If you have coeliac disease and are visiting a terrace, you can take a sealed breakfast cake or bar with you, as long as it is clearly labelled ‘gluten-free’. A bar is handy for one person, while a whole cake is a good choice for sharing. If you’d like the terrace to serve you breakfast cake, ask which product they use and how it is stored, cut and served. The Dutch Coeliac Society points out that a gluten-free logo on the menu does not automatically rule out cross-contamination.
They want to check the gluten-free label on the packaging before eating, and ask staff how they prevent contact with gluten. The Dutch Coeliac Society points out that gluten from other products can end up in gluten-free food.
They’re looking for a portion of breakfast cake to enjoy with a drink, without needing to cut it on the terrace. Albert Heijn lists a gluten-free breakfast cake bar in its range.
They’re looking for a larger gluten-free breakfast cake to share. When portioning it, take care with knives, chopping boards and serving plates to avoid contact with gluten.
If you have coeliac disease, first check the gluten-free label on the current packaging. Then choose a size that suits one person or a group, and consider whether the cake will need cutting on the terrace.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free label | Check the current packaging for a ‘gluten-free’ label or the Crossed Grain symbol, and read the ingredients and allergen information. Don’t rely on the brand name alone. | If I have coeliac disease, I want to be able to see on the packaging that I’ve picked up the gluten-free version. This product check is a priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| A portion to take with you | Check that the pack is suitable for one snack and can be opened when you’re ready to eat, without needing to cut the cake on the terrace. | When I’m having a drink on my own, I don’t want to need a shared knife or chopping board. An individual portion matters most to around 33% of consumers. |
| A size for sharing | Check the pack weight and decide where and with which utensils you can portion an uncut cake. Check the gluten-free label on larger sizes too. | If I’m sharing with several people, I want to divide the cake without putting gluten-containing and gluten-free products on the same chopping surface. For around 25% of consumers, a shareable size is the main reason for their choice. |
A regular breakfast cake and a separate gluten-free version may carry the same brand name. If you have coeliac disease, it’s the specific version you choose that matters.
Check the gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain symbol, and read the current packaging before eating.
According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, a gluten-free logo on the menu does not always mean that cross-contamination has been ruled out. Crumbs or shared utensils can transfer gluten.
Ask which product is served and how staff prevent contact with gluten during storage, cutting and serving.
The Dutch Coeliac Society notes that gluten-free Peijnenburg breakfast cake may also be stocked alongside regular breakfast cake. So the location on the shelf doesn’t tell you which version you have.
Read the label on the packaging, wherever you find the cake.
Albert Heijn and Jumbo list a whole, uncut gluten-free Peijnenburg breakfast cake. Check the exact version if you’re looking for a larger cake to take with you.
Jumbo lists a whole, uncut gluten-free breakfast cake weighing 300 g. This size may suit you if you want to divide it into several portions.
Albert Heijn lists a gluten-free breakfast cake bar, a handy option if you want to take an individual portion with you.
Don’t assume that regular breakfast cake is gluten-free. Choose a product labelled ‘gluten-free’ or bearing the Crossed Grain symbol, and check the current packaging, even if the same brand also sells a gluten-free version.
Ask which gluten-free product they use and how it is stored, cut and served. The Dutch Coeliac Society warns that a gluten-free logo on the menu does not automatically rule out cross-contamination, so ask about contact with crumbs and shared utensils too.
No. According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, gluten-free Peijnenburg breakfast cake may also be stocked alongside regular breakfast cake. Check the product packaging rather than relying on where it is on the shelf.
