Hosts serving a guest with coeliac disease
Choose a pack labelled gluten-free, then serve it using clean surfaces and utensils away from ordinary cake crumbs, as Coeliac UK advises for avoiding cross-contact at home.
Who is choosing?
Hosts checking several food allergies
Check the whole allergen statement, not just the gluten-free claim. Schär lists egg and soya in its Jaffa Cakes and warns that they may contain hazelnuts and milk.
Hosts flexible about the teatime treat
If an orange-filled sponge is not essential, consider a different biscuit or cake with a gluten-free label, checking that particular pack against each guest’s requirements.
What should you check?
Decide whether you need a Jaffa-style cake or simply a gluten-free teatime treat, then check the pack and plan how to serve it.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free label | Look for the claim on the exact pack, rather than judging by the product name or appearance. The Food Standards Agency states that food labelled gluten-free must contain no more than 20 mg/kg gluten as sold. | I need a clearly labelled option for a guest who eats gluten-free food. |
| Other allergens | Read the ingredients and precautionary statements for every relevant allergen. Schär’s Jaffa Cakes contain egg and soya and may contain hazelnuts and milk, according to Schär. | A gluten-free label alone does not answer my questions about the other guests’ allergies. |
| Type of treat | Check whether the sponge, orange filling and chocolate combination matters. A labelled gluten-free cookie, wafer or other biscuit is a different treat, not a Jaffa Cake. | If the familiar Jaffa Cake combination matters, I want to check the Schär pack; otherwise, I can choose a different labelled treat. |
| Serving separately | Use clean surfaces and utensils, and keep gluten-free food away from crumbs from ordinary cakes. Coeliac UK advises cleaning surfaces and utensils with hot, soapy water to avoid cross-contact at home. | Both ordinary and gluten-free treats may be on the table, so I need a way to serve them separately. |
| Buying ahead | Check the pack size, storage directions and best-before date. Tesco and Asda list the Schär Jaffa Cakes pack as 150 g and advise cool, dry storage. | I’m planning the tea in advance and need to check the pack I receive before serving it. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming Original Jaffa Cakes meet a gluten-free request
McVitie’s lists wheat flour in its Original Jaffa Cakes, so the familiar name and appearance do not make that product a gluten-free choice.
Check the dietary requirement first and choose a pack that is labelled gluten-free.
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Reading gluten-free as free from every allergen
Schär’s gluten-free Jaffa Cakes contain egg and soya and may contain hazelnuts and milk.
Ask guests which allergens matter to them and read the ingredients and precautionary statements on the exact pack.
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Serving both types of cake on a crumb-covered surface
Gluten-free cakes can come into contact with crumbs from ordinary cakes during serving.
Follow Coeliac UK’s advice to clean surfaces and utensils with hot, soapy water, then keep the gluten-free cakes separate.
Brand and range references
A brand name alone does not establish whether a particular pack is gluten-free; these examples refer to the specified products or ranges.
Schär
Schär labels its UK Jaffa Cakes gluten-free and wheat-free and describes a sponge with orange filling and chocolate.
- A Jaffa-style option with a stated gluten-free claim.
- The product contains egg and soya and may contain hazelnuts and milk; check the current pack.
McVitie’s
Its Original Jaffa Cakes provide a reference for the familiar format, not a gluten-free option.
- McVitie’s describes the sponge, orange and chocolate combination.
- The checked Original product lists wheat flour and identifies cereals containing gluten among its allergens.
M&S
Its labelled gluten-free cookies offer a different teatime treat; the checked M&S Mini Jaffa Cakes are not the same option.
- M&S lists its Made Without Wheat and Gluten Fruity Flapjack Cookies as gluten-free.
- Those cookies contain milk, oats and sulphites and carry nut and peanut cautions. The checked Mini Jaffa Cakes list wheat ingredients containing gluten.
Waitrose
Waitrose lists Free From Gluten biscuits and cakes as alternatives when the Jaffa Cake format is optional.
- Its UK category includes Free From Gluten Choc Chunk Cookies.
- Check the ingredients and allergen information on the individual pack for guests with additional requirements.
Gluten-free alternatives on Joybuy
These gluten-free-labelled biscuits, wafers and crispbread are options to consider when a Jaffa Cake is not essential. The crispbread is a different choice from a sweet teatime cake or biscuit.
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Schär Gluten Free Digestive Biscuits 150g
A gluten-free digestive biscuit for a tea table where the Jaffa Cake format is optional. It is not an orange-filled sponge; check the pack for any other allergens relevant to your guests.
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Schär Gluten Free Vanilla Wafers 125g
These gluten-free vanilla wafers offer a different biscuit option for afternoon tea, rather than the sponge, orange and chocolate combination of a Jaffa Cake. Check the pack for other allergens before serving.
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Nairns Gluten Free Biscuit Breaks Chunky Oats, Dark & Coconut 160g
A gluten-free oat biscuit with dark chocolate and coconut for a tea table where the Jaffa Cake format is optional. Check the exact pack if oats or other allergens matter to your guests.
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Schär Gluten Free Crispbread 150g
This gluten-free crispbread is a different type of food from a sweet Jaffa Cake or biscuit. Consider it only if crispbread fits what you plan to serve, and check the pack for other allergens.
Questions about serving
Does gluten-free mean free from other allergens?
No. Schär’s gluten-free Jaffa Cakes contain egg and soya and may contain hazelnuts and milk, according to Schär. Check each relevant allergen on the pack rather than relying on the gluten-free claim alone.
How can I serve gluten-free cakes alongside ordinary cakes?
Keep the gluten-free cakes away from crumbs from gluten-containing food and use clean surfaces and utensils. Coeliac UK advises washing surfaces and utensils with hot, soapy water to avoid cross-contact at home.
How should I store Schär Jaffa Cakes bought ahead of time?
Tesco and Asda’s listings advise storing the Schär Jaffa Cakes pack in a cool, dry place. Read the storage directions and best-before date on the pack you receive.
What does a UK gluten-free label tell me?
The Food Standards Agency states that food labelled gluten-free must contain no more than 20 mg/kg gluten as sold to the final consumer. The label does not establish that the food is free from other allergens, so check the exact pack for those separately.