Older guests who need a gluten-free snack
For an afternoon tea with a savoury option, start with a labelled gluten-free oatcake and toppings that suit the guest. Check their oat tolerance as well as their ability to eat a crisp biscuit.
Who are these oatcakes for?
Hosts serving someone with coeliac disease
Coeliac UK notes that standard oats can be contaminated with gluten-containing grains and that some people remain sensitive even to gluten-free oats. Read the current pack rather than relying on descriptions such as “pure oats” or “wheat-free”.
Older guests comparing protein and texture
Where protein is part of the choice and crisp foods are suitable, compare the current packs’ protein, salt and saturated fat figures per 100g. A cheese oatcake also contains milk, while a seeded variety has a more pronounced crunch.
What should you check before buying?
Start with gluten-free labelling and oat tolerance, then consider texture, ingredients and the exact pack you plan to serve. The survey figures below describe Coeliac UK respondents’ views and shopping experiences, not older guests’ oatcake preferences.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free labelling | Look for “gluten-free” on the current pack; check its ingredients and any certification mark shown. An oat-only or wheat-free description is not the same check. | I’m serving someone who needs a gluten-free product, so I want to recognise the right pack. In a survey of 3,785 Coeliac UK members reported by Coeliac Commercial in January 2026, 74% trusted the Crossed Grain Trademark more than a gluten-free statement. |
| Oat tolerance | Confirm that oats themselves are suitable for the guest. Nairn’s warns that its gluten-free oatcakes are not suitable for people who react to avenin, a protein in oats. | Even a labelled gluten-free oatcake is not my choice if the guest knows they react to oats. Coeliac UK says a small number of people with coeliac disease remain sensitive to gluten-free oats. |
| Texture | Consider whether the guest can chew and swallow crisp food; seeded oatcakes add crunch. NHS guidance identifies coughing or choking while eating, food sticking and chewing difficulty as signs that need assessment. | I need a food texture the guest can manage safely, rather than choosing a crisp oatcake just because its flavour sounds suitable. |
| Flavour and ingredients | Choose plain for a topping base, or check the ingredients if considering cheese or seeds. Cheese oatcakes contain milk; compare nutrition figures per 100g on the exact pack if they affect your choice. | For a savoury tea, I might prefer a ready-flavoured oatcake, but only if milk and the crisp texture suit the guest. |
| Getting the right pack | Check the current product listing and pack before the event. If the intended oatcake is unavailable, choose another clearly labelled gluten-free snack rather than an ordinary oatcake. | I want a suitable backup if my planned product is out of stock. In Coeliac UK’s 2022 Shopping Habits survey of over 6,500 respondents, 84% visited more than one retailer to complete gluten-free shopping and 90% experienced problems with products not being available when wanted; those experiences can overlap. |
What mistakes should you avoid?
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Assuming any oatcake is gluten-free
Oats alone do not establish gluten-free suitability. M&S Scottish Oatcakes, for example, list wheat flour and declare gluten; Coeliac UK also warns that standard oats can be contaminated.
When serving a gluten-free guest, choose a currently labelled gluten-free product and read the pack’s ingredients and allergen information.
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Serving a crunchier variety despite swallowing difficulty
Oatcakes are crisp, and Nairn’s Super Seeded variety is described as crunchy. NHS guidance identifies coughing or choking while eating, food sticking and chewing difficulty as signs of a swallowing problem.
If these difficulties occur, do not assume a different crisp oatcake will solve the problem; seek professional advice about a suitable food texture.
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Choosing cheese oatcakes on protein alone
Nairn’s Gluten Free Cheese Oatcakes contain milk. Their salt and saturated fat figures also matter when comparing them with another pack.
Use the current pack’s per 100g nutrition panel for the comparison, and choose cheese only when milk and the crisp texture are suitable for the guest.
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Depending on one shop for a particular oatcake
The oatcake you intend to serve may not be available when you need it. Coeliac UK’s 2022 Shopping Habits survey also records availability problems among its gluten-free shoppers.
Check the product before the event and have another clearly labelled gluten-free snack in mind; do not substitute an ordinary oatcake for a gluten-free guest.
Which brand and retailer listings are relevant?
These references help distinguish particular oatcakes and listings; a retailer name alone does not establish that every oatcake it sells is gluten-free.
Nairn’s
Nairn’s lists plain, cheese and super seeded gluten-free oatcakes with different ingredients and textures.
- The plain 213g product lists 90% gluten-free wholegrain oats; the cheese 180g product contains milk, and the super seeded 180g product contains flax, sunflower and chia seeds.
- Nairn’s states that these oatcakes are not suitable for people who react to avenin. Check each variety’s own allergen information.
Tesco
Tesco lists Nairn’s Gluten Free Original Oatcakes 213g.
- Its listing describes four pouches of six oatcakes and identifies the product as gluten-free and suitable for vegans.
- Check the current pack and listing when choosing this specific product.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s lists a Nairn’s gluten-free cheese oatcake.
- The listing identifies it as suitable for vegetarians and people with coeliac disease.
- The cheese variety contains milk. Confirm the pack size and ingredients for the product you select.
Waitrose
Waitrose lists Nairn’s Gluten Free Oatcakes as a plain, plant-based product.
- The listing describes four pouches of six oatcakes.
- Waitrose advises checking the product label because recipes and allergen information may change.
M&S
M&S Scottish Oatcakes are an example of an oatcake that should not be substituted for a gluten-free one.
- This particular product lists wheat flour and declares gluten.
Joybuy oatcake option
This cheese oatcake is a savoury option for a gluten-free afternoon tea when milk is suitable and the guest can manage a crisp texture.
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Nairn’s Gluten Free Cheese Oatcakes 180g
A ready-flavoured savoury oatcake for a guest who needs a gluten-free option and can eat crisp foods.
Contains 15% cheese and milk; the product information also flags that it may contain nuts. Check the current pack’s allergen and nutrition information before serving.
Questions about serving gluten-free oatcakes
Are all oatcakes gluten-free?
No. An oatcake can contain wheat flour, as M&S Scottish Oatcakes do, and standard oats can be contaminated with gluten-containing grains. For a gluten-free guest, choose a product labelled gluten-free and check its current ingredients and allergen information.
Can someone with coeliac disease eat gluten-free oatcakes?
Coeliac UK says most people with coeliac disease can eat gluten-free oats, but a small number remain sensitive even to them. Choose a labelled gluten-free oatcake only if oats suit the guest; if they react to oats or have been advised to avoid them, choose a suitable non-oat alternative.
Should I choose cheese oatcakes for protein?
Compare protein per 100g on the current packs before making that choice. Nairn’s cheese oatcakes contain milk, so also check whether dairy is suitable and compare salt and saturated fat if those figures matter for the guest.
Are oatcakes suitable if an older guest struggles to chew or swallow?
Do not assume a crisp oatcake is suitable, especially a crunchy seeded one. The NHS identifies coughing or choking while eating, food sticking and chewing difficulty as reasons to seek assessment; follow professional advice about an appropriate texture before serving oatcakes.