Who is this choice relevant to?

Families with someone who has coeliac disease

You’ll want to see on the packaging that the specific rice cake you choose is labelled gluten-free. The European Commission sets a limit of no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten for this claim.

St Nicholas’ Eve revellers looking for a sweet rice cake

A chocolate rice cake can be served as it is, but you’ll also need to check the nutritional information and any other allergens. The Consenza chocolate variety on the PLUS product page may contain traces of soya, milk, nuts and sesame.

Shoppers who want to add their own toppings

A plain rice cake gives you the freedom to choose a topping. Check both the rice cake and each topping separately for a gluten-free claim and for any allergens that may be relevant to your guests.

What should you look for when choosing?

If you’re buying for someone with coeliac disease, start by checking the gluten-free claim on the finished product. Then consider whether a plain rice cake to top yourself, a quinoa and sea salt variety or a chocolate rice cake best suits the flavour you’re looking for and any other allergen requirements.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Gluten-free claim Look for ‘gluten-free’ on the current packaging of the specific rice cake. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, the limit is no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. If I’m buying rice cakes for someone with coeliac disease, I want to be able to check the claim on the finished product; around 50% of consumers put this reassurance first.
Sweet varieties and allergens For chocolate rice cakes, read the ingredients, nutritional information and warnings about other allergens. For a treat I can serve straight away, I’d rather choose chocolate, as long as it’s suitable for my guests’ other allergen requirements; for around 25% of consumers, that festive flavour is the deciding factor.
Plain rice cakes and adding your own toppings Compare the ingredients and salt per 100 g; check each topping separately. I want to choose what goes on my rice cake and have time to check the toppings; around 25% of consumers put this simple starting point first.

Common buying mistakes

  • Assuming every rice cake is suitable for someone with coeliac disease

    An ingredients list that includes rice doesn’t provide the same information as a gluten-free claim on the finished product. The European Commission sets a limit of no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten for this claim.

    Check the current packaging of the variety you’re buying for a ‘gluten-free’ claim.

  • Overlooking other allergens

    A gluten-free chocolate rice cake may still contain other allergens or carry a ‘may contain traces’ warning. The Consenza chocolate variety on the PLUS product page may contain traces of soya, milk, nuts and sesame.

    If a guest has a relevant allergy, read the full ingredients and allergen information.

  • Relying on the product page alone

    When you buy a product, the information on the packaging you actually receive is what matters, even if you’ve already chosen a variety online.

    Check that the product name and variety match the packaging, then read the gluten-free claim and allergen information on it again.

  • Not checking toppings separately

    A gluten-free claim on a plain rice cake says nothing about the ingredients in chocolate, spiced biscuits or any other topping you add.

    Check each topping separately before serving the rice cake to someone with coeliac disease.

Brands and ranges compared

Consenza

PLUS labels both its unsalted plain Consenza rice cakes and its chocolate rice cakes as gluten-free. Check the specific variety when you buy.

  • The PLUS product page labels Consenza Unsalted Rice Cakes ‘gluten-free’ and lists 0.01 g of salt per 100 g.
  • According to PLUS, the Consenza chocolate variety contains 24 g of sugars per 100 g and may contain traces of soya, milk, nuts and sesame.

Smaakt

PLUS sells an organic Smaakt rice cake with quinoa and sea salt, which is labelled gluten-free on the product page.

  • According to PLUS, this variety contains 99.3% wholegrain rice and 0.5% quinoa.
  • The same product page lists sea salt, 0.22 g of salt per 100 g and possible traces of soya; check whether this suits your needs.

Jumbo

Jumbo sells plain and multigrain rice cakes, among other varieties. If you’re buying for someone with coeliac disease, only choose a specific variety if the current packaging labels it gluten-free.

  • Jumbo’s product page lists wholegrain rice as an ingredient in its plain variety; the multigrain variety contains brown rice, maize and buckwheat, among other ingredients.
  • According to Jumbo, the plain variety may contain sesame and soya. For these varieties too, the ingredients list is no substitute for checking the gluten-free claim.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn’s rice cake range includes a variety of options, such as plain, sea salt, no added salt and chocolate.

  • These varieties give you options to compare flavours and ingredients.
  • Having a separate gluten-free range doesn’t mean every rice cake is gluten-free; check the packaging of the product you choose.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is every rice cake suitable if you have coeliac disease?

No. Don’t choose based on rice as an ingredient alone. Check that the specific rice cake is labelled ‘gluten-free’ on the current packaging; under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, this claim may be used if the finished product contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten.

What should I look for in a chocolate rice cake for St Nicholas’ Eve?

First check the gluten-free claim, then read the ingredients, nutritional information and details of any other allergens. The Consenza chocolate variety on the PLUS product page contains 24 g of sugars per 100 g and may contain traces of soya, milk, nuts and sesame.

Do I need to check a topping for a gluten-free rice cake too?

Yes, check the topping as a separate product. A gluten-free claim on the rice cake doesn’t automatically apply to the topping you add.

How should I store opened plain rice cakes?

Follow the storage instructions on the packaging for your variety. PLUS’s product information for Consenza Unsalted Rice Cakes says to store them in a cool, dry, dark place and seal them in an airtight container after opening.