Organisers of a gluten-free treat
If you’re planning to serve muisjes to someone with coeliac disease at a birth celebration or other occasion, check the current packaging first. Colour and pack size only come into the decision afterwards.
Who is this choice important for?
Families setting aside a separate portion
When sharing food at the table, at school or in lunchboxes, what happens after opening the pack matters too. The Dutch Coeliac Society advises using an unopened pack to avoid contact with crumbs.
What should you look for when choosing?
When buying muisjes for someone with coeliac disease, check the current packaging first. Then compare the quantities and decide how to serve a separate gluten-free portion.
| What to consider | What to check | Who does this matter to? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free product status | Look for ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain symbol on the current packaging, and read the ingredients and allergen information. | For a birth celebration treat, I want to know before buying whether the muisjes are suitable for the guest with coeliac disease. This product status would be the main buying consideration for around 50% of consumers. |
| Contact with crumbs when serving | Keep an unopened pack separate and use clean cutlery and a clean surface. | If everyone is eating at the same table, I want to prevent the gluten-free portion from coming into contact with bread crumbs. Serving it separately would be the main concern for around 30% of consumers. |
| Quantity and sharing | Compare the net weight and number of packs only after each product meets the gluten-free requirement. | For treats or lunchboxes, I want enough muisjes to share without taking the separate portion from a shared, opened pack. This ease of sharing would be the main need for around 20% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
-
Assuming a larger box means it’s gluten-free
The size, colour and number of packs say nothing about whether muisjes are suitable for someone with coeliac disease. For example, Jumbo lists individual De Ruijter packs of 270 g and 330 g; these aren’t gluten-free claims.
First, check the current packaging of each product for ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain symbol. Only then compare the quantity and number of packs.
-
Using a previously opened pack on a shared table
According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, crumbs can get into a gluten-free portion via an opened pack or used kitchen utensils.
Use an unopened pack for that portion, along with clean, separate cutlery and a clean surface.
-
Relying on the product page alone
Ingredients and allergen information on a product page don’t replace checking the packaging you’ll actually use.
Read the current information on the pack just before buying and using it, especially if the packaging or recipe has changed.
A relevant brand to consider
De Ruijter
Jumbo lists De Ruijter Feest Muisjes in 330 g packs and Gestampte Muisjes in 270 g packs, among other products. Check the current packaging of each variety to determine whether it’s suitable for someone with coeliac disease.
- There are different varieties of muisjes and individual pack sizes to compare once you’ve checked their gluten-free status.
- WorldwideHolland lists wheat starch and cereals containing gluten for the crushed variety; Holland Snack Express lists these for the blue-and-white variety too. Don’t assume the same applies to other De Ruijter varieties without checking their packaging.
Joybuy products
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Are De Ruijter muisjes in 270 g or 330 g packs suitable for people with coeliac disease?
Pack size doesn’t determine this. WorldwideHolland lists wheat starch and cereals containing gluten for the crushed variety, while Holland Snack Express does so for the blue-and-white variety. For every other variety, check separately whether the current packaging says ‘gluten-free’ or displays the Crossed Grain symbol.
Is a multipack automatically suitable for a gluten-free treat?
No. Having more packs or a larger quantity doesn’t make muisjes gluten-free. Check the current packaging of each product and, when sharing, set aside an unopened pack for the gluten-free portion.
How can I serve gluten-free muisjes alongside ordinary Dutch rusks?
Prepare the gluten-free portion separately, using clean cutlery and a clean surface. Ideally, use an unopened pack and make sure crumbs or a shared knife don’t come into contact with the muisjes, as advised by the Dutch Coeliac Society.