If lunch is for someone with coeliac disease, choose bread clearly labelled ‘gluten-free’ and agree with the canteen how it will be stored and prepared separately from ordinary bread. Then compare the type of bread, ingredients, allergens and fibre on the packaging. If you also want to know whether the bread contains iodised salt, check the ingredients list: according to the Voedingscentrum, bakers are not required to use baker’s salt.
You’re looking for bread labelled gluten-free and a lunch that won’t come into contact with crumbs from ordinary bread during storage, slicing or filling. The Dutch Coeliac Society highlights the importance of preventing cross-contamination.
You want to be able to choose between options such as sliced bread and rolls for lunch, while comparing ingredients, allergens and fibre on the packaging.
You’re planning a bread lunch in advance and checking whether your chosen option is available from the relevant shop and can be stored and prepared separately.
For a lunch suitable for someone with coeliac disease, first decide which bread to use and how the canteen will prevent cross-contamination. Then compare the type of bread and the nutritional information on the specific packaging.
| Key point | What to check | Most relevant to |
|---|---|---|
| Preparing a gluten-free lunch | Check that the packaging is labelled ‘gluten-free’ and agree on separate storage and preparation. | If I have coeliac disease, I don’t want my bread to come into contact with crumbs from ordinary bread when it’s being filled. Around 39% of consumers put this safety requirement first. |
| Availability on the working day | Check your chosen option and the range at the relevant branch before the canteen places an order. | When planning a work lunch, I want to know that my chosen type of bread will be available in time. Around 23% of consumers place the greatest importance on this practical consideration. |
| Ingredients and nutritional information | Compare fibre per 100 g, allergens and whether iodised salt or baker’s salt is listed. | If I often have bread for lunch, I want to be able to assess the ingredients of the exact option, including when I’m watching out for other allergens. Around 23% of consumers put this label information first. |
| Type of bread and variety | After checking safety, compare the type of bread, portion size and storage instructions. | I like to alternate between sliced bread and rolls, as long as the canteen can prepare my choice separately. Around 15% of consumers give variety the highest priority. |
According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, gluten-free bread can still come into contact with gluten through crumbs or shared kitchen utensils.
Keep the bread sealed and use a clean, crumb-free surface and separate utensils for slicing and filling it.
According to the Voedingscentrum, bakers are not required to use baker’s salt. So, the gluten-free label doesn’t tell you whether the bread contains iodised salt.
Check the ingredients list for the option you’ve chosen.
A category page won’t tell you whether a specific type of bread is available at the branch where the canteen shops. Some bake-at-home options from ALDI are also only available at shops with an in-store bakery.
Check your chosen option and local ordering or collection options before making a regular lunch plan.
Ingredients and allergens vary from one type of bread to another. For example, information about Schär Meisterbäcker Mehrkorn at PLUS lists soya and warnings about the possible presence of other allergens.
Even when bread is labelled gluten-free, check the ingredients list and allergen information on the current packaging.
Albert Heijn has an online gluten-free bread category featuring options from brands including Schär and Consenza.
Jumbo’s online gluten-free bread category features different types, including multiseed bread, sourdough and ciabatta.
PLUS offers its own gluten-free bread options as well as branded products, including bread from Schär and Yam.
Schär makes gluten-free bread, including Schär Meisterbäcker Mehrkorn, which is available at PLUS.
Lidl has a page for additional gluten-free products.
ALDI lists gluten-free options among its bake-at-home rolls at shops with an in-store bakery.
Dirk has an online search page for gluten-free bread.
Not necessarily: storage and preparation must also prevent cross-contamination with ordinary bread. The Dutch Coeliac Society warns that gluten can be transferred through crumbs and shared kitchen utensils, among other things.
Start by checking that the packaging is labelled ‘gluten-free’, then read the ingredients and allergen information for that exact option. Also agree on how the canteen will store and prepare the bread separately.
No, the gluten-free label doesn’t tell you that. According to the Voedingscentrum, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list to see whether iodised salt or baker’s salt is listed.
Follow the storage instructions for the specific bread, and keep it separate from ordinary bread while it’s stored and defrosted. The product information for Schär Meisterbäcker Mehrkorn at PLUS advises using the bread within a few days of opening or freezing it straight away.
No, gluten-free doesn’t mean free from other allergens. Check the ingredients and allergen warnings on the packaging you’ve chosen. A soya listing or a warning about possible traces on one type of bread doesn’t automatically apply to other options.
