Who is this choice relevant to?

Everyday bread eaters with coeliac disease

You’re looking for sliced bread for breakfast or lunch, and need to avoid rye and other sources of gluten. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, rye contains gluten.

Shoppers using rye bread as a flavour benchmark

You’re looking for the dense texture or dark flavour you associate with rye bread, but need a gluten-free alternative. Check the label first; only then compare the bread’s other characteristics.

Households buying for someone with coeliac disease

You want to check each pack for a gluten-free label, as well as the listed ingredients and other allergens, before choosing it as an everyday bread.

What should you look for when choosing?

Rule out rye bread containing rye first. Then check the label on a gluten-free alternative before comparing portions and nutritional information.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters most to
Rule out sources of gluten Check the ingredients for rye, wheat and barley. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists these grains as sources of gluten. When I’m buying bread for someone with coeliac disease, I want to make sure a familiar bread name doesn’t lead me to overlook an ingredient containing gluten. For roughly 50% of consumers, ruling out sources of gluten comes first.
Gluten-free label Look for a gluten-free label on the replacement bread, and check the ingredients and allergens on that pack too. When I’m looking at an unfamiliar sliced bread, I want to see what makes it a gluten-free choice rather than relying on its appearance. Around 30% of consumers give checking the label top priority.
Everyday use Compare the number of slices and the nutritional information, including fibre and salt per 100 g or per portion, if provided. Check the storage instructions too. For breakfast or lunch, a gluten-free bread also needs to suit the portions I eat and the way I store it. This is the main follow-up consideration for around 20% of consumers.

Common misconceptions

  • Mistaking rye for a gluten-free alternative

    A dark colour or wholegrain character doesn’t change the fact that rye contains gluten, as the Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains.

    If you have coeliac disease, leave rye bread containing rye on the shelf and start by looking for bread labelled gluten-free.

  • Assuming ‘light’ or ‘medium-sliced’ means gluten-free

    These words describe the bread, but don’t mean it’s gluten-free. A light wholemeal sliced rye bread listed by Jumbo contains both rye and wheat.

    Check the ingredients and gluten-free label before considering the colour, slice thickness or flavour.

  • Confusing the rule on bakers’ salt with a gluten check

    Information from the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority about iodine compounds in bakers’ salt doesn’t tell you whether a particular bread contains gluten.

    If you have coeliac disease, first check the bread’s sources of gluten and its gluten-free label. Look at the iodine information separately if it’s relevant to your choice.

Retailers as a point of reference

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists a category of standard rye breads online.

  • The category helps you distinguish between products and their packaging information.
  • Being listed in this category doesn’t make a rye bread suitable for someone with coeliac disease. Check the gluten-free label on the individual pack when looking for an alternative.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists ingredients and allergens for sliced rye breads online.

  • The ingredients listed help you rule products out: the Bolletje rye breads reviewed contain rye and wheat.
  • Don’t use these rye breads as a gluten-free alternative for someone with coeliac disease; check the packaging of any other bread you’re considering.

Lidl

Lidl lists wholegrain and Westphalian varieties of rye bread online.

  • The variety name helps you identify the type of bread.
  • Rye bread isn’t a substitute for bread labelled gluten-free if you have coeliac disease: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, rye contains gluten.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Can I eat medium-sliced rye bread if I have coeliac disease?

Not if the bread contains rye: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, rye is a grain that contains gluten. The thickness of the slices doesn’t change the ingredients, so look for a gluten-free alternative for an everyday sandwich and check the packaging.

Does ‘light’ or ‘wholegrain’ rye bread make a difference to the gluten choice?

No. These words don’t mean rye bread is gluten-free. A light wholemeal sliced rye bread listed by Jumbo contains rye and wheat, so check the ingredients of the product you’re considering.

What should I compare once I’ve found gluten-free sliced bread?

Compare the slices or portions, nutritional information and storage instructions on the packs you’re considering. Use the information for the gluten-free bread itself, not for the rye bread you’re replacing.

Does the rule on bakers’ salt mean that all bread contains iodine?

No. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the conditions under which iodine compounds may be present in bread and other baked goods through bakers’ salt; this doesn’t tell you what’s in any particular loaf. For coeliac disease, sources of gluten and a gluten-free label remain the deciding factors.