Hosts serving someone who must avoid gluten
Choose a clearly labelled gluten-free product and plan where it will sit. Coeliac UK advises keeping gluten-free food away from crumbs and shared utensils.
Who is this for?
Hosts offering familiar and different biscuit formats
Gluten-free options include chocolate-topped oat biscuits and filled, chocolate-coated biscuits. Check the exact variant rather than assuming a standard biscuit from the same brand is gluten-free.
Guests with other ingredient restrictions
A gluten-free label does not settle questions about oats, milk, soya, egg or nuts. Match the current pack’s ingredient list and warnings to each guest’s requirements.
What should you check?
Start with the gluten-free label, then check other ingredients and decide how you will serve the biscuits without contact with ordinary buffet food.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free identification | Look for “gluten-free” on the exact pack. The Food Standards Agency defines that label as no more than 20 mg/kg gluten in the food as sold. If certification matters to you, check whether that product carries the Coeliac UK Crossed Grain Trademark. | I want a biscuit my guest can identify from its own pack, not its brand name. In Coeliac UK’s shopping survey, reported in January 2026, 74.7% of 3,785 responding members said they trusted its Crossed Grain Trademark more than a gluten-free statement. |
| Buffet handling | Set out a separate, labelled plate and clean or dedicated serving utensils. Keep gluten-containing biscuits and their crumbs away; Coeliac UK also advises cleaning shared surfaces and equipment. | The gluten-free option needs to stay separate once the pack is opened, especially if guests will serve themselves. |
| Other ingredients | Read the current ingredients and “may contain” wording. Check oats, milk, soya, egg and nuts as relevant to the particular guest; gluten-free does not mean free from those ingredients. | If someone avoids another ingredient too, I need an option that fits both requirements rather than choosing by the gluten-free label alone. |
| Buffet quantity and choice | Check the pack size and biscuit count where stated. Have another suitable product in mind and check availability again before Boxing Day. | I want enough clearly identified biscuits for the gathering without depending on one exact item being on the shelf. Coeliac UK reported in January 2026 that 38.4% of 3,785 surveyed members were happy with the range of gluten-free products in supermarkets; that measures views of the overall range, not stock of a particular biscuit. |
Buffet mistakes to avoid
-
Assuming a familiar brand means gluten-free
The gluten-free claim belongs to a specific product, not every biscuit made by its brand.
Check the exact pack for “gluten-free” and keep its packaging available for guests who need to read it.
-
Sharing utensils with ordinary biscuits
Crumbs can reach a gluten-free plate through shared tongs, knives or serving surfaces.
Following Coeliac UK’s home guidance, use a separate plate and clean or dedicated utensils, and keep the two types of biscuit apart.
-
Overlooking other allergens
Gluten-free biscuits can still contain oats, milk, soya or egg, and individual packs may carry nut or egg warnings.
Ask guests which ingredients they avoid, then read the current label for each product you plan to serve.
-
Depending on one product for Boxing Day
Retailer listings can change, so a named biscuit may not be available when you shop.
Choose a second explicitly gluten-free option that also meets your guests’ ingredient requirements, and check availability nearer the gathering.
Brand and product-line references
These examples refer to the named gluten-free products and lines, not every biscuit sold under each brand.
Nairn’s
Tesco Groceries describes Nairn’s Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Oaties 160g as certified by Coeliac UK and baked in a dedicated gluten-free bakery.
- A chocolate-chip oat-biscuit format for guests who prefer a certified product.
- This named product contains oats, milk and soya. Check its current pack for other ingredient warnings.
McVitie’s
Gluten Free Milk Chocolate Hobnobs provide a familiar chocolate-topped oat-biscuit format; Tesco Groceries lists a 150g pack with a typical eight biscuits.
- The named Hobnobs variant is explicitly labelled gluten-free.
- Its listed ingredients include oats, milk and soya, and the listing warns that it may also contain nuts and egg.
Arnott’s
Tesco Groceries lists Tim Tam Gluten Free Original as a filled, chocolate-coated biscuit in a 150g pack of seven.
- The named product offers a filled format rather than an oat biscuit.
- Its listed ingredients include milk, soya and egg; check the current pack against guests’ requirements.
Tesco Free From
Tesco Groceries lists several Free From biscuit formats, including chocolate wafers, digestives and cookies.
- Different formats allow a host to check which individual product suits the buffet.
- Check each current product listing and pack; listed items are not necessarily available when you shop.
Prewett’s
Tesco Groceries describes Prewett’s Gluten Free Milk Chocolate Chocoful five-pack as gluten-free biscuits coated in milk chocolate.
- The five-pack gives a stated count for planning a buffet plate.
- Read the current pack for ingredients and allergens; Tesco Groceries notes that product information can change.
Joybuy product options
These Joybuy options cover gluten-free biscuit breaks and chocolate macaroons for a buffet. Check the current packs: the formats differ, and a macaroon is not the same as a conventional chocolate biscuit.
No image available
Nairns Gluten Free Biscuit Breaks Chunky Oats, Dark & Coconut 160g
These gluten-free oat biscuit breaks offer a dark-and-coconut variant for the buffet. They contain oats; the product information warns that they may contain milk and does not guarantee nut-free ingredients. Check the current pack, including its chocolate ingredients if a chocolate biscuit is needed.
No image available
Mrs Crimble's Gluten Free 6 Big Choc Macaroons
Six gluten-free chocolate macaroons offer a coconut-based format rather than a conventional biscuit. The product information lists egg and soya and warns that they may contain milk and nuts; check the current pack before serving guests with those restrictions.
Questions about serving gluten-free biscuits
What does “gluten-free” mean on a UK biscuit label?
The Food Standards Agency defines “gluten-free” labelling as no more than 20 mg/kg gluten in the food as sold to the consumer. Check the specific biscuit pack; “wheat-free” wording or a familiar ingredient list is not the same claim.
Can gluten-free biscuits go on the same buffet table as ordinary biscuits?
They can be served at the same buffet if you keep them separate and clearly identified. Coeliac UK advises preventing contact with gluten-containing food and using clean or dedicated serving equipment.
What if a pack says it may contain gluten?
Do not use a biscuit carrying a warning about possible contact with gluten-containing cereals as the gluten-free option for a guest who must avoid gluten. Coeliac UK’s catering guidance advises checking ingredients and avoiding relevant “may contain” warnings rather than guessing.
Does gluten-free mean an oat biscuit suits every guest?
No. A gluten-free oat biscuit still contains oats, and individual products may also contain milk or soya or carry other allergen warnings. Check the current pack against each guest’s requirements.
How can I plan the biscuit purchase for Boxing Day?
Choose a suitable main product and a second gluten-free option, then check their labels, pack sizes and availability nearer the gathering. Keep the packaging so guests can identify what has been served.