For a guest with coeliac disease, replace rye bread with bread or rolls labelled ‘gluten-free’: rye contains gluten. Choose a type of bread that suits your Easter brunch, but check the current ingredients and other allergens before serving. Also make sure the gluten-free bread has been prepared separately from ordinary bread.
They need an alternative labelled gluten-free, served without contact with crumbs from ordinary bread. According to Voedingscentrum, rye contains gluten and a gluten-free diet is essential for people with coeliac disease.
You want bread in recognisable packaging for the table and need to know its ingredients and allergens before buying. When serving, it’s important to use separate, clean bread and serving utensils.
You want to make your own Easter bread and need to check every ingredient individually. Jumbo warns in its gluten-free Easter bread recipe that almond paste may contain traces of gluten. You’ll also need to check the ingredients separately for any other allergies your guests may have.
First, check that the bread is labelled gluten-free and avoid contact with ordinary bread. Then choose between sliced bread, small rolls or homemade Easter bread, and check the information about other allergens.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Most relevant for |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten and cross-contamination | Look for the ‘gluten-free’ label on the packaging; keep the chopping board, knife and serving utensils free from crumbs from ordinary bread. | If I’m serving bread to someone with coeliac disease, I won’t rely on its colour or the words ‘wheat-free’ alone. For around 36% of consumers, checking for gluten is the top priority. |
| Type of bread | Choose sliced bread for topped slices, small rolls for a brunch buffet or a suitable recipe for sweet Easter bread. | When I’m laying out the table, it matters whether guests will be served topped slices or small rolls. For around 29% of consumers, the way the bread is served comes first. |
| Other allergens | Check the ingredients, allergen information and any ‘may contain’ warning for each product. | If my guest has another allergy as well as coeliac disease, I need to check the bread and toppings for that too. Around 21% of consumers put this extra ingredients check first. |
| Availability | Check the range at your chosen store or delivery area shortly before buying. | If I want a particular type of bread for brunch, I need to know whether I can get it in time. For around 14% of consumers, availability is the main consideration. |
According to Voedingscentrum, rye and spelt contain gluten. ‘Wheat-free’ on its own doesn’t mean that a bread is gluten-free.
For a guest with coeliac disease, choose a product labelled ‘gluten-free’ and read the label.
Contact with ordinary bread can make the gluten-free option at brunch unsuitable for someone with coeliac disease.
Use a clean chopping board, a clean knife and separate serving utensils. Also check the toaster for crumbs, or use a separate toaster bag.
Gluten-free doesn’t mean a bread is free from allergens such as soya, nuts or sesame. PLUS lists soya in its Schär multigrain bread and says it may contain lupin, mustard and sesame.
Ask which allergies are relevant to your guest, then check the ingredients and warnings on the current packaging of every product you choose.
A range page doesn’t tell you which type of bread is available at your local store. Ingredient information can also change.
Check the product you’ve chosen shortly before you shop, and have another suitable type of bread as a back-up.
These examples of shops can help you find the right type of bread, but always check the specific packaging for the guest at your table.
Albert Heijn lists products including AH Gluten-Free Dark Multigrain Bread.
Jumbo’s gluten-free bread range includes different types of bread, and it also publishes a recipe for gluten-free Easter bread.
PLUS lists gluten-free breads and petit pains, as well as products from Schär.
Dirk’s search results include gluten-free bread products from Schär, such as Meisterbackers varieties and mini baguettes.
ALDI mentions gluten-free bread in its information about bake-at-home products.
Lidl points shoppers towards its standard range for gluten-free options, and also mentions additional products that vary over time.
If you’d like to serve small rolls instead of slices of rye bread, you could take a look at these mini baguettes. Before buying, check that the current packaging labels your chosen variety as ‘gluten-free’.
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These mini baguettes could work well as small portions for an Easter brunch, provided the current packaging carries the required gluten-free label.
Also check the pack for the contents, preparation instructions and allergens. The product description mentions soya and possible traces of lupin and mustard.
No. According to Voedingscentrum, rye is a grain that contains gluten. So, instead of rye bread, serve someone with coeliac disease a separate product labelled ‘gluten-free’.
Look for the ‘gluten-free’ label on the current packaging and check the ingredients and allergens too. Under European Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, this label may only be used for food sold to the final consumer if it contains no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg.
Prepare and serve the gluten-free bread using a clean chopping board, a clean knife and separate serving utensils. Watch out for crumbs in the toaster too: Voedingscentrum points out that even a stray bread crumb can matter for someone with coeliac disease.
No, this isn’t determined by the type of bread. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may be present in bread and certain other baked goods when baker’s salt is added, within the applicable limit. This doesn’t mean every bread has to contain iodised salt. Check the ingredients list of the product you’ve chosen if you want to know.
