Who is this choice relevant to?

Host with someone who has coeliac disease at the table

You’re looking for bread clearly labelled gluten-free and want to avoid it coming into contact with ordinary bread crumbs during preparation or at the table.

Cook who wants to serve warm bread

You want to serve individual portions of bread alongside your Sunday roast. Bake-at-home rolls or ciabatta-style rolls are worth considering if you want to prepare the bread just before the meal.

Diner replacing ordinary wholemeal bread

You don’t want to choose on the basis of ‘gluten-free’ alone, but also want to compare ingredients and fibre. Check the label to see whether baker’s salt has been used if that’s relevant to your diet.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, check the gluten-free label and make sure you can prepare and serve the bread separately. Then choose a type of bread to suit the meal and, if you’re replacing wholemeal bread, compare the nutritional information.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters most to
Gluten-free status and cross-contamination Check the current packaging for ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain symbol. Also make sure you have clean, separate utensils for cutting and serving. If someone with coeliac disease is joining me, I want to know which bread I can safely prepare separately. Around 42% of consumers put this certainty first.
Type of bread and serving Compare sliced bread with individual bake-at-home rolls, and check the preparation instructions and number of portions for bake-at-home products. I want to serve warm bread to each guest without having to cut it during the meal. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this way of serving.
Fibre and baker’s salt Compare fibre per 100 g and read the ingredients list. Check the label to see whether baker’s salt has been used. If I replace ordinary wholemeal bread more often, I also want to know how much fibre the gluten-free bread contains. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this nutritional comparison.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming dark or wholemeal bread is gluten-free

    Brown, dark, seeded and wholemeal tell you nothing about whether a bread is gluten-free. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, you can identify gluten-free products by the words ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging.

    When choosing bread for someone with coeliac disease, check the current packaging and read the ingredients list too.

  • Serving gluten-free bread alongside ordinary bread

    When someone has coeliac disease, even ordinary bread crumbs matter. A shared chopping board, bread basket or pair of tongs could bring the breads into contact with each other.

    Keep the gluten-free bread separate from the moment you open it, and use clean hands and separate utensils.

  • Assuming gluten-free means wholemeal or high in fibre

    The ‘gluten-free’ label doesn’t tell you how much fibre a loaf contains or which types of flour it’s made with.

    Compare the fibre per 100 g in the nutritional information and check the ingredients of the specific product.

  • Assuming all bread contains baker’s salt

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, baker’s salt contains added iodine, but bakers aren’t required to use it.

    Check the label or ask the baker which salt has been used if this matters to your diet.

Brands and shops to consider

These shops’ ranges include different types of bread. Always check the current packaging and availability of the bread you choose.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn’s online range includes gluten-free dark and light seeded bread, as well as Schär bread products.

  • Alongside sliced bread, you can also look at options such as ciabatta and baguettini for individual portions.
  • Check the packaging and availability of each product at your local shop.

Jumbo

Jumbo’s range includes Lekker Vrij van Gluten brown and white bread in 500 g packs.

  • The pack size may be worth considering if you want to use the bread after your Sunday roast too.
  • Brown or white doesn’t tell you whether the bread contains wholemeal ingredients or how much fibre it has; compare the nutritional information.

PLUS

PLUS’s online range includes gluten-free white, brown and seeded bread, as well as gluten-free bread rolls.

  • You can compare both whole loaves and smaller rolls.
  • Seeded or brown bread isn’t necessarily wholemeal or high in fibre; check the label.

ALDI

ALDI Netherlands lists gluten-free bread options in its bake-at-home range.

  • Bake-at-home rolls are worth considering if you want to serve warm portions.
  • Check which specific product is available in store, and read the gluten-free label and ingredients on the packaging.

Dirk

Dirk’s online range includes gluten-free Schär products, including Mehrkorn and smaller bread options.

  • Sliced bread and rolls offer different ways to serve individual portions alongside your meal.
  • Check stock at your local shop and read the packaging of the product you choose.

Lidl

Lidl Netherlands lists regular wholemeal bread in its online bread range.

  • The shop is an option if you’d like to browse its bread range in person.
  • If someone has coeliac disease, don’t choose bread on the basis of ‘wholemeal’: check that the packaging of each individual product says ‘gluten-free’.

Joybuy products for individual bread portions

These mini baguettes are an option to consider for serving individual portions alongside your Sunday roast. Before buying, check the packaging to see whether the version you’ve chosen is gluten-free and how it needs to be prepared.

GF Mini Baguettes, 7 pieces

GF Mini Baguettes, 7 pieces

Worth considering if you want to serve individual portions of bread with your meal. Check the packaging to see whether you’re buying rolls or a baking mix, how to prepare the product and whether it’s labelled gluten-free. If someone has coeliac disease, use clean, separate utensils.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is brown, dark or seeded bread suitable for someone with coeliac disease?

Not on the basis of those descriptions alone. Choose bread whose current packaging says ‘gluten-free’ or carries the Crossed Grain symbol, and check the ingredients list too.

How can I serve ordinary and gluten-free bread alongside each other?

Prepare and serve gluten-free bread separately from ordinary bread. Use clean hands, a separate chopping board, and a separate knife and serving utensils to keep crumbs away from the gluten-free bread.

What should I look for if gluten-free bread is replacing my usual wholemeal bread?

Compare the ingredients and fibre per 100 g, because ‘gluten-free’ doesn’t tell you whether the bread contains wholemeal ingredients or how much fibre it has. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, baker’s salt contains added iodine, but bakers don’t have to use it. So check the label if this matters to your diet.

Does everyone need to eat gluten-free bread?

No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, people without coeliac disease, a wheat allergy or diagnosed gluten sensitivity don’t need to eat gluten-free. So don’t automatically choose gluten-free bread as a replacement for ordinary wholemeal bread; consider what matters for your own circumstances and meal.