Regular AH butter kano cakes are not a gluten-free snack: according to Albert Heijn’s product information, they contain gluten-containing cereals and wheat. If your child has coeliac disease, choose an alternative whose current packaging explicitly says it is gluten-free, and check the other allergens too. A gluten-free biscuit can be suitable for a treat; for a regular snack, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre also recommends vegetables and fruit.
For them, the first thing to check is the gluten-free statement, along with the current ingredients and allergen information. The shape of a biscuit, or the fact that it contains oats, does not in itself tell you whether a product is suitable.
A gluten-free biscuit alternative also needs to be easy to pack and portion. If other allergens are relevant, you’ll need to check the packaging of each product individually.
If you often give your child something to eat after school, you could alternate a biscuit treat with vegetables or fruit, for example. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends both as snacks for children.
First, decide whether eating gluten-free is essential. Then consider what type of snack suits the occasion and which other ingredients matter for your child.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free status and cross-contamination | Look for the gluten-free statement on the current packaging, and read the ingredients, allergens and warnings. Albert Heijn lists gluten-containing cereals and wheat in its butter kano cakes. | If my child has coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely on the name or shape of a biscuit before packing it. Around 46% of consumers prioritise checking whether food is gluten-free. |
| Packing, portion size and allergens | Compare the packaging with the portion you want to pack. Check separately for any other relevant allergens, and ask about your school or after-school club’s rules on bringing and sharing food. | For a snack in their bag, I want to be able to pack a suitable portion without overlooking other allergens. Around 27% of consumers prioritise this practical consideration. |
| A biscuit treat or an everyday snack | Decide how often you want to give your child a biscuit, and compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion for packaged products. You could also consider vegetables or fruit as a snack. | When a snack is needed on almost every school day, I want to offer variety rather than always choosing a biscuit. This is the most important consideration for around 27% of consumers. |
The AH butter kano cakes described by Albert Heijn contain gluten-containing cereals and wheat. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that even a small amount of gluten can cause symptoms in people with coeliac disease.
Don’t use a regular kano cake as a gluten-free alternative. For another product, check the gluten-free statement on the current packaging.
A name such as oat biscuit, or a picture on the packaging, doesn’t tell you which ingredients and allergens are in the particular product you’ve chosen.
When you buy it, read the label for that exact product, including the ingredients list and any warnings.
A gluten-free product may still contain ingredients that aren’t suitable for your child, or carry a warning about possible cross-contamination.
Check all the allergens that are relevant to your child, not just gluten.
A gluten-free statement doesn’t tell you everything about a snack’s nutritional value. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also recommends vegetables and fruit as snacks.
Think about how often you give your child a biscuit, and compare the nutritional information when choosing between packaged snacks.
Verkade Glutenvrije Oaties naturel is a biscuit option for anyone looking for a gluten-free alternative for a biscuit treat.
The range includes various types of biscuits, including Chocolate Chip Cookies and organic syrup waffles.
Nairn's offers oat biscuits and oat bars labelled gluten-free, giving you options to compare with a biscuit.
These two Joybuy products suit different occasions: an oat biscuit for anyone looking for a biscuit alternative, and granola for a different option. Granola isn’t the same shape as a kano cake; check the current packaging of both products before packing them for your child.
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A biscuit-style alternative for an after-school snack, provided the current packaging meets your child’s dietary needs.
150 g pack. Before packing a portion, check the label for the gluten-free statement, oats, other allergens and any warnings.
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A granola option for anyone who isn’t specifically looking for a biscuit; you can decide what portion suits the occasion.
330 g pack. Check the current packaging for the gluten-free statement, peanuts, other allergens and any warnings.
The AH butter kano cakes in Albert Heijn’s product information are not gluten-free: they list gluten-containing cereals and wheat. Always check the packaging for the exact variant if you’re considering a different kano cake.
Choose a product whose current packaging explicitly says it is gluten-free, and check the ingredients, allergens and warnings too. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that even a small amount of gluten can cause symptoms in people with coeliac disease.
No. The word ‘oats’ alone doesn’t confirm that a biscuit is gluten-free. Check the gluten-free statement and the full packaging for the product you want to pack.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends vegetables and fruit as good snacks for children. If you’d still like to pack a packaged alternative, check the ingredients, portion size and nutritional information for that specific product.
