If your child needs to eat gluten-free because they have coeliac disease, choose crispbread clearly labelled as gluten-free and check the packaging for ingredients and other relevant allergens every time you buy it. Ordinary rye crispbread is not a suitable alternative. If you’re packing a snack for school tea-time, take the school or childcare setting’s rules into account too. If gluten-free crispbread often replaces bread, speak to a dietitian about how it fits into your child’s overall diet, including their iodine intake.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that people with coeliac disease need to follow a gluten-free diet. For tea-time, that means choosing a product clearly labelled as gluten-free and checking the current packaging for any other allergens relevant to your child.
A product that’s suitable at home won’t necessarily meet a group’s food and allergen rules. Check in advance what you’re allowed to bring and make sure staff can check the ingredients.
If it often replaces bread, its nutritional value and the rest of your diet matter too. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends paying attention to iodine when choosing gluten-free bread. So, if you’re using crispbread as a bread substitute, check the label and speak to a dietitian about regular use if needed.
Start by checking that it’s labelled gluten-free and for any allergens relevant to your child. Then compare taste and nutritional value, and check the school or childcare setting’s rules before packing it.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is it most relevant for? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free suitability | Look for a clear ‘gluten-free’ label and read the ingredients list every time you buy it. | If my child has coeliac disease, I want to make sure ordinary rye crispbread doesn’t end up in their bag. Around 40% of consumers put strict gluten-free suitability first. |
| School and allergens | Check for other relevant allergens, such as sesame, and ask about the school or childcare setting’s rules. | When packing a classroom snack, I want to know whether it meets the rules for food brought in from home. School and allergen requirements are a priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Taste and texture | Choose a suitable gluten-free product first, then see whether your child likes the taste and texture at home. | There’s little point packing a snack if my child won’t eat it. Taste and texture are the first consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
| Nutritional value if eaten regularly | Compare fibre and salt per 100 g. If it frequently replaces bread, consider iodine intake as part of the overall diet too. | If crispbread often replaces bread, I want to look beyond the gluten-free label. Nutritional value is the top priority for around 10% of consumers. |
Rye contains gluten. Ryvita states that its products contain gluten; Original Crispbread contains rye as an ingredient, so it isn’t suitable for a strict gluten-free diet.
For a child with coeliac disease, choose a product explicitly labelled as gluten-free rather than relying on the appearance or name of the crispbread.
A gluten-free option may contain another allergen. For example, Wasa Gluten Free Sesame & Sea Salt contains sesame.
Check the allergen information on the packaging and ask about the rules for food brought in from home at school or childcare.
Crackers and crispbread can vary in size and serving weight, so comparing them per piece doesn’t give you a reliable picture of how their stated values measure up.
First compare fibre and salt per 100 g, then consider how much your child actually eats. Remember that crackers and crispbread are different types of product.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that bread made with iodised salt from bakers is an important source of iodine in the Netherlands. A gluten-free bread substitute won’t automatically provide the same amount.
If it’s eaten regularly, check whether iodine or iodised salt is listed on the label. If gluten-free crispbread regularly replaces bread, speak to a dietitian about your child’s overall diet.
Compare the specific product, not just the brand: gluten-free crispbread, gluten-free crackers and ordinary rye crispbread are different options.
Wasa offers gluten-free crispbread options, including Gluten Free Sesame & Sea Salt.
Albert Heijn lists AH Glutenvrij Vezelrijk crispbread among its gluten-free crackers and crispbread.
Alongside Wasa crispbread, Jumbo also offers its own gluten-free light crackers.
Here, Ryvita is included as a point of comparison for ordinary rye crispbread, not as a gluten-free option.
No. Rye contains gluten, so ordinary rye crispbread isn’t suitable for a strict gluten-free diet. Ryvita says that its products contain gluten; Original Crispbread contains rye flour, among other ingredients.
The label is the starting point when choosing a gluten-free product, but check the current packaging every time you buy it for other allergens relevant to your child. If it’s for school or childcare, also check the rules for food brought in from home.
Yes, if your child has a sesame allergy or if the school or childcare setting has rules about sesame. Wasa Gluten Free Sesame & Sea Salt contains sesame; the ‘gluten-free’ label doesn’t mean that other allergens are absent.
Yes. In that case, iodine intake is worth considering as part of the overall diet. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends checking whether gluten-free bread contains iodine. Check the label on the bread substitute and, if it regularly replaces bread in your child’s diet, speak to a dietitian if needed.
