Choose a bread roll based on the current ingredient and allergen information, not terms such as ‘white’ or ‘medium sliced’: the standard bread rolls from Albert Heijn and Jumbo that we checked contain wheat and gluten. If you need to avoid wheat, check specifically for wheat in the allergen information. If you need to avoid gluten, a bread roll labelled gluten-free may be suitable, provided the other allergen information is also appropriate for you. Before buying an unwrapped bread roll, ask for information about that specific item.
A different bread name or slicing style tells you nothing about the allergens. The standard bread rolls from Albert Heijn and Jumbo that we checked contain wheat and gluten; Albert Heijn also lists a separate gluten-free option. Check the allergen information for the exact product every time.
If you avoid milk, eggs, soya, sesame or certain nuts, for example, ‘may contain’ warnings matter too. The gluten-free bread rolls from Albert Heijn that we checked may contain eggs, milk, soya, almonds and hazelnuts.
If a bread roll has no individual packaging, you should be able to ask the seller for information about the allergens it contains before buying it. Ask about the specific bread roll, rather than relying on information about the bakery section as a whole.
First, check whether the bread roll contains the allergen you avoid. Then read any warnings about possible presence, and check that you can follow the cooking instructions at home if you’re buying a bake-at-home bread roll.
| What to look for | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| The allergen you need to avoid | Read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact bread roll. A ‘gluten-free’ label does not replace checking for wheat or other allergens that are relevant to you. | If I need to avoid wheat or gluten, I don’t want to rely on the name of the bread; around 45% of consumers would put checking for the main ingredient they need to avoid first. |
| Possible presence | As well as checking what the product ‘contains’, read any ‘may contain’ warnings. For an unwrapped bread roll, ask for product-specific allergen information and, if relevant to you, ask about possible cross-contamination. | If I’m allergic to milk or sesame, for example, I also want to know whether these ingredients may be present. Clear information about these warnings and unwrapped bread rolls would be the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Packaging and preparation | Read the cooking and storage instructions for a bake-at-home bread roll. Check the current packaging again next time you buy it. | If I buy a bake-at-home bread roll, I need to be able to prepare it at home according to the instructions; around 22% of consumers would put this practical check first. |
The standard bread rolls from Albert Heijn and Jumbo that we checked contain wheat and gluten. Slicing does not change the ingredients or allergen information.
Read the current ingredients list and allergen information for the exact product, rather than choosing by name, colour or slicing style.
For the Pistolet Wit that we checked, Jumbo warns that it may contain milk and sesame. The gluten-free bread rolls from Albert Heijn that we checked list other allergens that may be present.
Take these warnings into account too when deciding whether a product is suitable for you and the allergens you need to avoid.
Albert Heijn warns that ingredient and allergen information can change. A bread roll you bought before is no guarantee that the packaging on the shelf today has the same information.
Check the packaging or product information again every time you buy it.
An unwrapped bread roll has no individual label. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that information about allergens present in unpackaged food must be available.
Before buying, ask about the allergens in that specific bread roll and discuss possible cross-contamination if it’s relevant to your choice.
Compare allergen information product by product, not brand by brand: even the bread rolls we checked within a single range have different declarations.
The loose AH Pistolet wit and pre-packed AH Glutenvrij Pistolets wit that we checked offer two different product formats to compare allergen information.
The Jumbo Pistolet Wit that we checked is a bake-at-home product; Jumbo provides separate allergen information for loose, unpackaged bread rolls.
Not based on the name alone: the standard AH Pistolet wit and Jumbo Pistolet Wit that we checked contain wheat and gluten. Check the current allergen information for the exact product before choosing.
Yes, under certain conditions, the seller can give you this information verbally before you buy. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergen information for unpackaged food can also be made available in writing or electronically; always ask about the specific bread roll.
No. The AH Glutenvrij Pistolets wit that we checked are labelled gluten-free, but Albert Heijn also warns that they may contain eggs, milk, soya, almonds and hazelnuts. So read the full allergen information for the ingredients you need to avoid.
No, it is not a general legal requirement for every bread roll. In the Government Gazette of 28 October 2008, the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport describes the use of iodised salt in bread as something the government encourages through an agreement. Check the ingredients list for the specific product if the type of salt matters to your choice.
