If you’re serving someone with coeliac disease, only choose crispbread whose current packaging says ‘gluten-free’; a familiar brand or the claim ‘high in fibre’ isn’t enough. AH Glutenvrij Vezelrijk and Wasa Glutenvrij en lactosevrij Classic are options to compare with different toppings. If you’re considering Wasa’s sesame variety, also check whether sesame and the stated possible presence of other allergens are suitable for your guests.
You want to choose a crunchy snack without relying on the brand name or type of grain. The starting point is an explicit ‘gluten-free’ claim on the pack; also check the current ingredients and allergen information.
You’re looking for a base for sweet or savoury toppings, or perhaps a variety with sesame. If your guests also avoid other allergens, information about sesame, milk, soya and mustard, among other things, will help you decide what to serve.
If crispbread is often on the table, you may want to compare the stated fibre and salt per 100 g. If you regularly use it instead of bread, don’t rely on the presence of salt alone to draw conclusions about the amount of iodine.
Start with the gluten-free claim on the specific pack. Then compare how well it suits your toppings and any other allergens you need to consider, before checking the nutritional information that matters to you.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free claim | Look for ‘gluten-free’ on the current packaging and read the ingredients and allergen information. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, the claim may be used when the finished product contains no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg. | If I’m sharing a snack with my coffee and have coeliac disease, I don’t want to have to guess whether an ordinary cracker is suitable. For around 50% of consumers, this clarity is the most important factor. |
| Toppings and other allergens | Compare the variety with the toppings you have planned, and check separately which allergens the product contains or may contain. For example, Jumbo lists sesame in Wasa Sesame & Sea Salt and says it may contain milk, mustard and soya. | I want to serve something that goes well with the toppings without overlooking another guest’s allergy. Around 30% of consumers say this combination is their top priority. |
| Fibre, salt and iodine | Compare fibre and salt on the same basis, such as per 100 g. Check the ingredients list for iodised salt; its presence alone doesn’t tell you how much iodine a serving provides. | If I regularly eat crispbread instead of bread, I want to be able to compare nutritional values without making assumptions about iodine. This is the main consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
The regular Wasa Lichtgewicht Crackers described by Joybuy contain rye; rye and wheat are listed for Wasa high-fibre crackers. The brand name doesn’t make these products interchangeable with a variety labelled gluten-free.
Check the claim and ingredients on the individual pack, even if you’ve bought a different product from the same brand before.
A gluten-free sesame variety may not be suitable for someone who avoids sesame. The Wasa Sesame & Sea Salt described by Jumbo is also stated to possibly contain milk, mustard and soya.
If you’re serving toppings for everyone to share, check the ingredients and allergen information for each guest. If necessary, put out a separate alternative that’s clearly marked.
According to the Voedingscentrum, bread made with iodised baker’s salt is an important source of iodine, but bakers aren’t required to use it. If a crispbread label lists iodised salt but gives no iodine value, it doesn’t tell you how much iodine each serving provides.
Check the ingredients when iodine is relevant to your comparison, and don’t assess a bread substitute based on the product category alone.
The differences below apply to the specified products or product ranges, not automatically to all crispbread from the same brand.
Albert Heijn describes AH Glutenvrij Vezelrijk crispbread, 230 g, as a product made with gluten-free oats, rice and maize.
Wasa has several specifically described gluten-free varieties, including Classic and Sesame & Sea Salt.
Jumbo provides product information for Wasa Gluten- & Lactosevrij Knäckebröd Sesame & Sea Salt 240 g. Jumbo is the retailer here, not the brand of this crispbread.
Lidl describes crispbread varieties with sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds, and also provides information about a changing gluten-free range.
ALDI describes Goud Gebakken Robuust crispbread, 265 g, as wholegrain crispbread with seeds.
Choose a pack that says ‘gluten-free’ on the current packaging, and also read the ingredients and allergen information. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, the claim applies to products containing no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg of finished product; a brand name or the claim ‘high in fibre’ is no substitute for checking the label.
Yes, a product labelled ‘gluten-free’ can contain oats: Albert Heijn lists gluten-free oats in AH Glutenvrij Vezelrijk crispbread. Check the current packaging for both the gluten-free claim and the ingredients if oats are a concern for the person eating it.
No, ‘gluten-free’ doesn’t mean that other allergens are absent. Jumbo lists sesame as an ingredient in Wasa Sesame & Sea Salt and says it may contain milk, mustard and soya; check the current allergen information for each guest.
Not from the mention of iodised salt alone: you also need to know the amount of iodine. According to the Voedingscentrum, bread made with iodised baker’s salt is an important source of iodine in the Netherlands, but using baker’s salt isn’t compulsory. So, if you’re replacing bread, don’t assume that all crispbread provides the same amount of iodine.
