If you have coeliac disease, don’t automatically buy regular medium-sliced wholemeal bread: wholemeal doesn’t mean gluten-free. First choose a loaf labelled gluten-free, then check whether it is sliced to your preferred thickness. For everyday use, also compare the ingredients, allergen information, pack size and storage instructions.
You want to choose gluten-free bread, rather than relying only on labels such as wholemeal, the colour or the way it is sliced. The Voedingscentrum says that people with coeliac disease need to follow a gluten-free diet for life.
You’re looking for gluten-free bread for breakfast or lunch and want to know whether the slices, ingredients, nutritional information and storage instructions suit your needs.
You’re comparing pack weights and the ranges available at different supermarkets, without assuming that every branch stocks the same bread.
When choosing everyday bread for someone with coeliac disease, the gluten-free label comes first. Then check the slices and storage instructions, followed by the pack size and what your shop stocks.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free | Look for a gluten-free label on the pack and read the ingredients and allergen information. | When I buy bread for someone with coeliac disease, checking that it is labelled gluten-free is my priority; around 50% of consumers put this check first. |
| Slices and everyday use | Check whether the loaf is sliced, how thick the slices are and what the storage instructions say. | For breakfast and lunch, I want slices that suit the way I use and store the bread. Around 30% of consumers put everyday practicality first. |
| Pack size and shop availability | Compare the net weight with how much you use and check your shop’s current range. | When I plan my shopping, I want to choose a pack I can finish and find a shop that stocks the bread; for around 20% of consumers, this is their main concern. |
Regular wholemeal bread may contain wheat, rye or barley. So the word wholemeal doesn’t tell you whether the bread is suitable for someone with coeliac disease.
First check that the pack says gluten-free. Only then look at the type of grain, colour or slicing style.
Dark, brown and multiseed don’t automatically mean the same thing as wholemeal. These words also don’t tell you how thick the slices are.
Read the product description and the packaging if wholemeal qualities or medium-sliced bread are important to you.
The pack also needs to suit how much bread you use and how you can store it.
Compare the net weight with how much you use, and follow the storage instructions if you want to freeze the bread.
A shop listing gluten-free products doesn’t mean that a particular sliced everyday loaf will be available at your local branch.
Check the current range and read the packaging before choosing an alternative.
Albert Heijn lists a gluten-free dark multiseed loaf as an alternative for everyday bread.
Jumbo lists products including Céréal Gluten Free Lactose Free Wholemeal Bread and Jumbo Lekker Vrij gluten-free brown bread.
PLUS lists several types of gluten-free bread, including a Schär multigrain loaf.
Dirk lists Schär gluten-free breads, including Meisterbackers Classic.
ALDI lists gluten-free options among its rolls and bake-at-home products.
Lidl provides information about its gluten-free range.
Not if it’s regular bread made with grains containing gluten. The Voedingscentrum says that people with coeliac disease need to follow a gluten-free diet for life, so check for a gluten-free label even if the bread is described as wholemeal.
First check for a gluten-free label, then see whether the loaf is sliced and whether the thickness suits your preference. You can’t tell the thickness from words such as dark, brown or multiseed.
No. The mention of iodised salt doesn’t tell you by itself whether bread is gluten-free. Check for a gluten-free label and read the full ingredients and allergen information on the pack.
Follow the storage instructions for the bread you buy. Albert Heijn says its gluten-free dark multiseed loaf can be frozen at home on the day of purchase; instructions may vary from one product to another.
