For an Easter brunch with someone who has coeliac disease, choose rusks and chocolate sprinkles whose gluten-free labelling you can check separately on the current packaging. Keep them separate from gluten-containing bread and shared utensils when serving; gluten-free rusks alone don’t make the topping or the Easter table suitable.
You want to serve rusks with chocolate sprinkles at Easter brunch without crumbs from other bread or shared utensils coming into contact with the gluten-free combination. The Dutch Coeliac Society warns about cross-contamination with gluten.
You don’t want to bake your own, but would rather buy gluten-free rusks and choose chocolate sprinkles that you’ve checked separately. Check just before shopping to make sure the rusks you want are still available.
You eat little conventional bread and want to know whether baker’s salt is used in bread alternatives. According to the Voedingscentrum, baker’s salt contains iodine, but bakers aren’t required to use it.
First, check the rusks and chocolate sprinkles separately to make sure they’re gluten-free. Then look at availability and any other dietary requirements, and take care to avoid cross-contamination when serving.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Whether both products are gluten-free | Check the gluten-free labelling, ingredients and allergen information on both packs. The De Ruijter Hagelfeest described by Albert Heijn lists wheat starch and cereals containing gluten. | If I’m catering for someone with coeliac disease, I don’t want the topping to make carefully chosen rusks unsuitable. This check is the top priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| Ready-made rusks and availability | Look for the exact rusk variety and check current shop stock. Albert Heijn lists Schär Zwieback as gluten-free rusks; the Albert Heijn page for Damhert and the Jumbo page for Lekker Vrij van Gluten state that these products are no longer available in their online ranges. | For Easter brunch, I want to be able to buy rusks without baking my own or relying on an old product listing. This convenience matters most to around 30% of consumers. |
| Other dietary requirements and baker’s salt | Read the ingredients and allergen information for the varieties you choose. Check the label to see whether baker’s salt has been used if this matters to you; according to the Voedingscentrum, its use isn’t compulsory. | As well as checking that they’re gluten-free, I want to know whether the combination suits my other dietary requirements. This is the most important additional consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
Gluten-free rusks don’t automatically make the chocolate sprinkles suitable. The Albert Heijn product information for De Ruijter Hagelfeest lists wheat starch and cereals containing gluten; don’t assume this applies to other varieties from the brand.
Before serving, check the current packaging of both products separately.
A product page may still be visible even when the item is no longer available online. This is noted on the pages viewed for Damhert Glutenvrije beschuit at Albert Heijn and Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten Beschuit.
Check availability in store or online shortly before doing your Easter food shop.
According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, crumbs from gluten-containing bread can contaminate gluten-free food.
Put the gluten-free products on a separate plate and use clean knives and a clean spoon for the topping.
The Voedingscentrum says that baker’s salt contains iodine, but bakers aren’t required to use it. So the product category alone won’t tell you whether a rusk is made with it.
Check the ingredients on the packaging if baker’s salt is important to your choice.
Schär Zwieback is an option if you’re looking for rusks with clear gluten-free labelling.
Glutenvrije Webshop lists De Rit Chocoladehagelslag Puur as a gluten-free topping.
For this Easter combination, check the exact variety of De Ruijter chocolate sprinkles.
Damhert Glutenvrije beschuit is a product to look out for, but don’t plan to serve it at Easter brunch without checking availability first.
Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten Beschuit 120 g is a specific own-brand option if you’re looking for gluten-free rusks.
According to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, the term ‘gluten-free’ may be used for food sold to the final consumer if it contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. Check the labelling on the rusks and chocolate sprinkles separately.
Only if the current packaging for that exact variety confirms it’s suitable for the person who needs to eat gluten-free. For example, the De Ruijter Hagelfeest described by Albert Heijn lists wheat starch and cereals containing gluten; check other varieties individually.
Serve the rusks and chocolate sprinkles on a separate plate with clean utensils, and make sure crumbs from gluten-containing bread don’t get near them. The Dutch Coeliac Society stresses that people with coeliac disease also need to avoid cross-contamination.
Check the label to see whether baker’s salt has been used; don’t assume it’s included in every gluten-free rusk. According to the Voedingscentrum, baker’s salt contains iodine, but bakers aren’t required to use it.
