Verkade NoboSprits Original contains wheat flour, so it is not a gluten-free choice for a toddler with coeliac disease. For an occasional biscuit treat, choose an alternative clearly labelled gluten-free and check for other allergens too. For everyday snacks, the Dutch Nutrition Centre recommends fruit, vegetables and suitable bread.
They’re looking for a gluten-free alternative to ordinary spritz biscuits. Verkade lists wheat flour as an ingredient in NoboSprits Original; the Dutch Nutrition Centre describes coeliac disease as an autoimmune condition that means a person cannot tolerate gluten.
A packaged biscuit can be practical, as long as its current gluten-free labelling and any other allergens are suitable for the child. Check the nursery, playgroup or school’s own rules on packing food and allergens too.
They want to distinguish between an occasional biscuit treat and the usual snack routine. The Dutch Nutrition Centre recommends fruit, vegetables and suitable bread as snacks for young children and toddlers.
When choosing a spritz biscuit alternative for a toddler with coeliac disease, check the gluten-free labelling first. Other allergens, the type of snack occasion and how easy it is to pack will then help you decide which option works best.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free suitability | Look for an explicit ‘gluten-free’ label and read the current ingredients list; a biscuit that looks like a spritz is not automatically suitable. | I’m looking for a biscuit for my toddler with coeliac disease and don’t want to judge by its appearance. For around 36% of consumers, gluten-free suitability would be their top purchasing priority. |
| Other allergens | Read the allergen information for the option you choose, especially if milk, egg or nuts also need to be avoided. | If my child has a diagnosed allergy as well as coeliac disease, the biscuit must be suitable for that too. Around 29% of consumers would put other allergens first for this reason. |
| Everyday snack time | Decide whether the biscuit is for an occasional treat; compare the nutritional information per portion when choosing between biscuits. | I don’t want to automatically reach for a biscuit at everyday snack time. For around 28% of consumers, the place of biscuits in their daily routine would be the main consideration. |
| Taking it along and availability | Check the packaging and portion size, and agree with the nursery or school on how to bring it in. | When I need to pack a snack, I want something practical to take along once I’ve checked the ingredients. For around 7% of consumers, convenience would be the main consideration. |
Verkade lists wheat flour in NoboSprits Original. A similar shape doesn’t make another biscuit gluten-free.
For coeliac disease, choose a product clearly labelled gluten-free and check the ingredients list again whenever you buy a new pack.
PLUS lists egg, milk and hazelnut in its gluten-free choco chip cookies. Céréal says its cookies with chocolate pieces may contain, among other things, egg, nuts, sesame and milk proteins.
Check the packaging of the exact option you’ve chosen for all allergens that are relevant to your child.
The ‘gluten-free’ label says nothing about whether a biscuit belongs in your everyday snack routine. The Dutch Nutrition Centre recommends choosing foods from the Dutch Wheel of Five for young children and toddlers to eat between meals.
Use fruit, vegetables or bread that’s suitable for your child as a starting point, and save biscuits for an occasional treat.
Ingredients and allergen information can change. The products you expect to be available may not be there the next time you need a snack, either.
Read the packaging of the product you actually buy and check the relevant nursery or school’s policy before packing it.
NoboSprits Original is a familiar example of an ordinary spritz biscuit, not a gluten-free alternative.
A range of biscuits and cakes labelled gluten-free for anyone looking for something other than ordinary spritz biscuits.
A supermarket own-brand option if you’re looking for a biscuit labelled gluten-free.
A brand with products including cookies and individually wrapped madeleines in its gluten-free range.
A biscuit with raisins and cranberries that differs in composition from classic spritz biscuits.
For an occasional biscuit treat, this is an oat biscuit option labelled gluten-free. It isn’t a classic spritz biscuit, so check that the current ingredients and allergen information are suitable for your child before serving it.
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This oat biscuit, labelled gluten-free, could be considered for an occasional biscuit treat, but it isn’t a spritz biscuit.
The product information lists milk, oats and soya as allergens, and says it may contain nuts. It also warns that some people with coeliac disease may be sensitive to avenin in oats. So read the current packaging before choosing this biscuit.
No. This particular product isn’t gluten-free: Verkade lists wheat flour and says it may contain other cereals containing gluten. For a biscuit treat, look for an alternative clearly labelled gluten-free on the current packaging.
No. PLUS lists egg, milk and hazelnut in its gluten-free choco chip cookies; Céréal says its cookies with chocolate pieces may contain egg and nuts. Read the allergen information on the packaging of the option you choose.
A gluten-free biscuit isn’t automatically a suitable everyday snack. The Dutch Nutrition Centre recommends choosing foods from the Dutch Wheel of Five for young children and toddlers to eat between meals, such as fruit and vegetables. If you’re giving bread, always check that it’s suitable for your child.
Check the current packaging for the gluten-free label, ingredients, allergens and storage instructions. Also ask the nursery, playgroup or school about its own allergen and food-packing policies.
Ingredients and allergen information can change. PLUS notes that product information is updated, so always check the packaging of the product you’re buying now.
