the Schär Crisp Bar described by Albert Heijn, is an alternative to a filled biscuit. Check separately that the snack meets your dietary requirements.
As well as gluten, you may need to avoid ingredients such as milk, soya or nuts. So check the full allergen information and any ‘may contain’ warning on the product you buy.
Choose these when: You don’t need to follow a gluten-free diet and the allergens in the product are suitable for you.
The trade-off: The Albert Heijn and Jumbo kano biscuits we checked contain wheat or gluten, so they’re not a gluten-free alternative.
Choose this when: You’re looking for a compact snack and can check the gluten-free label on the packaging.
The trade-off: A bar isn’t a kano biscuit and may contain other allergens; according to Albert Heijn’s product information, the Schär Crisp Bar contains milk, soya and hazelnut.
Choose this when: You’d rather take a biscuit-style snack than a bar; Jumbo lists a gluten-free filled biscuit in its Lekker Vrij range.
The trade-off: A filled biscuit isn’t automatically the same as a kano biscuit. Check the label of the specific biscuit.
| What to consider | What to check | Especially relevant for |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free options | Check the gluten-free label and ingredients on the current packaging. According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, products bearing the Crossed Grain symbol have been checked to ensure they’re gluten-free. | If I have coeliac disease, I want to know my snack is gluten-free before I consider its shape. Around 50% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Taking it on a walk | Check whether individual portions are wrapped separately and whether you can keep the packaging sealed until you’re ready to eat. | When I’m out and about, I want to be able to grab a snack without loose crumbs getting among my other things. For around 30% of consumers, ease of carrying is the top priority. |
| Biscuit or bar | Decide what kind of snack you’re looking for, and check the allergen information if you choose an alternative. | I’m mainly looking for a biscuit-style snack and don’t want to automatically end up with a bar. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this preference. |
According to Albert Heijn, AH Basic Kano biscuits contain wheat gluten; Jumbo lists gluten and wheat for the butter kano biscuits we checked. The small portion size doesn’t change that.
If you need a gluten-free option, choose a different product and check the current gluten-free label and allergen information before buying.
A gluten-free label says nothing about other allergens. Albert Heijn’s product information lists milk, soya and hazelnut among the ingredients in the Schär Crisp Bar.
Compare the bar’s full allergen information with the ingredients you need to avoid.
Crumbs and leftovers can cause cross-contact. The Dutch Coeliac Society warns about cross-contamination for people with coeliac disease.
Keep the snack in its sealed packaging or separate from food containing gluten, and make sure your hands are clean when you open it.
Albert Heijn offers, among other things, a gluten-free muesli bar with chocolate and regular kano biscuits. It’s the product range that makes the difference, not just the shop name.
The Lekker Vrij range is a good place to start if you’re looking for a biscuit-style snack labelled gluten-free.
Schär offers bars labelled gluten-free; the Crisp Bar described by Albert Heijn is individually wrapped.
This granola is a different type of snack from a kano biscuit or bar. You can pack a portion yourself for a walk; if you need a gluten-free option, check the current packaging first.
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For anyone who wants to take granola as a snack on a walk and can pack a portion themselves.
The pack contains 6 × 330 g of granola. Check the current gluten-free label and allergen information on the packaging, especially if you have coeliac disease or need to avoid other allergens.
Not the varieties we checked. Albert Heijn lists wheat gluten in AH Basic Kano biscuits; Jumbo lists gluten and wheat in its butter kano biscuits. Don’t choose these varieties if you need a gluten-free snack for a walk.
No. The absence of wheat from an ingredients list isn’t enough to establish that a product is gluten-free. Check the current gluten-free label and the full allergen information; according to the Dutch Coeliac Society, products bearing the Crossed Grain symbol have been checked to ensure they’re gluten-free.
Keep the snack in its sealed packaging until you’re ready to eat it, or store it separately in a clean bag. Avoid contact with crumbs and leftovers from food containing gluten; the Dutch Coeliac Society warns about cross-contamination for people with coeliac disease.
