Who is this for?

Shoppers checking several ingredients

Gluten-free status may be only one requirement. The listed shortbreads differ in their milk, oat and soya ingredients and in their nut warnings, so start with the restrictions that apply to your household.

Shoppers looking for a certification symbol

If the Crossed Grain Symbol matters to you, Sainsbury's lists it on Walker's Gluten Free Shortbread Rounds as certified by Coeliac UK. The symbol does not replace a check of the other ingredients and allergen statements.

Households planning a regular grocery shop

Pack sizes and local availability can affect which shortbread is practical to add to a repeat shop. The listed packs range from 140g to 160g; M&S asks shoppers to select a Foodhall to check local stock.

What should you check?

Check the gluten-free claim first, then narrow the choice by ingredients and allergen warnings before considering recipe and pack size.

Priority What to check Your needs
Gluten-free labelling Look for an explicit gluten-free claim on the pack. The Food Standards Agency defines gluten-free as no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten in the food as sold. If you also want the Crossed Grain Symbol, check the particular product for it. I want the claim to be clear on the pack, rather than assuming that a wheat-free name means gluten-free. In Coeliac UK's 2025 Shopping Habits survey, reported in January 2026, 74.7% of its 3,785 member respondents said they trusted its Crossed Grain Trademark more than a gluten-free statement.
Milk and vegan suitability Check milk-free and vegan declarations separately from the gluten-free claim. Tesco and Sainsbury's list milk-free, vegan shortbread; the listed Walker's, Waitrose and M&S all-butter products contain milk. For my shop, avoiding milk or animal ingredients matters as well as avoiding gluten. An all-butter recipe would not meet that requirement.
Oats, soya and nuts Read the ingredients and precautionary statements on the current pack. Tesco lists gluten-free oat flour and a may-contain-soya warning; Sainsbury's lists soya flour and says its product is unsuitable for customers with a nut allergy. Oats or another allergen may narrow my choice even when a biscuit is labelled gluten-free. Coeliac UK says most people with coeliac disease can eat gluten-free oats, but a small number remain sensitive to them.
Recipe and pack size Decide whether you want a milk-free recipe or all-butter shortbread, then check the pack weight. The listed Walker's pack is 140g, Waitrose and M&S are 150g, and Tesco and Sainsbury's are 160g. I want a pack that fits a regular shop, rather than choosing by the front-of-pack description alone. If I shop at M&S, I can check availability at my selected Foodhall.

Common buying mistakes

  • Assuming gluten-free covers every dietary requirement

    The listed gluten-free products include both milk-free, vegan recipes and all-butter recipes containing milk. Their oat, soya and nut information also differs.

    Set aside products that conflict with your other requirements before comparing recipes or pack sizes.

  • Treating all oats as interchangeable

    Tesco's shortbread contains gluten-free oat flour. Coeliac UK says most people with coeliac disease can eat gluten-free oats, but a small number remain sensitive to them.

    If you need to avoid oats, check the ingredients for an alternative without oat flour rather than relying on the gluten-free claim alone.

  • Relying on an older online listing

    Ingredients and allergen information can change, making a previously suitable choice unsuitable for a particular household.

    Read the pack you receive, especially its milk, oat, soya and nut statements.

Brand references for this choice

Sainsbury's Free From

Its listed 160g shortbread is gluten-free, milk-free and suitable for vegans, with no oat flour in the listed ingredients.

  • The listed ingredients include rice flour and soya flour.
  • Sainsbury's says the product is not suitable for customers with a nut allergy because of manufacturing methods.

Tesco Free From

Its listed 160g shortbread is gluten-free, milk-free and suitable for vegans.

  • Gluten-free oat flour is part of the listed recipe for shoppers who want an oat-containing biscuit.
  • The product contains oats and may contain soya; check whether either matters to your household.

Walker's

Sainsbury's lists Walker's Gluten Free Shortbread Rounds as an all-butter product carrying the Crossed Grain Symbol certified by Coeliac UK.

  • The listed pack contains nine rounds and weighs 140g.
  • It contains milk and may contain nuts.

Waitrose Free From

Waitrose lists a 150g gluten-free all-butter shortbread.

  • Its listed ingredients include butter, rice flour and soya flour.
  • It contains milk and soya and may contain nuts.

M&S Made Without

M&S lists a 150g gluten-free all-butter shortbread and asks shoppers to select a Foodhall to check local stock.

  • The listed recipe includes butter and rice flour.
  • M&S says it is not suitable for people with a nut or peanut allergy.

Dean's

Dean's describes a gluten-free shortbread line alongside its other shortbread ranges.

  • Check the particular pack's ingredients and allergen information when choosing from the range.

Joybuy biscuit option

The Joybuy option below is a gluten-free oat biscuit, not shortbread. Consider it only if an oat-based biscuit would also suit your weekly shop.

Nairns Gluten Free Biscuit Breaks Chunky Oats, Dark & Coconut 160g

Nairns Gluten Free Biscuit Breaks Chunky Oats, Dark & Coconut 160g

These gluten-free oat biscuits are an alternative if your weekly shop does not require shortbread. Check the packet for milk and soya information if either affects your choice.

View on Joybuy

Questions about gluten-free shortbread

What does gluten-free mean on a UK biscuit pack?

The Food Standards Agency defines gluten-free as containing no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten in the food as sold to the final consumer. Look for an explicit gluten-free claim rather than assuming a wheat-free product meets that definition.

Does Tesco Free From shortbread contain oats?

Yes. Its listed ingredients include gluten-free oat flour. Coeliac UK says most people with coeliac disease can eat gluten-free oats, but a small number remain sensitive; if you need to avoid oats, check another product's ingredients instead.

Is gluten-free shortbread also dairy-free or vegan?

Not necessarily. The listed Walker's, Waitrose and M&S all-butter shortbreads contain milk. Tesco and Sainsbury's list milk-free shortbreads suitable for vegans, but you should still check their other ingredients and allergen statements.

Should I read the pack if the supermarket listing says gluten-free?

Yes. Read the current pack before eating because ingredients and allergen information can change. Pay particular attention to milk, oats, soya and any nut warning relevant to your household.

Does the Crossed Grain Symbol cover other allergens?

No. Sainsbury's lists the symbol on Walker's Gluten Free Shortbread Rounds as certified by Coeliac UK, but that product also contains milk and may contain nuts. Check its full allergen information for requirements beyond gluten-free status.