Organic Gluten-Free Bread for Coeliac Disease: What to Check

Who is this relevant to?

Organic shopper with coeliac disease

You’re looking for bread where you can check both the ‘gluten-free’ claim and the organic status of the exact product. An organic logo alone says nothing about the gluten content.

Bread buyer looking to replace wholemeal bread

You want to compare the ingredients and fibre content of a gluten-free alternative too. If this means you eat less ordinary bread, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends paying attention to the iodine in your overall diet.

Shopper looking for a variety of breads

You compare bread types and shop ranges, but check each product to make sure the gluten-free and organic features you’re looking for are actually stated on the packaging.

What should you look for when choosing?

For someone with coeliac disease, ordinary organic wholemeal bread is not a gluten-free alternative. Once you’ve chosen from the gluten-free range, decide whether organic is a requirement for you and which ingredients, fibre content and type of bread suit your needs.

Gluten-free and organic

When: you want to be able to check both claims on the same packaged loaf.

Consider: Albert Heijn lists Consenza Vezelrijk zadenbrood chia as having both features. For any other bread, check the packaging and nutritional information again.

Gluten-free bread without confirmed organic status

When: gluten-free is essential, but organic isn’t a firm requirement.

Consider: a gluten-free bread isn’t automatically organic, even if the shop also sells organic products.

Ordinary organic wholemeal bread

When: only if you don’t need gluten-free bread.

Limit: ordinary wholemeal bread made from gluten-containing grains is not a substitute for bread labelled ‘gluten-free’ if you have coeliac disease.

What to consider	What to check when buying	Who does this matter to?
Gluten-free claim	Look for ‘gluten-free’ on the current packaging. Check the ingredients and allergen information too, especially for oats.	If I have coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely on a bread name or a wheat-free recipe. For around 36% of consumers, checking the gluten-free claim is the top priority.
Organic status	Check the EU organic logo, the control body’s code number and the origin indication on the exact loaf.	If I shop organically, I want to see that feature on the same loaf. Organic status is the top priority for around 29% of consumers.
Replacing wholemeal bread	Compare the ingredients and fibre per 100 g and, where stated, per serving. If you’re keeping an eye on iodine, check whether the label lists iodised salt.	When I replace ordinary wholemeal bread, I want to know what the other bread adds to my diet. This comparison is a priority for around 21% of consumers.
Bread type and availability	Check that the bread is the type you want, read the storage instructions and check whether the exact product is available at your shop.	I want a type of bread that fits my shopping needs, without assuming that an online range reflects in-store stock. This is the first consideration for around 14% of consumers.

Common mistakes

Assuming organic means gluten-free

The EU organic logo relates to organic production, not gluten content. Conversely, the ‘gluten-free’ claim says nothing about a product’s organic status.

Check both features separately on the packaging of the same product.
Assuming dark bread or seeds mean it’s wholemeal

A dark colour, seeds or a claim about fibre don’t automatically make gluten-free bread equivalent to ordinary wholemeal bread.

Read the ingredients and compare the nutritional values per 100 g and, if available, per serving.
Assuming all gluten-free bread contains iodine

The Dutch rules on baker’s salt don’t guarantee that a particular gluten-free loaf contains iodised salt. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre highlights iodine as something to consider if you eat little bread or bread without iodised salt.

Check whether the label lists iodised salt or baker’s salt, and take the rest of your diet into account too.
Assuming an online category guarantees a product’s features

A shop may list gluten-free bread and organic products without the loaf you want having both features. Availability can also vary between shops and over time.

Check the exact product just before buying, then read the current packaging when it arrives.

Shops and brands to consider

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists Consenza Vezelrijk zadenbrood chia as organic and gluten-free.

For this specific bread, you can compare both product claims and the nutritional information.
A wider gluten-free range doesn’t mean the other breads are organic too; check each product’s packaging separately.

Jumbo

Jumbo’s online Schär range includes several types of gluten-free bread.

You can browse breads suited to different occasions.
Check the organic status of each bread separately.

PLUS

PLUS’s online range includes gluten-free brown bread, multiseed bread and bread rolls.

The range includes both loaves and smaller types of bread.
Check each product’s packaging to confirm its organic status.

Dirk

Dirk’s search results include gluten-free bread products from Schär.

The products listed can help you find a specific type of gluten-free bread.
A separate organic bread category doesn’t tell you whether those Schär products are organic.

Lidl

Lidl is a shop where you can check the current range of gluten-free and organic products.

Gluten-free products sold for a limited time may not always be available. Check the bread you choose and confirm both features for each product.

ALDI

ALDI provides information about organic products and lists gluten-free bread rolls in its bakery range.

In store, check that the roll you choose is labelled ‘gluten-free’ and carries an organic indication.

Related Joybuy products

Frequently asked questions

Which claim should I look for first if I have coeliac disease?

First, look for ‘gluten-free’ on the exact bread. Under EU Implementing Regulation 828/2014, this claim may only be used if the food contains no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg for the final consumer. An organic logo or the absence of wheat from the product name isn’t a substitute for checking.

Is gluten-free bread automatically wholemeal?

No. ‘Gluten-free’ and ‘wholemeal’ describe different features. Check the ingredients and compare the fibre per 100 g if you’re looking for an alternative to your usual wholemeal bread.

How can I tell whether gluten-free bread is also organic?

Check the EU organic logo on the packaging of that loaf, along with the control body’s code number and the origin indication. An organic range in a shop doesn’t prove that every individual gluten-free product is organic.

Does all gluten-free bread contain iodine because of the rules on baker’s salt?

No. Don’t assume that a particular gluten-free loaf contains iodised salt. Read the ingredients on the packaging. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends considering the iodine in your overall diet if you eat little bread or bread without iodised salt.