If you’re catering for a guest with coeliac disease, choose bread labelled gluten-free and prepare and serve it without contact with crumbs containing gluten. If you’d also like wholemeal bread, check that the product is explicitly labelled as wholemeal. Mini rolls are handy for individual portions at a drinks party, but their size says nothing about whether they’re wholemeal.
You need a product labelled gluten-free and want to prevent it coming into contact with crumbs from ordinary bread during the drinks party. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, even small amounts of gluten can cause symptoms in people with coeliac disease.
You’re serving both gluten-containing and gluten-free snacks. Clear ingredient information, a separate serving plate and clean serving utensils are important.
You’re not just looking for dark bread or bread with seeds. You want to check the packaging to see whether the product is wholemeal and how much fibre it contains per 100 g.
If you’re hosting a drinks party with a guest who has coeliac disease, first check that the bread is labelled gluten-free and serve it safely. Then choose based on whether you want wholemeal bread, what size you need and which products are available.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Serving gluten-free | Check for a gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain mark, and use clean, separate serving utensils. | If someone with coeliac disease is joining us, I also want to avoid contact with ordinary bread crumbs when cutting and dipping. Around 39% of consumers put gluten-free preparation first. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for an explicit wholemeal label and compare the fibre content per 100 g. | I don’t want to rely on the dark colour or seeds when I’m looking for wholemeal bread. For around 23% of consumers, choosing wholemeal is the deciding factor. |
| Drinks-party portions | Check the number of pieces and whether you can portion the bread separately. | When serving a platter with different dips, I want to offer small portions without cutting the gluten-free bread next to ordinary bread. Around 23% of consumers prioritise this size. |
| Availability | Check the pack size and the current range at the shop where you’re buying. | I want to plan the drinks party around a pack I can actually pick up or order. For around 15% of consumers, availability is the first thing they consider. |
Gluten-free bread can be dark or contain seeds without being labelled wholemeal. For example, Albert Heijn doesn’t describe its dark seeded bread as wholemeal.
Is wholemeal a must for you? Look for an explicit wholemeal label on the product, then compare the fibre content per 100 g.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, even stray bread crumbs can cause symptoms in people with coeliac disease. Bread bought separately can still come into contact with gluten when it’s being prepared or served.
Prepare the gluten-free platter using a clean chopping board and knife, and provide separate utensils for the dips.
Gluten-free doesn’t mean free from all other allergens. Albert Heijn notes that its dark seeded bread may contain other allergens, including egg, milk, soya, oats and nuts.
Check the current label every time you buy, looking out for any allergens relevant to your guests.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, not all bread is made with baker’s salt. So you can’t assume that a gluten-free loaf contains iodised salt just because of the type of bread.
For packaged bread, check the ingredients list for iodised salt or baker’s salt. If the bread is unwrapped, ask instead.
Albert Heijn offers gluten-free bread and smaller bread formats for drinks parties.
Jumbo offers gluten-free brown and white bread under this own-label brand.
PLUS offers gluten-free brown bread, seeded bread and small rolls for different ways of serving.
Schär has gluten-free bread varieties and mini baguettes listed in supermarket ranges.
Jumbo lists a Céréal loaf whose name explicitly describes it as gluten-free and wholemeal.
This selection is suited to small drinks-party portions labelled gluten-free. Before buying, check which product format you’ll receive and how much preparation it needs.
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A handy option for small portions at a drinks party if you’re looking for a product labelled gluten-free.
Check whether the pack contains rolls or a bread mix, and what preparation is required. Don’t assume it’s wholemeal based on its size or fibre content; also check the current label for any other relevant allergens.
No. ‘Wheat-free’ on its own isn’t a suitable label to rely on. Choose a product labelled gluten-free or bearing the Crossed Grain mark, then make sure it doesn’t come into contact with crumbs containing gluten.
Use a separate, clean plate and provide dedicated knives and spoons for the bread and dips. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, even small amounts of gluten can cause symptoms in people with coeliac disease, so don’t share a bread basket or utensils with gluten-containing bread.
Yes. A gluten-free product may contain other allergens. Check the current label for any allergens relevant to your guests. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that allergen information for pre-packed products must appear on the label.
You can’t assume this just because the bread is labelled gluten-free. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers don’t always use baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list on packaged bread or ask about unwrapped bread.
No. Check the packaging of the specific oat product. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, oats can be contaminated with gluten, so the Crossed Grain mark on the packaging is important for people with coeliac disease.
