If the bread is for a child with coeliac disease, choose a product explicitly labelled ‘gluten-free’; ordinary wholemeal bread made from wheat, rye or barley is not suitable. Also prevent contact with crumbs from other bread, then compare the fibre and other nutritional information. Gluten-free bread does not automatically replace ordinary wholemeal bread nutritionally.
For a school lunch, choosing a product explicitly labelled gluten-free takes priority over the colour or type of grain in the bread. You also need to take care at home and at school to avoid contact with crumbs from bread containing gluten, as the Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out.
If you’re replacing ordinary wholemeal bread, you can compare the fibre content per 100 g of gluten-free alternatives. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also identifies wholemeal bread as a source of iodine, among other things, so don’t assume every alternative plays the same nutritional role.
With packaged bread, you can check the label and ingredients straight away. Check the current product at your chosen shop and make sure the packaging suits what you need for the school lunch.
If the bread is for a child with coeliac disease, first check that it is labelled gluten-free and take steps to prevent cross-contamination. Only then compare the nutritional information and practical details of the packaging.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten and cross-contamination | Look for ‘gluten-free’ on the current packaging. For unpackaged bread, ask about allergen information and how contact with gluten is prevented. | If my child has coeliac disease, I don’t want their sandwich to come into contact with gluten through ingredients or crumbs. For around 50% of consumers, gluten safety comes first. |
| Fibre and nutritional value | Compare fibre and other nutritional information per 100 g and check the ingredients. Consider iodine as part of the overall diet. | If I’m regularly replacing ordinary wholemeal bread, I want to know what the alternative adds to lunch. Nutritional value is the first point of comparison for around 30% of consumers. |
| Packaging and availability | Check the current product, pack size and storage instructions at the shop where you’re buying it. | For school days, I want to be able to buy a suitable pack without relying solely on a previous product listing. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this practical consideration. |
Wholemeal bread made from wheat, rye or barley contains gluten. So the term ‘wholemeal’ doesn’t mean the bread is suitable for someone with coeliac disease.
First check that the packaging says ‘gluten-free’. Then compare the ingredients and nutritional value of suitable products.
The name or colour of bread doesn’t tell you how much fibre a portion contains. This matters if gluten-free bread often replaces ordinary wholemeal bread in your child’s lunchbox.
Read the nutritional information and compare the fibre per 100 g. Also consider the portion size you’ll actually pack.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, even a stray breadcrumb can cause symptoms for someone with coeliac disease. So even when you’ve bought gluten-free bread, you still need to take care when preparing it.
Use clean utensils and, for unpackaged bread, ask how the baker handles allergens and prevents contact with gluten. Also check how the school prepares lunches.
Product ranges can change, so bread you chose before may not be available as an option the next time you shop for school.
Before buying, check the current packaging, ingredients and product availability. If necessary, find a second suitable gluten-free bread in advance.
Albert Heijn offers several types of bread in its AH Glutenvrij range, including multiseed bread, rolls and sourdough bread.
Jumbo lists Lekker Vrij van Gluten Bruin and Wit as packaged bread options.
PLUS offers gluten-free bread from its own label and specialist brands, including brown, white and multiseed varieties.
Lidl lists Fijn volkoren as a regular bread option for lunch.
Dirk lists regular wholemeal floor bread and also has a separate way to search for gluten-free products.
No. Ordinary wholemeal bread made from wheat, rye or barley contains gluten and isn’t suitable for someone with coeliac disease. Choose bread explicitly labelled ‘gluten-free’ for your child’s lunchbox and prevent contact with crumbs from other bread.
Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, ‘gluten-free’ may be used for foods containing no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. If a gluten-free product contains oats, additional conditions apply to prevent contamination with wheat, rye or barley.
A ‘gluten-free’ label doesn’t tell you how much fibre the bread contains. So if you’re looking for an alternative to ordinary wholemeal bread, compare the nutritional information per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre notes that wholemeal bread provides fibre and iodine, among other things.
Before buying, ask for allergen information and, if the bread is for someone with coeliac disease, find out how contact with gluten is prevented. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that allergen information must also be available for unpackaged foods.
