If you have coeliac disease, don’t choose bread based on the word ‘multigrain’. Look for a gluten-free label or certification on the packaging, and check the current label. Then compare the type of bread and pack weight with what you actually use. For other differences, check the fibre per 100 g, allergens and whether iodised salt is used.
You’ll want to check first whether the specific bread is labelled gluten-free. The Voedingscentrum advises looking for a gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging. You should also check the current ingredients and allergen information.
You’re looking for a type of bread and pack size that suit how much you use. A half loaf, a whole loaf and individual bake-at-home rolls won’t necessarily serve the same purpose.
When choosing gluten-free bread, you’ll also want to check the fibre per 100 g and the ingredients. If iodised salt matters to you, check the packaging to see whether it’s used.
If you have coeliac disease, start by checking the label on the specific bread. Then choose the type and quantity that suit your needs, and compare the nutritional information afterwards.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free label | Look for a gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain symbol, and check the current packaging. ‘Multigrain’ alone doesn’t mean a product is gluten-free. | If I have coeliac disease, I want to know that this specific bread is labelled gluten-free before comparing other features. Around 42% of consumers put this reassurance first. |
| Type and quantity of bread | Compare the pack weight and distinguish sliced bread from individual rolls or rolls that need baking. | If I eat sandwiches every day, I want to choose a pack that suits how much I use, without comparing different types of bread as if they were the same. Around 33% of consumers put this first. |
| Fibre and ingredients | Check the fibre per 100 g, allergens and ingredients. Separately check whether iodised salt or baker’s salt is listed. | As well as checking for a gluten-free label, I want to be able to compare the nutritional information and ingredients. For around 25% of consumers, this is the first additional consideration. |
The word ‘multigrain’ doesn’t mean that bread is free from gluten from ingredients such as wheat, rye or barley. If you have coeliac disease, it isn’t a suitable first filter.
Start by looking for a gluten-free label or certification, then check the label on the pack you’re buying.
The products listed range from half a loaf to a mini baguette. For example, Albert Heijn lists its light gluten-free multiseed bread as 480 g, while Dirk shows a 150 g Schär mini baguette.
First compare products you plan to eat in the same way, and check how much bread is in the pack.
The Voedingscentrum says that bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So a gluten-free label won’t tell you whether this ingredient is present.
Check the ingredients list if you want to know whether iodised salt or baker’s salt has been used in the bread.
A general mention of gluten-free bread doesn’t tell you which multigrain variety you’ll find in store. So you can’t rely on that information alone for details such as ingredients or pack weight.
Check which product is available before you go, and read the label in store. If you have coeliac disease, don’t simply replace an unavailable gluten-free loaf with regular multigrain bread.
Checking in advance can save you an extra trip to the shop if the product you’re looking for isn’t available.
Albert Heijn lists its own-brand light and dark gluten-free multiseed bread in 480 g packs.
Jumbo lists 500 g packs of white and brown gluten-free bread, and also includes multiseed bread in its gluten-free range.
PLUS lists its own gluten-free brown bread and multiseed bread. The multiseed bread is made with tapioca starch and contains linseed and sunflower seeds.
Schär Meesterbakker Mehrkorn is a gluten-free multigrain bread listed by PLUS.
ALDI lists gluten-free bread in its bakery and bake-at-home range.
Lidl provides information about additional gluten-free products in its range.
No. Multigrain bread may contain grains with gluten. The Voedingscentrum says you can identify a gluten-free product by the gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging. If you have coeliac disease, also check the current label on the specific bread.
No, check the full product information. Oats can become contaminated through contact with grains containing gluten. Choose bread that is explicitly labelled gluten-free, and check the current ingredients and allergen information.
No. The Voedingscentrum says that bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check the bread’s ingredients list to see whether iodised salt or baker’s salt is listed.
First compare the same type of bread, then check the pack weight and how much you use. Half a loaf of sliced bread, a bake-at-home roll and a mini baguette aren’t necessarily interchangeable. Compare the fibre per 100 g separately if it matters to your choice.
It depends on the product. For the multiseed bread it reviewed, Albert Heijn says you can freeze it at home on the day you buy it and use it within a month. Schär gives different advice for its reviewed bread, depending on whether it’s been opened or frozen straight away. Follow the storage instructions on your pack.
