If you have coeliac disease, start by choosing bread labelled ‘gluten-free’ and make sure it doesn’t come into contact with crumbs from ordinary bread at home. If you’d like bread that’s sweet in its own right, look for gluten-free raisin bread. Or choose a less sweet bread base and add suitable gluten-free toppings to create the flavour you prefer. Compare the nutritional information and allergens on the packaging, and check that your chosen option is available.
If you have coeliac disease, the first thing to look for is ‘gluten-free’ on the packaging. Bread should also be kept separate from bread containing gluten when you toast and top it, as explained by the Voedingscentrum.
If you want bread that’s sweet in its own right, a raisin variety is worth considering. Compare the sugar and fibre content too, and read the allergen information. Albert Heijn’s raisin bread is a good example of why the details matter for each product.
If you’d prefer to choose your own sweet toppings, start with a gluten-free bread base and compare the fibre content per 100 g. Check the sugar, salt and allergen information on the packaging as well.
First, check that the bread is suitable for your gluten-free needs. Then decide whether you’d prefer bread that’s sweet in its own right or a base for sweet toppings. Compare the nutritional information and availability before you buy.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free labelling and cross-contamination | Look for ‘gluten-free’ on the packaging and read the allergen information. Consider whether you can toast and prepare the bread separately at home. | If I have coeliac disease, I want to be sure about which bread I’m choosing and avoid it coming into contact with ordinary bread crumbs at home. For around 36% of consumers, confidence that a product is gluten-free comes first. |
| How sweet the bread tastes | Check whether the bread contains ingredients such as raisins, and compare the sugar content per 100 g. | If I don’t want to use much topping, I look for bread that’s sweet in its own right. For around 29% of consumers, flavour is the top priority. |
| Fibre, sugar and salt | Compare the nutritional values per 100 g and check the serving size too. | For my regular breakfast, I want to choose a bread base based on its nutritional information, even if I add a sweet flavour later with toppings. Around 21% of consumers prioritise this comparison. |
| Availability | Check the current product page and the range at your shop or local branch. | If I shop at a particular supermarket, I want to know in advance whether I can buy my chosen bread there. For around 14% of consumers, the choice of shop matters most. |
These terms don’t mean the same thing. If you have coeliac disease, the ‘gluten-free’ label on the specific product is what matters, according to the Voedingscentrum.
Check the current packaging, and don’t rely on the type of grain or the product name alone.
Even suitable bread can come into contact with bread containing gluten when you prepare or top it.
If you need to avoid gluten completely, use a clean, separate toaster or another solution that prevents contact with crumbs. Take care with knives, chopping boards and toppings too.
Raisin bread and a more neutral-tasting bread base can differ in sugar, fibre and salt. That’s why the label on the bread you’re buying is more useful than a general figure for gluten-free bread.
Compare the same nutrients per 100 g and check the allergen information.
A type of bread mentioned on a website may not be available when you shop. For example, Jumbo stated that its Yam raisin bread was no longer part of its online range.
Check the product page and your chosen branch shortly before you shop.
Albert Heijn has a gluten-free range online and features AH Gluten-Free Bread with raisins as an example of a sweet bread option.
Jumbo’s online gluten-free bread category features several types of bread.
PLUS features its own gluten-free breads, as well as a product page for Schär Meesterbakker Mehrkorn.
Dirk’s search results include gluten-free bread from Schär, such as Meisterbackers Classic and Vital.
ALDI mentions gluten-free bread in its information about bread and bake-at-home products.
Lidl describes an additional gluten-free range alongside its regular selection.
These Joybuy products are suitable for a sweet breakfast where you make your own bread or choose rolls, then add a sweet flavour with suitable gluten-free toppings. They aren’t raisin breads that are sweet in their own right.
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For anyone who wants to make their own bread base and add sweet gluten-free toppings. This is a bread mix, not ready-made sweet bread. Check the preparation instructions, gluten-free label and allergen information on the packaging.
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For anyone looking for rolls to serve with their choice of sweet toppings. Before buying, check the exact product type, pack size and preparation instructions, as these aren’t clearly specified in the product information. Read the gluten-free label and allergen information on the packaging too.
Don’t rely on the words ‘wheat-free’ alone. Choose bread labelled ‘gluten-free’ and check the label. The Voedingscentrum identifies this label as a way to recognise gluten-free products.
If you have coeliac disease, avoid contact with crumbs from ordinary bread. The Voedingscentrum highlights the importance of preventing cross-contamination. Use a separate toaster or a clean alternative that keeps gluten-free bread away from those crumbs.
You can’t tell from the ‘gluten-free’ label. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that iodine compounds may be present in bread and other baked goods. Check the ingredients of the bread you choose.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging. Check the guidance on storing the bread after opening and freezing it too, as this can vary from product to product.
