If you’re hosting someone with coeliac disease, choose a roll clearly labelled gluten-free and check the current packaging for other allergens. Keep it separate from gluten-containing bread when baking and serving. If it doesn’t have to be a specific type of roll, another clearly labelled gluten-free roll could also work well on the buffet.
You’re looking for a roll clearly labelled gluten-free and want to prevent crumbs or shared utensils from coming into contact with it. The Dutch Coeliac Society points out that even a crumb can be harmful to someone with coeliac disease.
You want to have suitable rolls ready in good time and know how to prepare them shortly before the buffet. So check not only the number of rolls in the pack, but also the storage and preparation instructions on the packaging.
You may need to consider ingredients or allergens other than gluten. A roll labelled gluten-free isn’t automatically suitable for every guest, so compare the exact packaging with the ingredients they need to avoid.
First check that the roll is suitable for your guest, then set aside a separate area for preparing and serving it. After that, choose the type of product and number of packs to suit your buffet.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free preparation and serving | Check the gluten-free label and packaging, and have clean, separate tongs and serving dishes ready. | If there’s ordinary bread on the table too, I want to stop crumbs getting onto the roll for my guest with coeliac disease. Around 50% of consumers put safe gluten-free serving first. |
| Shopping and baking | Check the number of rolls in each pack and the current storage and preparation instructions. | I want to be able to shop for the rolls in good time and serve them without any uncertainty about how to prepare them. For around 30% of consumers, this practical planning is the top priority. |
| Other allergens and type of bread | Compare the ingredients and allergens on the exact packaging, including when choosing between white and seeded rolls. | If my guest also needs to avoid other ingredients, I don’t want to rely on the words ‘gluten-free’ alone. This extra product check comes first for around 20% of consumers. |
Spelt contains gluten. An ordinary roll or a spelt roll is therefore not a suitable substitute for a gluten-free roll for a guest with coeliac disease.
Choose a roll clearly labelled gluten-free and read the current packaging.
According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, crumbs and shared utensils can transfer gluten to food that needs to remain gluten-free.
Use separate tongs and a separate bread basket, and serve the gluten-free rolls apart from the others. Keep them wrapped for as long as possible.
You’ll often plan an order in advance, but the packaging you receive is what determines the ingredients, allergens and preparation method for that particular roll.
Check the packaging before buying or using the rolls, especially if you’re shopping for several guests with different allergies.
The gluten-free label alone doesn’t tell you whether a product contains, for example, soya, milk, eggs or nuts.
Ask in advance which allergens are relevant to your guest, then check the ingredients and warnings on the exact packaging.
Albert Heijn and PLUS list specific gluten-free rolls in their product information. When considering another range of rolls, the label on the individual product is what matters when making your choice.
AH Gluten-free lists white rolls to bake at home, as well as a seeded version.
PLUS lists a gluten-free white roll in a pack of two, as well as gluten-free seeded rolls.
ALDI lists gluten-free rolls as an option when you don’t need a specific type of roll.
Lidl has information about additional gluten-free products, which may not always be available.
Jumbo lists various types of rolls, including a spelt version.
Dirk shows search results for gluten-free products as well as ordinary rolls.
For your Boxing Day buffet, you could also choose a different type of roll, provided the current packaging confirms it’s suitable for your guest. The product below is a mini baguette option; be sure to check the gluten-free label and how it needs to be prepared before adding it to your plans.
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A mini baguette option if the rolls on your buffet don’t have to be a specific type.
The product name indicates a pack of seven. Before buying, check whether the pack contains rolls to bake at home or a mix, and what preparation is required.
Check the gluten-free label and allergens on the current packaging. Prepare and serve the product separately from gluten-containing bread.
No, spelt contains gluten. Choose a roll clearly labelled gluten-free for that guest, and check the current packaging.
Set up a separate serving area with its own dish and tongs, and keep the rolls wrapped for as long as possible. Use clean hands and separate, clean utensils when preparing them too, so crumbs from gluten-containing bread can’t get onto them.
Yes, gluten-free doesn’t automatically mean free from other allergens. Compare the ingredients and any warnings on the exact packaging with the allergies that are relevant to your guest.
Follow the storage and preparation instructions on the packaging you choose; don’t assume that the same freezing advice applies to every version. Keep the rolls separate from gluten-containing bread during storage and preparation.
If iodine is relevant to your choice, read the ingredients list for the specific product. Albert Heijn lists iodised salt in its white gluten-free rolls; this doesn’t tell you anything about the ingredients in other rolls.
