Biscuit shoppers with coeliac disease
You’re looking for a biscuit to enjoy with your coffee, but you shouldn’t choose a Kano just because of its shape. Check the current packaging to see whether the biscuit is labelled gluten-free.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Dark chocolate lovers
You prefer a dark chocolate flavour. That doesn’t tell you anything about the ingredients in the biscuit underneath: Albert Heijn, for example, lists wheat flour in Céréal Choco delight dark.
Shoppers avoiding other allergens
You check for ingredients other than gluten, too. PLUS lists egg, milk, nuts and hazelnut among the allergens in its gluten-free chocolate chip cookies; soya is something to watch out for in the Schär Choco Chip Cookies sold by PLUS.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start by checking the gluten-free label and ingredients on the packaging. Then compare the type of biscuit, the chocolate and any other allergens.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free labelling | Read the information on the current packaging and check the ingredients for gluten-containing cereals. | When I’m choosing a biscuit because I have coeliac disease, suitability comes before shape or flavour. Around 36% of consumers put this check first. |
| Dark chocolate | Check the type of chocolate separately from the gluten-free label; dark chocolate says nothing about the rest of the biscuit. | I’d rather have a dark chocolate flavour than milk chocolate, but only in a biscuit that meets my gluten-free requirements. Around 29% of consumers say this flavour is their top priority after that. |
| Other allergens | Read the full allergen information too, for example if you need to avoid milk, egg, soya or nuts. | As well as gluten, I need to check for another allergen before considering a biscuit. This extra check matters most to around 21% of consumers. |
| Finding an alternative | Look among biscuits labelled gluten-free, then assess each product individually using its packaging. | If a Kano with dark chocolate isn’t available, I look for another biscuit that meets my requirements. Around 14% of consumers put finding an alternative like this first. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming dark chocolate means the biscuit is gluten-free
The chocolate coating doesn’t determine which ingredients are in the biscuit. Albert Heijn lists 46% wheat flour in Céréal Choco delight dark.
Use dark chocolate as a flavour preference, then check the gluten-free label and ingredients for the whole product.
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Judging an ordinary Kano by its shape
A familiar biscuit shape doesn’t mean it’s gluten-free. Jumbo’s ingredients list for its Kano biscuits with butter includes wheat flour.
If you have coeliac disease, only choose a Kano when the current packaging clearly says it’s gluten-free and you’ve checked the ingredients.
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Not reading any further after checking the gluten-free label
A gluten-free biscuit may contain other allergens. PLUS’s product information lists egg, milk, nuts and hazelnut among the allergens in its gluten-free chocolate chip cookies.
If you need to avoid additional allergens, check the full information on the packaging of the exact variant you’re buying.
Brands and ranges compared
Verkade
Verkade describes its Oaties as gluten-free oat biscuits; there’s also a milk chocolate version.
- An option to consider if a biscuit labelled gluten-free matters more to you than the Kano shape.
- The chocolate version mentioned here contains milk chocolate, not dark chocolate.
Schär
PLUS describes Schär Choco Chip Cookies as gluten-free and wheat-free.
- Another type of biscuit to compare if it doesn’t need to be a Kano.
- They’re chocolate chip cookies, not Kanos; check for soya if it’s an allergen you need to avoid.
Albert Heijn Glutenvrij
Albert Heijn groups together a range of gluten-free biscuits, including a filled biscuit and Verkade Oaties with milk chocolate.
- You can compare different types of biscuit side by side.
- Check the gluten-free label, chocolate and allergens for each product individually.
PLUS Glutenvrij
PLUS lists its gluten-free chocolate chip cookies as an alternative in this type of biscuit.
- An option if you’d be happy with chocolate chip cookies instead of a Kano.
- PLUS lists egg, milk, nuts and hazelnut among the allergens; check the current packaging if you need to avoid other allergens.
Jumbo
Jumbo’s Kano biscuits with butter show why a classic Kano needs to be assessed on its own merits.
- The ingredients list for this specific product includes wheat flour, so it isn’t a gluten-free option. This doesn’t say anything about other Jumbo products.
Milk chocolate biscuits at Joybuy
These Oaties are an option if you’re looking for a biscuit labelled gluten-free with chocolate and you’re happy with milk chocolate. It isn’t a Kano and doesn’t offer the dark chocolate flavour you’re looking for.
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Verkade Gv Oaties Milk Chocolate 150 g
If you’re looking for a biscuit with chocolate and are happy to forgo the Kano shape or dark chocolate flavour, this is an alternative to consider. Joybuy describes this 150 g version as gluten-free and lists milk chocolate; check the gluten-free label and allergens on the current packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Does dark chocolate mean a biscuit is gluten-free?
No. The chocolate flavour tells you nothing about the ingredients in the whole biscuit. Albert Heijn lists wheat flour as an ingredient in Céréal Choco delight dark, so always check the gluten-free label as well.
Can I choose an ordinary Kano if I have coeliac disease?
Not based on the product name alone: according to Jumbo, its Kano biscuits with butter contain wheat flour and aren’t a gluten-free option. Check the current packaging of any other Kano you’re considering.
What should I check on a biscuit label?
First check the gluten-free label, then read the ingredients and allergen information for the variant you’ve chosen. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says the name of any gluten-containing cereal must appear in the ingredients list; also look out for any other allergens that are relevant to you.
Is every oat biscuit suitable if I’m looking for gluten-free options?
No. Don’t rely on the word ‘oat’ alone. The Dutch Coeliac Association warns that oats not specifically labelled gluten-free may be contaminated with gluten, so check the gluten-free label on the biscuit’s current packaging.