For someone with coeliac disease, the thickness of a slice doesn’t determine whether it’s suitable: first check that the packaging you choose says ‘gluten-free’ or displays the Crossed Grain symbol. If you’re looking for a reliable option for breakfast or lunch, compare gluten-free bread. Crackers can work well with toppings on the go, while mini toasts are better suited to a snack. If you eat them regularly, check the salt and fibre content, and whether the ingredients include baker’s salt.
You’re buying toast for someone with coeliac disease, so before considering the taste or shape, you check the gluten-free label, the ingredients and the risk of contact with ordinary bread crumbs.
You want something for a regular breakfast or lunch. So you compare bread, crackers and mini toasts not just by shape, but also by salt, fibre and whether the ingredients include baker’s salt.
You’re looking for a convenient option for work, when you’re out and about or for a snack, and you check the portion size, flavour and allergens listed on the packaging.
First, check that the packaging confirms the product is suitable for someone with coeliac disease. Then choose a product that suits the occasion: a cracker or mini toast won’t necessarily serve the same purpose as a medium-sliced piece of bread.
Best for: a thin, easy-to-top option in small portions, for example when you’re out and about.
Consider: a cracker isn’t a medium-sliced piece of bread for a main meal.
Best for: small, crunchy bites with toppings, such as at a drinks gathering.
Consider: a flavoured variety is less neutral as a substitute for a slice of bread.
Best for: anyone mainly looking for bread for breakfast or lunch, rather than a small, crunchy snack.
Consider: according to the Voedingscentrum, gluten-free bread isn’t necessarily made with baker’s salt.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Choosing gluten-free | Check the packaging of the product you’re buying for a ‘gluten-free’ label or the Crossed Grain symbol, and read the ingredients and allergen information. | When I’m buying for someone with coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely on ‘wheat-free’ or the shape of a mini toast. For around 50% of consumers, choosing a gluten-free product comes first. |
| Everyday use | Compare salt and fibre per 100 g; for bread, also check whether baker’s salt is listed in the ingredients. | For my regular breakfast or lunch, I’m looking for something different from a small mini toast for snacking. Around 30% of consumers prioritise this role as an everyday bread option. |
| Shape and flavour | Compare portion sizes, plain or flavoured options, and any other allergens. | I want something I can top and take with me, without the flavour or ingredients limiting my choice. This practical fit matters most to around 20% of consumers. |
A wheat-free label alone doesn’t confirm that a product is suitable for someone with coeliac disease; other gluten-containing grains matter too.
Check the exact packaging of the product you’re buying for a ‘gluten-free’ label or the Crossed Grain symbol, as the Voedingscentrum also advises.
According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, ordinary bread crumbs can get onto gluten-free food during preparation.
Use clean cutlery and a crumb-free surface, and keep gluten-free products separately wrapped.
Mini toasts and a slice of bread are used in different ways. Jumbo’s product page lists 6.6 g of salt per 100 g for Gluten Free Bakery Holland Toastjes Italiaans Gekruid; this figure doesn’t apply to other mini toasts.
If you eat them regularly, compare the nutritional information per 100 g. For bread, check whether the label lists baker’s salt.
Schär Crackers Glutenvrij are an example of a thin, easy-to-top cracker; Jumbo lists a pack of 6 × 35 g.
Toastjes Italiaans Gekruid is a 100 g pack of flavoured mini toasts for small snacks or bites with toppings.
Albert Heijn is a place to compare individual gluten-free bakery products and alternatives to bread.
Jumbo’s product information lets you compare specific crackers and mini toasts by ingredients, allergens and nutritional values.
No. Check that the packaging of the product you choose says ‘gluten-free’ or displays the Crossed Grain symbol. ‘Wheat-free’ alone says nothing about gluten from, for example, rye or barley. Also read the ingredients and allergen information for the specific product.
Prepare the gluten-free toast separately, using clean cutlery and a crumb-free surface. The Dutch Coeliac Society recommends preparing gluten-free food separately, so don’t use a knife or spread that has just been in contact with ordinary bread either.
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, using baker’s salt when baking bread isn’t compulsory. If the presence of baker’s salt matters to your choice of bread, check the ingredients on the individual pack.
