Start with a cracker currently labelled gluten free, then choose a plain base if you usually add toppings or a flavoured option if you eat it on its own. Check the exact pack for oats, milk, soya and other relevant allergens: a gluten-free label does not answer those separate questions.
Look for a current gluten-free label rather than judging a cracker by its rice, maize or oat ingredients. The Food Standards Agency states that food labelled gluten free must contain no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten as sold to the final consumer.
A plain cracker may work with several toppings, while a flavoured cracker is a different choice for eating on its own. Nairn's describes its original wholegrain crackers as an option for dips and toppings.
Gluten-free crackers can still contain milk or soya. Oat-based products also need a separate check if you react to avenin, a protein in oats.
Check suitability first, then choose a flavour and format that match whether you will add a topping.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free label | Look for the claim on the current pack; do not infer it from rice, maize or oats. The Food Standards Agency sets a limit of 20 mg/kg of gluten in food labelled gluten free as sold to the final consumer. | I need a labelled gluten-free cracker, not one that merely appears to have suitable ingredients. |
| Other allergens | Read the ingredients, highlighted allergens and relevant factory statements. Sainsbury's Free From Cheese Crackers contain Gouda cheese; Tesco lists soya flour in Schär Salti Crackers; Nairn's says its original wholegrain crackers are unsuitable for people who react to avenin. | If I also avoid milk, soya or oats, a gluten-free claim alone does not settle the choice. |
| Flavour and format | Compare a plain cracker for toppings with a flavoured one for eating without a topping. Check whether the product is a cracker, crispbread or oatcake if that distinction matters to you. | For cheese or hummus, I would start with a plain base. For a snack on its own, I may prefer a savoury flavour. |
| Nutrition and portion | Compare salt and saturated fat using the same per-100 g basis, then check the portion information on each pack. A per-serving figure depends on that product's stated serving size. | I want to compare like with like while choosing how much to serve at elevenses. |
A cheese cracker can contain milk, and a gluten-free salted cracker can contain soya. The front-of-pack gluten-free claim addresses neither ingredient.
Read the ingredients, highlighted allergens and any relevant factory statement on the exact pack.
Nairn's says its Gluten Free Original Wholegrain Crackers are not suitable for people who react to avenin, a protein in oats.
If avenin is a concern, check the specific product and seek individual clinical advice where needed.
A flavoured cracker may suit a snack without toppings, but its ingredients and serving information can differ from those of a plain cracker.
Decide how you will serve it, then compare the allergen and nutrition panels on the packs you are considering.
These product lines illustrate different cracker formats; check the particular pack rather than treating a brand name as a suitability claim.
The range includes plain crackers made with gluten-free oat, maize and rice flour, as well as Gouda cheese crackers.
Nairn's Gluten Free Original Wholegrain Crackers are an oat-based option described for dips and toppings.
Tesco's gluten-free savoury-snacks category lists Nairn's Gluten Free Original Wholegrain Crackers alongside other snack formats.
These options include savoury crackers, a crispbread for toppings, cheese oatcakes and a digestive biscuit. The digestive biscuit is a different choice from a neutral savoury cracker.
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A gluten-free crispbread to consider when you want a base for toppings rather than a flavoured cracker. Its product information states that it is made in a facility that handles soya; check the pack if that matters to you.
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Salted gluten-free crackers for eating on their own or with a topping. Tesco's ingredient listing for Schär Salti Crackers includes soya flour, so check the current pack if you avoid soya.
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Cheese-flavoured oatcakes for a savoury break without a separate topping. They contain milk and oats; if you react to avenin, check the suitability of this specific product rather than relying on information about another Nairn's cracker.
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A gluten-free digestive biscuit rather than a neutral savoury cracker, so consider it for a different sort of elevenses. Its product information lists soya and says it may contain lupin; check the current pack for either allergen.
No. Choose a cracker currently labelled gluten free rather than relying on its main ingredients. The Food Standards Agency states that the label applies to food containing no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten as sold to the final consumer.
A gluten-free product can contain oats, but oat suitability also depends on whether you react to avenin. Nairn's says its Gluten Free Original Wholegrain Crackers are not suitable for people who do; check the exact product and follow individual healthcare advice where relevant.
Not necessarily. Sainsbury's Free From Cheese Crackers contain Gouda cheese and cows' milk. Check the ingredients and highlighted allergens of any cheese cracker if you need to avoid dairy.
Follow the instructions on the specific pack. Sainsbury's advises keeping its plain and cheese crackers in a cool, dry place and using an airtight container once opened.