Coeliac shoppers comparing protein
Look for an explicit gluten-free declaration on the exact product, then compare protein per 100 g and per cake. Rice-based ingredients alone do not establish whether a packaged snack is suitable.
Who is this choice for?
Plant-based savoury-snack shoppers
Kallo's lentil and veggie cakes and M&S's barbecue rice cakes offer plant-based options labelled gluten free. Check each product's ingredients and precautionary allergen statement separately.
Shoppers using rice cakes as a topping base
A plain, explicitly gluten-free wholegrain rice cake may fit if the topping supplies the protein you want. ASDA lists Kallo's plain cake at 0.6 g protein per cake, so it serves a different purpose from the protein-focused alternatives.
What should you check before buying?
Start with the exact product's gluten-free label. Then compare the amount you would eat and the rest of the nutrition panel, rather than choosing by the product name alone.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free declaration | Check the current pack for an explicit gluten-free declaration. Coeliac UK states that foods labelled gluten free must contain no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten; read the ingredient and allergen information too. | I need a clear declaration for this particular snack, not an assumption based on rice being an ingredient. |
| Protein per cake | Compare protein per 100 g across products, then check the per-cake figure for the amount you intend to eat. Sainsbury's lists Kallo Protein Lentil Cakes at 26 g per 100 g and 1.8 g per cake; ASDA lists Kallo Beetroot & Balsamic Veggie Cakes at 25 g and 2.4 g respectively. | If I am choosing the cake for its protein content, the amount in one cake matters as well as the per-100-g figure. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Compare the ingredients, fat and salt figures on the current packs. Check precautionary statements for allergens you need to avoid in addition to gluten. | I may prefer a plain base or a flavoured lentil or veggie cake, but I need to assess any other food allergies separately. |
| Snacks away from home | Check the pack size, storage instructions and protein per serving for the snack you plan to carry. Confirm local availability before making a special trip. | I want a packaged gluten-free snack that works when I am out. In Coeliac UK's 2025 Shopping Habits survey of 3,785 respondents, 70% were dissatisfied with the quality of on-the-go gluten-free products; that finding does not assess these individual cakes. |
What is easy to overlook?
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Assuming every rice cake offers similar protein
ASDA lists Kallo Lightly Salted Wholegrain Rice Cakes at 8.5 g protein per 100 g and 0.6 g per cake. The named protein-focused alternatives have higher per-100-g figures, but the amount in an individual cake is still worth checking.
Compare both figures on the nutrition panels before deciding whether the cake itself meets your intended use.
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Relying on rice ingredients to establish gluten-free suitability
A packaged cake's ingredients alone are not a substitute for checking its gluten-free declaration. Ingredients and allergen information can also change.
Choose the exact product with an explicit gluten-free declaration and read its current pack when buying.
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Overlooking allergens other than gluten
Sainsbury's lists a precautionary statement for sesame and soya on Kallo Protein Lentil Cakes; ASDA lists milk, sesame and soya for Kallo Beetroot & Balsamic Veggie Cakes. Their statements are not interchangeable.
If you manage another food allergy, check the exact pack's ingredients and precautionary wording independently of its gluten-free claim.
Which brands are relevant?
Kallo
Kallo has named lentil and veggie cakes alongside a plain wholegrain rice cake, making the individual products useful to compare rather than treating the brand as one nutritional choice.
- Sainsbury's lists Protein Lentil Cakes at 26 g protein per 100 g; ASDA lists Beetroot & Balsamic Veggie Cakes at 25 g and Lightly Salted Wholegrain Rice Cakes at 8.5 g.
- Precautionary allergen statements differ between the named products. Check the current pack for the one you choose.
M&S
M&S Barbecue High Protein Rice Cakes are an option for shoppers seeking a product sold specifically as a rice cake with a gluten-free declaration.
- M&S lists the barbecue product as gluten free, vegan and vegetarian, with 24.8 g protein per 100 g.
- Its listed fat content is 16.2 g per 100 g. Check the current pack and local Foodhall availability before choosing it.
Snack a Jacks
If you are considering a Snack a Jacks rice cake, make the decision from the particular pack rather than the brand name.
- Check that the exact product has an explicit gluten-free declaration, then compare its protein per serving with the alternatives.
Joybuy product options
This lentil-cake option is relevant if you are considering a gluten-free alternative to plain rice cakes and want to compare protein on the current pack.
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Kallo Protein Packed Lentil Cakes 100g
These lentil cakes offer an alternative to a plain rice-cake base; Sainsbury's lists this Kallo product as gluten free. Protein figures differ between product listings, so check the current pack's per-100-g and per-cake values, along with its ingredients and allergen statement, before choosing it.
Common questions
Are all rice cakes suitable for someone with coeliac disease?
No: do not rely on rice being an ingredient. Check the exact packaged product for a current, explicit gluten-free declaration and read its ingredient and allergen information. Coeliac UK states that food labelled gluten free must contain no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten.
Does a higher protein figure per 100 g mean a lot of protein in one cake?
Not necessarily. Sainsbury's lists Kallo Protein Lentil Cakes at 26 g protein per 100 g but 1.8 g per cake, while ASDA lists Kallo Beetroot & Balsamic Veggie Cakes at 25 g per 100 g and 2.4 g per cake. Check the current pack's serving figure against the number of cakes you intend to eat.