A BBQ guest with coeliac disease
Needs crispbread explicitly labelled gluten-free, kept away from regular bread to avoid contact through crumbs, cutlery or shared toppings. The Dutch Coeliac Association advises preparing gluten-free food separately.
Who is this relevant for?
A host catering for guests with multiple allergies
Checks the ingredients and warnings for allergens such as sesame, milk, soya and mustard, as well as gluten. Information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo shows that these vary between crispbread varieties.
A shopper comparing nutritional information
Checks fibre and salt per 100 g if crispbread is served regularly. If you often use it instead of bread, you can also check whether the ingredients list iodised salt; according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt is not compulsory.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start by checking for a gluten-free label and serving it separately. Then compare the other allergens and nutritional information for the exact variety.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Choosing and serving gluten-free food | Check that the packaging explicitly says ‘gluten-free’. Keep the crispbread, cutlery and toppings separate from bread containing gluten. | When I’m setting the table for a BBQ guest with coeliac disease, I want to prevent bread crumbs or shared toppings from getting onto the crispbread. For around 46% of consumers, choosing gluten-free food and serving it separately comes first. |
| Other allergens | Read the ingredients and ‘may contain’ statement for the exact variety; don’t confuse Wasa Classic with Sesame & Sea Salt. | If someone with a sesame allergy is also joining us, I want to know whether the chosen variety contains sesame. Around 27% of consumers put checking for other allergens first. |
| Serving and nutritional information | Compare the packaging, fibre and salt per 100 g. If you eat it regularly instead of bread, check whether iodised salt is listed in the ingredients. | If I’m serving crispbread as a snack or eating it instead of bread more often, I want to weigh up how easy it is to serve and its nutritional information. For around 27% of consumers, these features are the first things they consider. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming rye crispbread is gluten-free
Ryvita states that its products contain gluten; Ryvita Original contains rye. The regular Wasa Lichtgewicht Crackers on Joybuy also list rye and gluten. So the brand name alone doesn’t tell you whether a specific variety is suitable for a guest with coeliac disease.
Choose the exact pack labelled ‘gluten-free’ and check the label again when you buy it.
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Putting gluten-free crispbread on a shared platter
The Dutch Coeliac Association explains that gluten-free food can be contaminated through contact with food containing gluten. At a BBQ, crumbs and shared cutlery can be a source of contamination.
Set the crispbread and toppings out separately, using clean cutlery and a clean serving platter.
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Assuming ‘gluten-free’ means ‘free from all allergens’
The Wasa Sesame & Sea Salt described by Jumbo contains sesame. The allergen warnings for this variety differ from those for Wasa Classic.
If guests have multiple allergies, read the ingredients and warnings for the exact flavour, and keep the snacks separate.
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Assuming salt contains iodine
Albert Heijn lists iodised salt in AH Glutenvrij Vezelrijk crispbread. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that using baker’s salt is not compulsory, so a label that says only ‘salt’ does not confirm that it contains iodine.
If crispbread regularly replaces bread, check the ingredients rather than assuming that the product category provides iodine.
Brands to compare
AH Glutenvrij
Albert Heijn describes its 230 g AH Glutenvrij Vezelrijk crispbread as containing gluten-free oats, rice and maize flour.
- According to Albert Heijn, this product is made in a completely gluten-free environment. The product information also lists iodised salt.
- The product contains oats and may contain sesame. Check the current packaging if either ingredient is relevant to your guest.
Wasa (Wasabröd)
The gluten-free and lactose-free Wasa varieties Classic and Sesame & Sea Salt offer two different crispbread flavours.
- Albert Heijn describes Classic as a variety sold in individual portions. The stated fibre content is 7 g per 100 g for Classic and, according to Jumbo, 10 g per 100 g for Sesame & Sea Salt.
- Sesame & Sea Salt contains sesame. Both varieties also carry warnings about other possible allergens, so check each pack.
Ryvita
Ryvita is a brand you may come across when looking for crispbread, but it isn’t a gluten-free option for this BBQ guest.
- Ryvita states that its products contain gluten. Ryvita Original contains rye flour, so it is not an alternative to crispbread labelled gluten-free.
Related Joybuy products
Related products will be available soon.
Frequently asked questions
Which crispbread should I choose for a guest with coeliac disease?
Choose a product whose current packaging explicitly says ‘gluten-free’. Regular rye crispbread isn’t a substitute: Ryvita, for example, states that its products contain gluten.
How do I keep crispbread gluten-free at a BBQ?
Prepare and serve it separately from bread and crackers containing gluten, as advised by the Dutch Coeliac Association. Use clean hands and cutlery, and keep toppings separate so crumbs don’t get onto the crispbread via a knife or platter.
Is gluten-free crispbread also free from sesame and other allergens?
No, the ‘gluten-free’ label doesn’t mean that. According to Jumbo’s product information, Wasa Sesame & Sea Salt contains sesame and may contain milk, mustard and soya. If you have allergies, always check the exact variety and current packaging.
Does gluten-free crispbread always contain iodised salt?
No. Check the ingredients of the product you choose. Albert Heijn lists iodised salt in AH Glutenvrij Vezelrijk crispbread, but you can’t assume a product provides iodine if the label lists only ‘salt’. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that baker’s salt is not compulsory.