For a pupil with coeliac disease, only choose crispbread whose current packaging states ‘gluten-free’; ordinary crispbread is not a suitable alternative. If crispbread is too fragile for a school bag or difficult to find, gluten-free bread or a gluten-free roll may be more practical. Whatever you choose, check for other allergens too and prevent contact with crumbs from ordinary bread.
They need crispbread with an explicit gluten-free label. Care must also be taken to avoid contact with crumbs from ordinary bread when adding toppings and packing lunch; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre highlights the importance of preventing cross-contamination in school meals.
They want an easy-to-find lunch base that can be packed safely and whose current packaging clearly states whether it contains gluten or any other allergens.
They could consider a gluten-free roll, bread or crispbread if another lunch base is easier to take to school. Check the packaging of the specific alternative too.
If a pupil has coeliac disease, first choose a product labelled ‘gluten-free’. Then decide whether crispbread or another gluten-free lunch base is right for their journey to school, what’s available and any other allergies they may have.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free and crumb-free | Check that the current packaging says ‘gluten-free’ and plan to pack the food separately in a clean container. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, this label means the food as sold to the final consumer contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. | If I take crispbread alongside ordinary bread, I want to keep bread crumbs away from my lunch; around 45% of consumers put gluten-free safety first. |
| Availability | Check that the exact variant is available to order from your chosen shop, and keep another gluten-free bread product in mind as a back-up if needed. | I want to plan my school lunch without relying on crispbread that I can’t order; around 27% of consumers put availability first. |
| Transport and lunch format | Check whether the portion can be carried safely and kept dry, and compare the nutritional information for the exact variant per 100 g or per portion. | If crispbread breaks easily in my bag, I look for a lunch base that will arrive intact; around 18% of consumers prioritise practicality. |
| Other allergens | Read the full allergen information on the packaging of your chosen product and check the filling too. | If I need to avoid something as well as gluten, I want to know whether both the crispbread and filling fit my dietary requirements; for around 10% of consumers, this additional check is the main concern. |
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists crispbread as a product that may contain gluten. A gluten-free topping does not make ordinary crispbread suitable for a pupil with coeliac disease.
Check that the crispbread packaging itself says ‘gluten-free’.
Albert Heijn lists Damhert Glutenvrije beschuit as discontinued. Jumbo says Lekker Vrij van Gluten Beschuit is no longer available in its online range.
Before planning lunch, check whether your chosen shop stocks the exact variant. If not, consider gluten-free bread, a roll or crispbread.
A gluten-free product can come into contact with ordinary bread products while you’re adding toppings or packing it. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises schools to take steps to prevent cross-contamination.
Use a clean lunch box and clean cutlery. If the pupil also eats food from the school canteen, discuss with the school how their lunch will be handled.
Gluten-free does not mean free from other allergens. For example, Jumbo’s product information for Damhert Nutrition Glutenvrij Beschuiten Biscottes lists egg and milk.
Read the allergen information for the exact variant and check your chosen filling separately.
Albert Heijn and PLUS feature Schär Zwieback, a gluten-free crispbread option, on their product pages.
The AH Glutenvrij range at Albert Heijn includes other lunch bases such as bread, rolls and crispbread.
Jumbo features gluten-free bread products alongside information about its crispbread variant.
Damhert appears in product information for gluten-free crispbread at Albert Heijn and Jumbo.
PLUS features a gluten-free range and a product page for Schär Zwieback glutenvrij.
These mini baguettes are an oven-ready roll alternative for anyone who doesn’t want to take crispbread to school. For a pupil with coeliac disease, check that the current packaging says gluten-free and pack the prepared lunch separately to keep it free from crumbs.
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These mini baguettes make a good alternative for a school lunch when crispbread is too fragile. The pack contains seven and the rolls need to be baked before you pack them. Check the current packaging for the gluten-free label and information about soya and the possible presence of lupin and mustard; pack the lunch separately from ordinary bread.
No. Choose a product whose current packaging says ‘gluten-free’. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists crispbread as a product that may contain gluten; a gluten-free filling doesn’t change that.
No, ‘wheat-free’ is not a substitute for the ‘gluten-free’ label. For a strictly gluten-free lunch, check that the packaging of your chosen variant displays the latter.
Use a clean, separate container and clean cutlery, and keep the crispbread and filling away from crumbs from ordinary bread. If necessary, discuss with the school what arrangements are in place if the pupil also eats food from the canteen; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends separate products and measures to prevent cross-contamination in school canteens.
Yes. If the pupil has additional allergies, check the allergen information for the exact variant. For example, Jumbo lists egg and milk for Damhert Nutrition Glutenvrij Beschuiten Biscottes; check the ingredients of the filling too.
