If you have coeliac disease, regular rye bread isn’t a suitable late-night snack: rye contains gluten. Look for a product labelled gluten-free on the packaging. Choose soft bread if you’re after a sandwich; choose crispbread or crackers if a small, ready-to-eat, crunchy snack suits you better. Check the current ingredients and allergen information for either option.
You’re looking for something to take the place of rye bread, but rye is a gluten-containing grain. So look for bread, crispbread or crackers specifically labelled gluten-free, and check the packaging.
If you want a small snack straight away without having to defrost bread, individually portioned gluten-free crispbread or a cracker can be a practical choice. Check how each product is packaged.
For a softer snack with a topping, gluten-free multiseed bread is a more obvious choice than a cracker. Bear in mind the storage instructions, including any freezing guidance, for the bread you choose.
If you have coeliac disease, first check that the product is labelled gluten-free and read the label. Then choose between a crunchy snack you can eat straight away and soft bread.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free labelling | Look for ‘gluten-free’ on the current packaging and read the ingredients and allergen information. Under EU Regulation 828/2014, this claim can only be used when a food contains no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg as sold. | If I have coeliac disease, I don’t want to judge by the dark colour or name of a bread. Around 50% of consumers replacing rye bread for a late-night snack make this check their priority. |
| Ready-to-eat snacks and portions | Check the number of portions, packaging and storage advice for gluten-free crispbread or crackers. | When I want something small to eat late at night, I don’t want to defrost bread first or open a whole loaf. For around 30% of consumers replacing rye bread as a late-night snack, convenience comes first. |
| Bread-like texture | For gluten-free bread, compare the serving size, seeds, nutritional information and storage or freezing instructions. | If what I miss most is a sandwich with a topping, I’d rather choose soft bread than something crunchy. This bread-like option is the priority for around 20% of consumers looking for a late-night alternative to rye bread. |
Rye contains gluten. A dark colour or a claim that it’s high in fibre doesn’t make rye bread suitable for someone with coeliac disease.
Instead, choose a specific product labelled ‘gluten-free’ and check the current packaging.
A filter is no substitute for the information on the product itself: recipes, allergen information and product ranges can change.
Use the filter to find options, but read the packaging of the product you actually bought before eating it.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum), bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So you can’t tell whether it’s present just from the type of bread.
Check the ingredients list on each loaf to see whether it contains baker’s salt.
A gluten-free product may contain other allergens or carry an allergen warning. For example, Albert Heijn lists possible traces of milk, soya, sesame and mustard for the Wasa Classic variety.
If you have another food allergy as well as coeliac disease, check the current information for both the snack and its topping.
Albert Heijn offers a range of gluten-free bread options under this own-brand label.
Schär makes gluten-free products in both bread-like and crunchy forms, including bread and crackers.
The gluten-free Classic variety is a crunchy option for anyone who doesn’t want a soft sandwich.
Jumbo offers a brown gluten-free bread under this own-brand name.
PLUS offers own-brand products in its gluten-free range, including white bread.
These lentil wafers are a good match for anyone looking for a crunchy late-night snack rather than a sandwich. If you have coeliac disease, the gluten-free claim on the current packaging is what matters most.
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A crunchy snack for anyone who doesn’t want a soft sandwich. If you have coeliac disease, check that the current packaging says ‘gluten-free’ before eating and read the ingredients and allergen information. Check the packaging too if individual portions are important to you.
No. Regular rye bread contains rye, a gluten-containing grain, so it isn’t suitable if you have coeliac disease. Look for an alternative labelled ‘gluten-free’ on the packaging. Under EU Regulation 828/2014, this means no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg of food as sold.
Choose gluten-free crispbread or crackers if you want something small and crunchy to eat straight away; choose gluten-free bread if you’d rather make a soft sandwich with a topping. Either way, check the label, and follow the storage instructions for bread.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum), bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list on the bread you choose to see whether it contains baker’s salt.
Follow the storage instructions for the product you choose. Individual packaging can be handy for the occasional cracker snack, while some breads can be frozen at home. Albert Heijn says its dark gluten-free multiseed bread is suitable for freezing at home; check the instructions on the packaging.
