If you have coeliac disease, only take bread clearly labelled gluten-free or bearing the Crossed Grain mark, and keep it separate from ordinary bread and crumbs throughout your picnic. Ready-to-eat sliced bread needs less preparation; part-baked rolls are an option if you can bake them at home. For both, check the current packaging for ingredients, other allergens and storage instructions.
You also need to avoid contact with ordinary bread when preparing and serving your food. The Voedingscentrum points out that even a stray bread crumb can cause symptoms if you have coeliac disease. So take your own clean serving utensils.
You’re looking for gluten-free bread and also want to compare its nutritional value. Check the fibre per 100 g on the packaging rather than relying on names such as ‘seeded’ or ‘multigrain’.
You want bread that’s easy to pack and share. Ready-to-eat slices save time, while individual part-baked rolls need to be prepared at home first, following the instructions.
Start by checking that the bread is labelled gluten-free and planning how to avoid contact with crumbs. Then compare the type of bread, nutritional information and availability for your picnic.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free and kept separate | Look for a clear gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain mark; carry the bread separately and use clean serving utensils. | If I have coeliac disease, I want to make sure crumbs from ordinary bread don’t get into my lunch when I’m preparing it either. This precaution is a top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Taking it along and serving it | Choose between ready-to-eat slices and rolls that need to be baked at home; check the storage instructions too. | For a lunch that doesn’t need preparing on the spot, I want bread that’s easy to pack and share. Around 29% of consumers give this convenience the highest priority. |
| Nutritional value and other allergens | Compare fibre and salt per 100 g, and read the ingredients and allergen information for your chosen variety. | When choosing gluten-free bread, I also want to be able to assess whether its ingredients and nutritional values suit me. This comparison matters most to around 21% of consumers. |
| Availability | Check whether your chosen type of bread is available at the shop where you’re doing your picnic shopping. | If I’m shopping shortly before setting off, I want to know whether I can actually get the bread I’ve chosen. Availability is the main concern for around 14% of consumers. |
A product without wheat isn’t automatically suitable for someone with coeliac disease: you also need to check that it’s labelled gluten-free and consider possible contact with gluten.
Every time you buy it, check the current packaging for ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain mark.
The Voedingscentrum says that even a stray bread crumb can cause symptoms for someone with coeliac disease.
Keep the bread, knife, board and fillings separate from ordinary bread, and use clean utensils.
‘Gluten-free’ doesn’t tell you about all the other allergens or the amount of fibre and salt. For example, Schär Meesterbakker Mehrkorn contains soya and may contain lupin, mustard and sesame, according to the product information from PLUS.
Read the current ingredients and allergen information, and compare nutritional values per 100 g.
You can’t tell from the ‘gluten-free’ label whether a particular loaf contains iodised baker’s salt.
If iodine is important to your choice, check the ingredients list of the bread you want to take with you.
Albert Heijn lists products including AH Gluten-Free Light Multiseed Half Loaf.
Jumbo lists a gluten-free bread range that includes sliced bread, ciabatta and rolls from various brands.
PLUS lists its own-brand gluten-free bread and bread rolls, as well as bread from Schär.
Schär has gluten-free bread varieties listed by shops including PLUS, Jumbo and Dirk.
Dirk’s search results include gluten-free Schär bread and mini baguettes.
ALDI lists gluten-free bread in its bake-at-home range.
These mini baguettes are a good fit for a picnic with individual rolls if you can bake them at home. If you have coeliac disease, check the gluten-free label on the current packaging and keep the rolls separate from ordinary bread.
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Individual mini baguettes for anyone who can bake them at home before taking them to the park.
Check the current packaging for the gluten-free label, other allergens and baking instructions.
Choose bread with a clear gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain mark, and check the current packaging. Keep it separate from ordinary bread and crumbs while transporting, preparing and serving it.
No. A list of ingredients without wheat doesn’t in itself mean a product is labelled gluten-free, nor does it rule out contact with gluten. The Dutch Coeliac Association explains that ‘gluten-free’ may only be used for products containing less than 20 mg of gluten per kg of product.
Pack gluten-free bread separately and use a clean knife, a clean board and fillings that haven’t come into contact with ordinary bread. The Voedingscentrum says that even a stray bread crumb can cause symptoms for someone with coeliac disease.
Follow the storage instructions for your chosen variety and take the bread with you in a clean, sealed container. Albert Heijn says its light multiseed bread can be frozen at home; for Schär Meesterbakker Mehrkorn, the product information from PLUS recommends resealing the packaging after opening and using the bread within a few days or freezing it straight away.
Don’t assume it does: the gluten-free label doesn’t tell you whether the bread contains iodised baker’s salt. If this is important to your choice, check the ingredients list for the specific variety.
