If you have coeliac disease, only choose a sugar-free biscuit if you can also confirm that it is gluten-free from the current packaging. Check the gluten-free label first, then look at the sugar claim, nutritional information and ingredients: sugar-free does not mean gluten-free, and gluten-free does not mean sugar-free.
You only want to choose a biscuit once you can check both the gluten-free label and the sugar-free claim on the current packaging. With coeliac disease, choosing gluten-free comes first; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre describes a lifelong gluten-free diet as the treatment.
You’re looking for a suitable sugar level in gluten-free biscuits for a morning snack. Compare similar products per 100 g, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, so differences in serving sizes don’t distort the picture.
You’re considering oat biscuits and checking whether the oats used are specifically labelled gluten-free. The Dutch Coeliac Society also points out that a small number of people with coeliac disease react to pure oats too.
If you have coeliac disease, start by checking the gluten-free label on the biscuit. Then decide whether you’re specifically looking for a sugar-free claim or want to compare the sugar content of gluten-free biscuits. If you’re choosing one regularly for breakfast, check the rest of the nutritional information too.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free for coeliac disease | Look for a gluten-free claim or logo on the current packaging. For oat biscuits, check that the oats are specifically labelled gluten-free. | When I’m buying for someone with coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely on a sugar filter when gluten is my first concern. For around 50% of shoppers, confirmed gluten-free status comes first. |
| Genuinely sugar-free | Check the sugar-free claim and the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g; also check which sweeteners are listed in the ingredients. | I want a biscuit that meets my sugar goal, not just packaging that looks sugar-conscious. For around 30% of shoppers, this check is their main priority. |
| Nutritional information for a morning snack | For similar biscuits, compare energy, fibre, saturated fat and salt per 100 g, as well as sugars. Check the serving size separately. | For something I eat regularly, I want more to go on than a single claim on the front of the pack. Around 20% of shoppers give this broader comparison the most attention. |
A sugar-free biscuit may contain gluten. For example, Jumbo lists wheat flour, wheat starch and barley malt in Céréal Zonder Suikers Speculoos.
If you have coeliac disease, check the gluten-free label on the current pack first, and only then assess the sugar claim.
Jumbo lists 29 g of sugars per 100 g for Céréal gluten-free chocolate biscuits. So the gluten-free label doesn’t tell you how much sugar the biscuit contains.
When choosing gluten-free alternatives, check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g too.
For oat biscuits, the label on the oats matters. The Dutch Coeliac Society says that a small number of people with coeliac disease react to pure oats too.
Only choose a product whose oats are specifically labelled gluten-free. Discuss any questions about your personal tolerance with your healthcare professional or a specialist dietitian.
Sugar-free on its own tells you nothing about the rest of the nutritional values or the serving size.
If you’re choosing biscuits for a regular snack, also compare energy, fibre, saturated fat and salt per 100 g, and check how many biscuits make up a serving.
Damhert describes its Gluten Free Blondies Zonder Suikers as gluten-free, sugar-free biscuits with a vanilla filling.
De Online Drogist describes Schär Vanilla Creams as gluten-free and sugar-free.
In the Céréal range described by Jumbo, sugar-free biscuits and gluten-free biscuits have different characteristics.
Albert Heijn lists, among other products, speculaas and oat biscuits in its gluten-free biscuit category.
Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff as a caramelised biscuit.
No. A sugar claim doesn’t confirm that a biscuit is gluten-free. For example, Jumbo lists wheat and barley in Céréal Zonder Suikers Speculoos. If you have coeliac disease, check the gluten-free label on the current packaging before choosing a biscuit.
According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, gluten-free means less than 20 mg of gluten per kg of product. So look for a gluten-free claim or logo on the biscuit, rather than relying on the product name alone.
Check the sugar-free claim on the packaging and read the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. Also check the ingredients and the rest of the nutritional information; the sugar claim doesn’t describe the whole biscuit.
Check that the oats are specifically labelled gluten-free. The Dutch Coeliac Society points out that a small number of people with coeliac disease react to pure oats too. Discuss any personal concerns with your healthcare professional or a specialist dietitian.
For similar biscuits, compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g, rather than just the amount per biscuit or serving. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing per 100 g. Then check the current ingredients and allergen information for the product you choose.
