A small household with someone who has coeliac disease
You want to avoid having bread left over, but first you need an option that is confirmed to be gluten-free. Then you can weigh up a half-size loaf against freezing a larger loaf in portions.
Who is this choice relevant to?
A household with both ordinary and gluten-free bread
You buy both types of bread and want to prevent gluten-free bread from coming into contact with crumbs from ordinary bread at home. Remember to consider the toaster, spreads and where you store portions, too.
A shopper comparing nutritional information
As well as checking that it is labelled gluten-free, you want to compare fibre per 100 g and check the ingredients for iodised salt. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt in bread is not compulsory.
What should you look for when choosing?
For someone with coeliac disease, the gluten-free label matters more than the preferred loaf size. A half loaf means buying less, but ordinary tiger bread doesn’t become gluten-free just because it’s smaller.
Ordinary half tiger loaf
When: Only if the bread isn’t for someone who needs to eat gluten-free.
Trade-off: The half tiger loaves described by Albert Heijn contain gluten-containing ingredients; choosing a smaller size doesn’t change that.
Gluten-free half loaf
When: If you’re looking for a smaller loaf explicitly labelled gluten-free, such as AH Gluten-free white half loaf, 480 g.
Trade-off: This isn’t tiger bread. If you have other food allergies, check the latest allergen information as well.
Gluten-free bread in portions
When: If a gluten-free loaf without a half-size pack is a better fit for what you can buy and store.
Trade-off: You’ll need to prepare the portions separately from ordinary bread and follow the storage instructions for that product.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten and cross-contamination | Check the gluten-free label, ingredients and allergens on the current packaging. Keep the bread separate from ordinary bread at home. | If I’m buying for someone with coeliac disease, I need to know exactly which bread I can safely store and use separately. This would be the top priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| Size and storage | Compare the net weight and number of portions. Follow the freezing and storage instructions for the bread you choose. | In a small household, I don’t want to open more bread than I can use in time. For around 30% of consumers, avoiding leftover bread would be the main reason to compare sizes. |
| Fibre and iodised salt | Compare fibre per 100 g and check the ingredients for iodised salt or baker’s salt. | When comparing gluten-free breads, I also want to know how their nutritional information and ingredients differ. This would be the main consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘tiger’ or ‘half’ means gluten-free
These words describe the style and size of the bread. According to Albert Heijn, AH Tiger white half contains wheat and barley; AH Tiger wholemeal half also contains wheat gluten and rye.
First check that the specific loaf is labelled gluten-free, then read the ingredients and allergen information.
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Using ordinary and gluten-free bread without keeping them separate
Crumbs from ordinary bread can get onto gluten-free bread, for example via a toaster or a spread used with the same knife.
Use separate or thoroughly cleaned utensils, and store gluten-free portions in a sealed container, clearly apart from ordinary bread.
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Expecting every gluten-free bread to have the same fibre or salt content
Ingredients and nutritional values can vary between loaves. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that using baker’s salt isn’t compulsory, so the type of bread alone won’t tell you whether it has been used.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and check the ingredients list for iodised salt or baker’s salt.
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Confusing a product range with a specific product in store
A category page doesn’t tell you what packaging or allergen information you’ll find on an individual loaf.
When you buy, check the packaging of the product you’ve chosen. For unpackaged bread, ask for the product and allergen information.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists both ordinary half tiger loaves and AH Gluten-free white half loaf.
- AH Gluten-free white half loaf is labelled gluten-free, weighs 480 g and, according to Albert Heijn, can be frozen on the day of purchase.
- AH Tiger white half and AH Tiger wholemeal half contain gluten-containing ingredients. The gluten-free half loaf isn’t tiger bread.
Jumbo
Jumbo has a Lekker Vrij van Gluten bread range, including a 500 g brown loaf.
- Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten Brown 500 g displays the Crossed Grain trademark.
- This product isn’t labelled as a half tiger loaf; check whether its size and storage instructions suit your household.
PLUS
PLUS lists gluten-free white, brown and multiseed bread in its bread range.
- You can compare different types of gluten-free bread as separate products.
- Check the weight, ingredients and allergens for each pack you choose; the range listing doesn’t mean a loaf is a half tiger loaf.
Dirk
Gluten-free bread products appear in Dirk’s search results.
- The products shown give you a starting point for looking at individual gluten-free loaves.
- Check the size, gluten-free label and allergens for the specific product; the search results don’t confirm that a gluten-free half tiger loaf is available.
ALDI
ALDI lists gluten-free options in its bread and bakery range.
- The range information can help you look for an individual gluten-free product.
- That doesn’t mean a tiger roll is automatically gluten-free. Check the information on the specific pack before buying.
Joybuy products for smaller portions
These mini baguettes may suit you if you’re looking for smaller bread portions, but they aren’t half tiger loaves. Only choose them for someone with coeliac disease if the current packaging carries the required gluten-free label and appropriate allergen information.
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Gv Mini Baguettes, 7 pieces
The mini size may suit you if you’re looking for smaller bread portions; this product isn’t a half tiger loaf. Before using it for someone with coeliac disease, check the gluten-free label and allergen information on the current packaging. Check the pack contents and preparation instructions before choosing, too.
Frequently asked questions
Is half tiger bread gluten-free because it’s a smaller loaf?
No, the size tells you nothing about whether it contains gluten. According to Albert Heijn, AH Tiger white half contains wheat and barley; AH Tiger wholemeal half contains wheat gluten, barley and rye, among other ingredients. These ordinary loaves aren’t suitable for someone with coeliac disease.
What should I look for in gluten-free bread for someone with coeliac disease?
Choose bread explicitly labelled gluten-free and check the current ingredients and allergen information for that product. At home, also take care to avoid contact with ordinary bread through crumbs, kitchen utensils and spreads.
Can I freeze gluten-free bread in portions?
You can if the storage instructions for the bread you’ve chosen say it can be frozen. For example, Albert Heijn says that AH Gluten-free white half loaf can be frozen on the day of purchase. Divide it into portions using clean utensils and store them separately from ordinary bread.
Does gluten-free bread automatically contain iodised baker’s salt?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt in bread isn’t compulsory. Check the ingredients list for the bread you’ve chosen to see whether it contains iodised salt or baker’s salt.