If someone needs to avoid gluten, first choose bread clearly labelled as gluten-free and check the current label. If they have a wheat allergy, you should also check whether the product contains wheat. Only then choose a style of bread to suit the meal. Gluten-free does not mean the bread is also free from soya, sesame or other allergens.
If you’re sharing a meal with someone who has coeliac disease, gluten sensitivity or a wheat allergy, you’ll need to check the label, ingredients and warnings for the specific bread. If they have a wheat allergy, a gluten-free label alone isn’t enough: check whether wheat is listed too.
As well as gluten, the person eating may need to avoid soya, milk, sesame, mustard or lupin, for example. So compare the full allergen information with the ingredients they need to avoid, even if the packaging says gluten-free.
Multiseed bread, sourdough-style bread or festive bread can be a good fit for lunch or brunch. Only consider the style of bread once you’ve checked that the ingredients and allergen information are suitable for everyone eating.
Start with the allergens everyone eating needs to avoid. Then compare the type of bread and check that you can buy your chosen product with an up-to-date label.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Most relevant to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten and cross-contact | Check the gluten-free label and the current packaging. For unpackaged bread, ask what information the shop can provide about the specific product. | If gluten needs to be avoided, I want to check more than just the name of the bread; I need to know whether it’s suitable for the meal. Gluten avoidance is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Other allergens | Compare the ingredients and warnings such as ‘may contain’ with the allergens the person eating needs to avoid. | I may be looking for gluten-free bread, but I also need to consider soya or sesame, for example. Avoiding other allergens is the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Style of bread for the meal | Once you’ve checked for allergens, choose between options such as sliced bread, multiseed bread or festive bread. | For brunch, I want a type of bread that suits the meal, without skipping the allergen check. The style of bread is the main consideration for roughly 21% of consumers. |
| Labelling and availability | Check the packaging of the product you’re buying and find out whether a particular festive or promotional product is available. | When I’m planning a meal, I want to know that I can get the bread I’ve chosen and check its packaging. This practical certainty is the top priority for around 14% of consumers. |
‘Premium’ says nothing about whether bread is suitable for someone with an allergy. Check a multiseed or festive loaf for the same relevant ingredients and warnings as you would a more basic loaf.
Gluten-free bread may still contain other allergens. According to PLUS product information, Schär Meesterbakker Mehrkorn contains soya and may contain lupin, mustard and sesame.
Check the ingredients and warnings on the current packaging against the allergens the person eating needs to avoid.
Ingredients and allergen information can change. PLUS notes in its product information that details on the packaging may differ.
Use the product page to compare options in advance, then read the packaging on the bread you actually take home.
The way bread is presented doesn’t tell you which allergens it contains or which warnings apply.
Before you buy, ask for the allergen information for the specific unpackaged bread. Don’t choose it based on its appearance alone.
A seasonal product or special range may not be available when you need it.
Check availability before planning your meal, and think of another bread with suitable, up-to-date labelling that you could use instead.
These brands give you a starting point for comparing bread and product information. Whether a bread is suitable depends on the individual product and the allergens everyone eating needs to avoid.
Worth considering if you want to compare different gluten-free products.
Product information for options such as Lekker Vrij van Gluten Bruin en Meerzaden gives you a starting point for comparison.
Worth considering if you want to compare different types of bread, from everyday loaves to multigrain and festive bread.
A place to compare different types of Schär bread.
Worth considering if you’re looking for rolls or part-baked rolls for brunch.
Provides ingredients and allergen information for its fresh-from-the-oven bread range.
These mini baguettes are an option to consider if you’re looking for smaller rolls for a special meal. Check the current packaging before deciding whether they’re suitable for the allergens everyone eating needs to avoid.
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A pack of seven mini baguettes for anyone who wants to serve smaller rolls with a meal. When checking for allergens, pay particular attention to soya and warnings about lupin and mustard. Compare the current packaging with the ingredients everyone eating needs to avoid. Also check the preparation instructions before serving the baguettes.
No. A gluten-free label doesn’t tell you whether the bread is also free from soya, milk or sesame, for example. PLUS lists soya and warnings for lupin, mustard and sesame for Schär Meesterbakker Mehrkorn. For every bread, compare the current label with the allergens the person eating needs to avoid.
Before you buy, ask for the allergen information for that specific bread and decide whether it gives you enough information to make your choice. The words ‘fresh’ and ‘artisan’ don’t confirm which ingredients or allergens it contains.
Check for a clear gluten-free label and the current packaging, and avoid contact with crumbs from regular bread when preparing it. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that even small amounts of gluten can cause symptoms for people with coeliac disease, so also consider shared toasters and chopping boards.
Check the ingredients list on the packaging. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may be present in bread through baker’s salt. You can’t tell whether this applies to a particular product from the style of bread alone.
Use it to compare products in advance, but check the physical packaging when you buy. PLUS warns that ingredients and allergen information may change.
