Who is this choice relevant to?

People with coeliac disease looking for a biscuit

You’re looking for a biscuit labelled gluten-free. A small size on its own tells you nothing about the ingredients in the product you choose.

People who want a small biscuit treat

You want a small or pre-portioned pack, but only compare portion sizes after checking the gluten-free label on the packaging.

People comparing supermarkets

You’re looking at different shops and brands without assuming that similar biscuits have the same ingredients or allergen information.

What should you look for when choosing?

If you have coeliac disease, first check the gluten-free label and ingredients on the specific product packaging. Only then compare portion sizes and shops.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Suitability for a gluten-free diet Look for ‘gluten-free’ on the current packaging and read the ingredients list, even for a mini-sized product. If I have coeliac disease, I first want to know whether this specific biscuit is suitable for my gluten-free diet. For around 63% of consumers, this is the top priority.
A manageable size After checking that it’s gluten-free, compare the number of biscuits, the net weight and any portion information. For the biscuit treat I have planned, I want to be able to have a small amount, even if the alternative isn’t a sprits biscuit. Around 25% of consumers give size the highest priority.
Choice by shop Check the packaging of the exact product you’re buying. If product information is missing, ask the shop or manufacturer for clarification. When I compare shops, I want to know which information applies to the biscuit I’m holding. For around 12% of consumers, comparing shops is their main concern.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘mini’ means ‘gluten-free’

    The size doesn’t change the ingredients. Jumbo lists wheat flour and wheat as an allergen for Sprits Staafjes Mini.

    Check whether it’s suitable for a gluten-free diet before deciding if the size works for your biscuit treat.

  • Relying on the brand name or a previous purchase

    Product information from Albert Heijn, PLUS and Verkade lists wheat in the regular sprits varieties reviewed. That doesn’t automatically apply to every other biscuit from those brands.

    Always read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact variety on the current packaging.

  • Assuming every oat biscuit is gluten-free

    An oat biscuit isn’t automatically a gluten-free alternative to a sprits biscuit. Verkade labels its Oaties Melkchocolade as gluten-free, but it’s a different type of biscuit.

    Only choose an oat biscuit for this purpose if the specific packaging clearly says ‘gluten-free’.

Brands to consider

The products mentioned from these brands differ in ingredients and biscuit type. So assess the specific variety, not the brand as a whole.

Jumbo

Jumbo has a product page for Sprits Staafjes Mini 125 g, a mini-sized sprits biscuit.

  • The mini size makes the portion per biscuit easy to see.
  • According to Jumbo, this variety contains wheat flour and wheat is an allergen. It isn’t suitable for someone with coeliac disease.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists the ingredients for its regular AH Spritsen.

  • According to Albert Heijn, AH Spritsen contain wheat flour, so they aren’t a gluten-free sprits option.
  • Don’t draw conclusions about other biscuits from this variety; check the label on the product you choose.

Verkade

Verkade lists both NoboSprits Melk and the separate oat biscuit Oaties Melkchocolade.

  • Verkade labels Oaties Melkchocolade as gluten-free; check this on the current packaging.
  • According to Verkade, NoboSprits Melk contains wheat flour. Oaties is also an oat biscuit, not a mini sprits.

PLUS

PLUS provides product information for its own-brand regular sprits biscuits.

  • The ingredients listed by PLUS for these sprits biscuits include wheat flour, wheat starch and wheat gluten. This variety isn’t suitable for people with coeliac disease.

Lidl

Lidl provides information about its gluten-free range, but this doesn’t confirm that a specific mini sprits is suitable.

  • Lidl says that it doesn’t provide a general online list of ingredients and allergens for food products. So check the packaging of the specific biscuit.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products will appear soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are Jumbo Sprits Staafjes Mini suitable for people with coeliac disease?

No. Jumbo lists wheat flour as an ingredient and wheat as an allergen for Sprits Staafjes Mini; the small size doesn’t change that.

When can a biscuit be labelled ‘gluten-free’?

Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, the claim ‘gluten-free’ may be used if the food sold to the final consumer contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. Check the label on the packaging of the biscuit you buy.

Is the front of the packaging enough to check for gluten?

No. Read the ingredients list too: the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that, when ingredients come from gluten-containing cereals, the name of the cereal must be stated.

What should I do if there’s a warning about possible cross-contamination?

Don’t automatically assume that a biscuit with this kind of warning is suitable for someone with coeliac disease. The Dutch Coeliac Association points out that cross-contamination can occur during production; assess all the information on the specific packaging.

Can I always check the allergens in Lidl biscuits online?

No. Lidl says it doesn’t provide a general online list of ingredients, allergens and nutritional values for food products. Check the packaging of the specific biscuit or ask Lidl for product information.