Are Biscuits or Cookies Gluten Free?

Contains Gluten
Regular biscuits and cookies are made with wheat flour and contain gluten.
Standard biscuits are baked goods made from wheat flour, butter, sugar, and eggs. Almost all traditional biscuits contain gluten unless explicitly marked as gluten free.

Coeliac Disease

Avoid all regular biscuits. Buy certified gluten free varieties deliberately.

Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS)

Same as coeliac guidance. Regular biscuits must be avoided.

Why Do Biscuits or Cookies Contain Gluten?

Biscuits are made from wheat flour, which is a major source of gluten.

Australia vs United States

Australia (FSANZ)

FSANZ requires GF labelling. Most Australian biscuits (Arnott's regular lines, Monte Carlo, Digestive) contain wheat.

United States (FDA)

FDA requires labelling. Most US cookies are wheat-based unless marked GF.

What to Watch For

All regular biscuits, sweet and savoury alike, contain wheat flour.

Gluten Free Alternatives

If you need a gluten free substitute, consider: Gluten free biscuits (certified), rice cakes, corn chips, nuts.

Medical disclaimer: This is general information about gluten content, not medical advice. If you have coeliac disease, non-coeliac gluten sensitivity, or a wheat allergy, always consult your doctor or accredited practising dietitian before making dietary changes. Product formulations change. Always read the label.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Biscuits or Cookies gluten free?

Standard biscuits are baked goods made from wheat flour, butter, sugar, and eggs. Almost all traditional biscuits contain gluten unless explicitly marked as gluten free.

Can coeliacs eat biscuits or cookies?

Avoid all regular biscuits. Buy certified gluten free varieties deliberately.

Related Foods in Snacks and Sweets

Potato chips (plain) Potato chips (flavoured) Corn chips Popcorn Pretzels Crackers (regular) Rice crackers Nuts (plain or raw)

More from RefDat

Looking for kitchen gear that handles gluten-free cooking? See RefDat's Australian reviews of air fryers for coeliac-friendly options. Explore more reference data at refdat.com.

How We Verify This

Every food in our database is reviewed against current FSANZ and FDA gluten-free standards. Brand data is verified against manufacturer labelling. We cross-reference with Coeliac Australia ingredient lists and the USDA FoodData Central database. When Australian and US standards differ, we apply the stricter standard.

Sources

FSANZ labelling, Coeliac Australia

Last reviewed: May 2026