For a child with coeliac disease, choose bread whose current packaging states that it is gluten-free, and agree with the nursery how lunch will be stored, prepared and served separately. Then compare the fibre content and check whether iodised baker’s salt has been used: gluten-free bread does not automatically have the same nutritional composition as regular wholemeal bread.
They need bread labelled gluten-free, along with clear arrangements for keeping it separate, storing it and serving it. Contact with crumbs from regular bread is also something to watch out for, as Voedingscentrum and Thuisarts explain.
Before serving, they need to be able to check the packaging, allergen information and storage instructions. Arrangements are also needed for knives, work surfaces and handing out the lunch.
As well as checking that it is labelled gluten-free, they want to compare the fibre content and whether iodised baker’s salt is used. These characteristics vary from one bread to another; a dark colour or a multi-seed name does not tell you either.
For a child who needs to eat strictly gluten-free, check the packaging and agree arrangements with the nursery first. Only then compare the nutritional information and practical packaging for lunch.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free and handled separately | Read the current gluten-free label and allergen information; discuss separate storage and preparation with the nursery. | If my child has coeliac disease, I want to prevent their lunch coming into contact with crumbs from regular bread. For around 42% of consumers, this gluten-free safety comes first. |
| Fibre and iodine | Compare the fibre per 100 g or per portion, and check whether the ingredients list mentions iodised baker’s salt. | If gluten-free bread often takes the place of wholemeal bread, I want to know what the chosen bread contains. This comparison is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| A lunch that works in practice | Check the pack size and storage advice; check the label again when buying it next time. | I want bread that I can pack in line with the storage arrangements, and whose packaging I can check before use. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this practical aspect. |
These descriptions do not tell you whether bread contains gluten. Regular wholemeal bread made with wheat, rye or barley is not suitable for a child who needs to eat strictly gluten-free.
First check the gluten-free label on the current packaging; only then compare the type of bread and its nutritional information.
Gluten-free bread can come into contact with crumbs from regular bread during preparation or serving, for example via a knife or chopping board.
Ask the nursery about its allergen policy in advance, and agree how this lunch will be packed, stored, prepared and handed out.
A gluten-free label alone tells you nothing about the amount of fibre or whether iodised baker’s salt has been used. Voedingscentrum points out that bread can make an important contribution to iodine intake in the Netherlands.
Compare the fibre in the nutritional information and check the ingredients for iodised baker’s salt. If you have questions about following a gluten-free diet long term, speak to a specialist dietitian if needed.
Ingredients, allergen information and nutritional values can change; the range also varies between shops and over time.
Check the current packaging when you buy it, even if you have bought the same bread before.
These ranges give you a starting point for comparing different types of bread. For lunch, always check the specific product and its current packaging.
Albert Heijn’s AH Gluten-Free range includes dark and light multi-seed bread, bread rolls and sourdough bread.
Jumbo offers Lekker Vrij gluten-free bread in brown and white varieties, in 500 g packs.
PLUS offers Bruin glutenvrij (brown gluten-free bread) and other gluten-free bread options.
Dirk offers gluten-free Schär Meisterbackers varieties and mini baguettes, among other products.
Lidl describes a gluten-free range, but the range information shown does not feature a specific lunch bread to compare here.
ALDI mentions gluten-free bread options in its information about bakery products.
No. Regular wholemeal bread made with wheat, rye or barley contains gluten. For a child who needs to eat strictly gluten-free, the gluten-free label on the current packaging is the first thing to look for.
Not if the bread could later come into contact with crumbs from regular bread. Agree with the nursery how lunch will be stored, prepared and served separately, and follow the setting’s policy.
Do not assume so: check whether the ingredients list mentions iodised baker’s salt, or ask the baker. Voedingscentrum describes bread as an important source of iodine in the Netherlands, but that does not tell you what is in every gluten-free loaf.
Not automatically. According to Voedingscentrum, people without coeliac disease, a wheat allergy or diagnosed gluten sensitivity do not need to eat gluten-free; choose lunch according to the child’s needs and the arrangements with the nursery.
