If you have coeliac disease, look for a treat explicitly labelled gluten-free rather than a standard kano cake: Albert Heijn and Jumbo’s product information lists wheat or gluten in the kano cakes reviewed. Gluten-free mini cakes and madeleines come in individual portions that you can allocate to different days in the calendar; a larger cake will need to be cut up. Whichever you choose, check the current label for other allergens and make sure the portions will fit in the calendar.
You’re looking for a treat for someone who needs to avoid gluten. The kano cakes reviewed from Albert Heijn and Jumbo list wheat or gluten. So don’t choose by shape alone: check that any alternative is labelled gluten-free and read the current packaging.
You want to fill several compartments without having to cut up a cake. Jumbo sells the gluten-free mini cakes reviewed in packs of six; the Schär Madeleines reviewed come in packs of eight, with each one weighing 30 g. Check that they’ll fit in your calendar.
As well as gluten, eggs, soya, milk or nuts may be a concern. For example, the gluten-free cakes and madeleines reviewed list eggs or the possible presence of nuts. Read the allergen information for the exact product before filling the calendar.
If you have coeliac disease, start by checking for a gluten-free label and reading the full allergen information. Then compare the number of portions with the space in the calendar compartments. A gluten-free cake gives you more flexibility when cutting it up, but does require some preparation.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free labelling | Look for an explicit gluten-free label on the current packaging and read the ingredients and allergen information. According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, ‘gluten-free’ means less than 20 mg of gluten per kg of product. | If someone with coeliac disease is getting a treat, I don’t want to judge it by the shape of a biscuit. For around 50% of consumers, clear gluten-free labelling is the first thing they look for when buying. |
| Individual portions | Compare the number of pieces, the weight of each one and the size of the calendar compartments. Check how the treats are packaged before dividing them between different days. | To fill several compartments, I want treats I can portion out without cutting them up myself. For around 30% of consumers, portion convenience comes first. |
| Other allergens | Check the information for the exact product for ingredients including eggs, milk, soya and nuts, as well as any relevant ‘may contain’ warnings. | If the recipient has another food allergy, I need to look beyond ‘gluten-free’. For around 20% of consumers, checking for other allergens is the deciding factor. |
According to Albert Heijn, AH BASIC Kano's list wheat gluten; Jumbo’s product information for its butter kano cakes lists wheat flour and gluten. So the shape tells you nothing about whether a treat is suitable for someone with coeliac disease.
Choose a product with an explicit gluten-free label for the recipient, and check the ingredients and allergens on the current packaging.
The gluten-free mini cakes, cake and madeleines reviewed may still list other relevant allergens, including eggs or the possible presence of nuts.
Before buying, make a note of all the allergens that matter to the recipient and check the label of each product you choose.
A gluten-free product you’ve seen before may not be available when you’re filling the calendar. Lidl, for example, says its additional gluten-free products are currently unavailable.
Check what’s currently available shortly before buying, and decide in advance which other gluten-free treat would be suitable for the recipient.
These examples show the types of products you could compare. Always check the exact product and its current label: a brand name alone won’t tell you which allergens a treat contains.
Albert Heijn’s own-brand range, including gluten-free cake and brownies.
Jumbo’s gluten-free range includes mini cakes for individual treats.
This brand offers gluten-free madeleines, among other products, as an alternative for a small, soft treat.
Verkade describes its Oaties as gluten-free biscuits. They’re a different type of biscuit from a soft kano cake.
The kano cakes reviewed from Albert Heijn and Jumbo aren’t: Albert Heijn lists wheat gluten in AH BASIC Kano's, while Jumbo lists wheat flour and gluten in its butter kano cakes. If you’re buying for someone with coeliac disease, always check for a gluten-free label and read the packaging of the product you’re actually buying.
According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, a product can be labelled ‘gluten-free’ if it contains less than 20 mg of gluten per kg. Also check the current label for the ingredients and any other allergens that matter to the recipient.
Yes. A gluten-free product can still contain other allergens. For example, the mini cakes and madeleines reviewed contain eggs and may contain nuts. So be sure to check the other allergen information for the exact product too.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the treat you’ve chosen. Keep the outer packaging or take a photo of the label so you can check the ingredients and allergens later. When dividing up the treats, also check that the packaging of each individual piece stays intact.
