If you have a food allergy, start by checking the ingredients and any warnings about possible cross-contamination for the exact product variant. Then consider whether individually wrapped biscuits or portion packs would be more convenient. An individually wrapped biscuit isn’t automatically suitable for someone with an allergy, and gluten-free biscuits still need to be checked for other relevant allergens.
You’re looking for biscuits whose ingredients and any cross-contamination warning are suitable for the allergen you need to avoid. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre and the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority say that this involves more than simply choosing individually wrapped biscuits.
You want gluten-free biscuits in convenient portion packs, but you also check for any other allergens that matter to you. A pack containing several biscuits isn’t the same as a separate wrapper for each biscuit.
You’re looking for biscuits wrapped individually or in small portions. Check how many biscuits are in each inner pack, and review the allergen information for the exact variant before choosing them for someone with an allergy.
First, identify the allergen that needs to be avoided. Then check the ingredients and any cross-contamination warning. Only after that should you choose a type of packaging that suits taking the biscuits out, storing them or sharing them.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients and cross-contamination | Compare the highlighted allergens in the ingredients list with the ones you need to avoid. Also check for a warning such as ‘May contain X’; according to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA), this refers to possible cross-contamination. | I want to know whether the allergen I need to avoid is listed in the ingredients or in a warning. For around 42% of consumers, this check would be the top priority. |
| Gluten-free options and portion size | Check the gluten-free claim, any other relevant allergens and the number of biscuits in each inner pack. | If I’m looking for gluten-free biscuits in small portions, I don’t want to assume they’re also free from other allergens I avoid. For around 25% of consumers, this combination of gluten-free biscuits and portion packs would come first. |
| Packaging for taking out or sharing | Check whether each inner pack contains one biscuit or a small portion. Review the allergen information for the chosen variant separately. | When I’m out and about or sharing biscuits, I want to know what I’m handing over in each pack. For around 17% of consumers, the type of packaging would be the main consideration. |
| Up-to-date product information | Before buying, compare the online information with the ingredients and allergen details on the packaging you receive, before eating the biscuits. | When buying again, I want to be able to check whether the packaging still shows the same allergen information. For around 16% of consumers, checking the latest information would be the first priority. |
An individual wrapper tells you about the packaging, not the ingredients. The 300-piece Lotus Speculoos pack described by Albert Heijn contains biscuits wrapped individually, but lists wheat, soya and cereals containing gluten.
Use the packaging to judge convenience, then check the exact variant separately against the allergens that need to be avoided.
According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Schär Digestive Landtaler contains soya and may contain egg and lupin. The AH Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies described contain egg, milk and hazelnut, among other ingredients.
For every flavour and pack size, compare the full allergen information with the allergens that matter to you.
Ingredients and allergen information can change. That means an earlier product listing is no substitute for checking the information on the pack you receive.
Read the physical packaging again before eating the biscuits, even if you’re buying them again or choosing a different pack size.
A range to consider if you’re looking for gluten-free biscuits in a small multipack; always check the exact variant.
An Albert Heijn range with several types of gluten-free biscuits, including speculaas and chocolate chip cookies.
Worth considering if you specifically want individually wrapped speculoos biscuits to take out or share.
Look for clearly highlighted allergens in the ingredients list, and also read any cross-contamination warning. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre states that the 14 major allergens must be clearly identified on pre-packed foods.
You can’t tell from the packaging alone: suitability depends on the allergen that needs to be avoided and the information for the exact variant. For example, the individually wrapped Lotus Speculoos biscuits in the 300-piece pack described by Albert Heijn contain wheat and soya.
According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, this is a warning about possible cross-contamination with the allergen named. It doesn’t mean that the allergen has deliberately been added as an ingredient, but you should still consider the warning if you need to avoid that allergen.
No, the ‘gluten-free’ claim doesn’t mean that. According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Schär Digestive Landtaler contains soya and may contain egg and lupin. So, even with gluten-free biscuits, check the other relevant allergens for each variant.
Yes, check the packaging you actually receive before eating the biscuits. Ingredients and allergen information can change, even if you’ve ordered the same biscuits before.
