If you have coeliac disease and want a biscuit to take with you for lunch, first look for a ‘gluten-free’ label and check the current packaging for warnings about cereals containing gluten. Then compare the size and any other allergens: a handy on-the-go pack doesn’t tell you whether a biscuit is gluten-free. According to Lotus Bakeries, Lotus Biscoff Original contains wheat flour, so it isn’t suitable for this choice.
Check the gluten-free label and warnings on the pack you’re buying. The Dutch Coeliac Association points out that a warning about cereals containing gluten is relevant when assessing the risk of cross-contamination.
A small pack may be easier to take with you than a larger one. Albert Heijn lists AH Glutenvrij Koekjes amandel at 45 g; according to Jumbo, Schär Choco Chip Cookies come with three biscuits in a pack.
A gluten-free biscuit may still contain ingredients such as milk, egg, soya, nuts or oats. So check the allergen information for the variant you choose, too.
If you have coeliac disease, first check for a gluten-free label and any warnings about cereals containing gluten. Size, other allergens and nutritional information should only be considered after that.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free labelling and cross-contamination | Look for ‘gluten-free’ on the current packaging and read any warnings about cereals containing gluten. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, ‘gluten-free’ may only be used when the finished product contains no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg. | If I have coeliac disease, I want to know what the label says about gluten and cross-contamination before I take a biscuit with me. This would be the main concern when buying for around 33% of consumers. |
| Size and portion for taking with you | Compare the pack size and number of biscuits per pack; also consider how you’ll carry an opened pack. | For a short lunch break, I want to take a portion with me without having to keep a large pack open. Portability would be the main consideration for around 27% of consumers. |
| Other allergens and oats | Read the ingredients, allergen information and any ‘may contain’ wording. For oat biscuits, also check for an explicit gluten-free label. | As well as gluten, I may need to consider ingredients such as soya, milk or oats; the specific product variant will determine my choice. Additional allergens would be the main concern for around 20% of consumers. |
| Portion and nutritional information | Compare portion sizes and nutritional information, including sugars and fibre, on a like-for-like basis: per 100 g or per portion. | I want to know how many biscuits I’m having with lunch and what the nutritional information means for that portion. Portion size and nutritional information would be the most important criteria for around 20% of consumers. |
Lotus Biscoff Original is also available in a pack for taking with you, but Lotus Bakeries lists wheat flour as an ingredient and gluten as a present allergen. The pack size doesn’t change that.
Check for a gluten-free label and any warnings first; only then choose a pack that suits your needs.
According to the product information, AH Glutenvrij Koekjes amandel contains egg, soya and almonds. Céréal’s product page lists soya and possible traces of, among other things, egg, milk and nuts.
For every variant, check the full allergen information and any ‘may contain’ wording on the current packaging.
A product you’ve seen before may not be available on your next visit. Lidl says its extra gluten-free range is not available to buy; ALDI does list some gluten-free biscuits.
Plan an alternative in advance, and check the label on the product that’s actually in store.
This could mean spending extra time looking or visiting another shop.
Albert Heijn notes that a product’s ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information may change.
Use online information to compare biscuits, but check the gluten-free label and allergen information on the pack before buying.
Albert Heijn lists its own brand and other brands in its gluten-free biscuits category.
Jumbo’s Lekker Vrij range includes gluten-free spiced biscuits, syrup waffles and digestives.
Schär Choco Chip Cookies are gluten-free chocolate biscuits listed in the product information from Jumbo and Albert Heijn.
Jumbo describes Céréal Chocoladekoekjes, 150 g, as gluten-free and lactose-free.
Consenza offers raisin and cranberry biscuits made with gluten-free oats.
Lotus Biscoff Original is a standard spiced biscuit, also available in a size for taking on the go.
ALDI lists products including Trader Joe’s Rice Cookies and Heerlijck Banket coconut macaroons as gluten-free.
Lidl provides information about an extra gluten-free range, but says those products are not available to buy.
This product selection features a Verkade oat biscuit with milk chocolate for a lunchtime treat. Check whether the current packaging meets your requirements for gluten and other allergens.
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If you’d like to take an oat biscuit with you for lunch, the product description labels this variant gluten-free. Check that label on the current packaging.
150 g pack. According to the product information, the biscuit contains milk, oats and soya, and may contain nuts. Check the pack itself if you need individually wrapped portions.
In the EU, under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, a food may only be labelled ‘gluten-free’ if the product sold to the final consumer contains no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg. If you have coeliac disease, read the rest of the information on the current packaging, too.
For this selection aimed at people with coeliac disease, don’t choose a biscuit with that warning. The Dutch Coeliac Association considers ‘may contain cereals containing gluten’ and ‘not suitable for people with coeliac disease’ equivalent warnings for this assessment.
No. Don’t choose a biscuit based on oats alone. Check that it is explicitly labelled ‘gluten-free’ and read the warnings on the packaging; also consider oats separately if that ingredient is relevant to you.
No. Lotus Bakeries lists wheat flour as an ingredient in Biscoff Original and gluten as a present allergen. Even a small pocket-sized pack doesn’t make this variant gluten-free.
Keep the biscuits well wrapped and separate from food containing gluten. The Dutch Coeliac Association recommends storing gluten-free products separately and well wrapped to prevent contact with products containing gluten.
