Don’t serve AH BASIC Kano’s to anyone following a strict gluten-free diet: according to Albert Heijn, they contain wheat gluten. For your work meeting, choose a cake or biscuit whose packaging clearly says ‘gluten-free’, and keep it separate from ordinary treats when serving. Also check the allergen information if attendees need to avoid other ingredients.
You need a treat clearly labelled gluten-free and want to prevent it coming into contact with crumbs from ordinary biscuits when it’s served. The Dutch Coeliac Society also highlights the risk of cross-contamination at work.
You’d prefer a soft treat with your coffee rather than a crunchy biscuit. Gluten-free cake or madeleines are options to consider; according to Albert Heijn, AH BASIC Kano’s contain wheat gluten.
If you’re serving ordinary and gluten-free treats at the same time, make sure they’re clearly identifiable and kept separate. Pre-portioned treats make serving easier, but you’ll still need clean serving utensils.
Start by checking for a gluten-free label and setting aside a separate serving area. Then choose between a cake to portion up, small individual cakes or a biscuit to go with the coffee break.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free options and serving separately | Check the gluten-free label on the packaging and use a clean, separate serving area. | If an attendee has coeliac disease, I want to make sure the treat contains no gluten and doesn’t pick up crumbs from ordinary biscuits. For around 50% of consumers, this safety consideration comes first. |
| Portions and serving | Check how many portions there are and whether you’ll need to cut the cake; don’t assume it comes in individual packs. | For self-service, I want to be able to serve portions without everyone using the same utensils. Around 30% of consumers give practical serving arrangements top priority. |
| Type of treat | Choose between soft cake or madeleines and a crunchy biscuit, and check the current packaging for your chosen option. | For a coffee break, I’m looking for something more like a soft Kano than a crunchy biscuit. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this preference. |
You can’t tell just by looking whether a biscuit is gluten-free. Albert Heijn lists wheat gluten in AH BASIC Kano’s.
If someone follows a strict gluten-free diet, buy an alternative whose packaging clearly says ‘gluten-free’.
According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, cross-contamination can also happen at work. Sharing a plate or serving tongs makes it difficult to keep treats separate.
Keep the gluten-free treat wrapped until it’s time to serve, and use a clean, separate area and clean utensils.
‘Gluten-free’ doesn’t mean a product is also free from egg, milk or nuts. The cakes and madeleines mentioned have different allergens.
Ask which other allergies you need to take into account, then check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact packaging you’ve bought.
A cake option for anyone looking to serve a soft gluten-free treat at a work meeting.
An option when small, soft cake portions are more convenient than a cake you need to cut on the spot.
A biscuit option for anyone who’d rather serve something crunchy with coffee than cake.
A shop where you can compare different kinds of sweet gluten-free treats.
A cake option if you want to cut your own portions and can serve them separately.
A biscuit alternative if coconut macaroons would suit better than soft cake.
Another shop to try if you find a suitable product locally.
These oat biscuits are an option if you’d rather serve something crunchy than a soft cake at your work meeting. If an attendee has coeliac disease, check that the packaging you buy clearly says ‘gluten-free’.
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A crunchy oat biscuit to enjoy with coffee, not a soft Kano with almond paste. Check the gluten-free label and allergens on the packaging you buy, and serve the biscuits separately from ordinary treats.
Don’t offer AH BASIC Kano’s as a gluten-free treat: Albert Heijn lists wheat gluten in this product. Choose a product whose packaging clearly says ‘gluten-free’ for that attendee.
Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, the ‘gluten-free’ label means the finished product can contain no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg. Check that label on the packaging of the product you’re actually serving.
It’s better to use a separate plate and clean serving utensils. The Dutch Coeliac Society warns about cross-contamination, including at work, so keep the gluten-free treat wrapped for as long as possible.
Not necessarily: according to the relevant product information, AH Glutenvrij Cake contains egg, and Schär Madeleines may contain almonds and hazelnuts. If there are any other allergies to consider, check the current packaging of the product you choose.
Pre-portioned treats save you having to cut anything up, but check how they’re individually packaged. Jumbo lists Schär Madeleines as eight 30 g portions; even then, you’ll need a clean, separate area if ordinary biscuits are being served too.
