If you have coeliac disease and are looking for crispbread for a simple student meal, choose a pack labelled gluten-free; ordinary rye crispbread, such as Ryvita Original, is not suitable. Then check the ingredients and allergens that matter to you, and work out how much of the pack you’ll use for a meal. A gluten-free label alone tells you nothing about other allergens or the type of salt used.
When making this choice, check for a gluten-free label first. The ingredients and pack size can then help you decide.
You’re looking for a quick base for a student meal. Check that the current pack is labelled gluten-free, and read the ingredients and allergen information too; ordinary rye or wheat crispbread isn’t a suitable alternative.
You want to know how many meals you can make from one pack. Check the pack size and work out how much crispbread you’ll use per meal, rather than simply comparing packs.
As well as gluten, you may need to check for sesame, oats, possible traces of other allergens or the type of salt used. Check these details for each product on its current packaging.
If you have coeliac disease, start by looking for a gluten-free label. Then compare pack sizes and check any other nutritional information that’s relevant to your meal.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free label | Look for ‘gluten-free’ on the current pack and read the ingredients. Don’t substitute ordinary rye crispbread. | If I have coeliac disease, I want to make sure my crispbread is labelled gluten-free before using it as the base for a meal. For around 42% of consumers, this reassurance comes first. |
| Pack size | Check the pack weight and decide how much crispbread you want to use for a meal. | When I plan my student meals, I want to estimate how long a pack will last. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this consideration. |
| Other label information | Read the ingredients and allergen information; if you wish, compare the salt per 100 g and check which type of salt was used. | As well as coeliac disease, I may need to consider another allergen or want to know what type of salt the product contains. For around 25% of consumers, this is their main additional consideration. |
Rye contains gluten. Ryvita states that its products contain gluten, and rye is listed in the ingredients of Ryvita Original.
If you have coeliac disease, choose a product that is explicitly labelled gluten-free and check the label on the pack you’re buying.
The packs described from AH, Schär and Wasa contain 230 g, 215 g and 240 g respectively. So the number of packs alone tells you little about how much you’ll have for several meals.
Check the pack size and think about how much crispbread you usually have with a meal.
The Wasa variety described contains sesame and may contain milk, mustard and soya. Oats and possible sesame are listed for AH Glutenvrij Vezelrijk crispbread.
As well as checking for a gluten-free label, always read the full ingredients and allergen information if you have another allergy to consider.
According to the Voedingscentrum, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So the salt in one crispbread product tells you nothing about the salt in another.
Check the ingredients list if you want to know whether a particular crispbread contains iodised salt.
The features mentioned apply to the products described; they don’t necessarily apply to every crispbread product from a brand or shop.
Wasa makes a crispbread variety called Gluten- & Lactose Vrij Sesame & Sea Salt.
AH Glutenvrij Vezelrijk crispbread is a supermarket own-brand variety sold in a 230 g pack.
Jumbo lists the 240 g Wasa Gluten- & Lactosevrij Sesame & Sea Salt variety.
Schär Hafer knäckebrot is a gluten-free oat crispbread sold in a 215 g pack.
Ryvita is included here as an example of ordinary crispbread that shouldn’t be confused with gluten-free crispbread.
Lidl has promoted an extended gluten-free range, but this isn’t a product claim for crispbread.
Under Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, the ‘gluten-free’ label means a food must contain no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority refers to these EU requirements for the label. If you have coeliac disease, check the current pack and read the ingredients and allergen information too.
No. Ryvita Original contains rye, so it isn’t a gluten-free choice if you have coeliac disease. Ryvita also states that its products contain gluten; choose crispbread labelled gluten-free.
No, the gluten-free label doesn’t tell you that. The Voedingscentrum says that bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list for the specific crispbread if you want to know what type of salt it contains.
Read the allergen and trace information on the pack you’re buying; gluten-free doesn’t mean free from other allergens. For example, the Wasa variety described contains sesame and may contain milk, mustard and soya, while AH lists oats and possible sesame for its gluten-free, high-fibre crispbread.
Follow the storage instructions on the pack. Albert Heijn recommends keeping its gluten-free, high-fibre crispbread in a cool, dry place and sealing the pack securely. For other products, follow their own storage instructions.
