Who is this choice relevant to?

Parents of a toddler with coeliac disease

An ordinary currant bun may contain wheat and gluten. If you’re choosing a packaged alternative, check the current ‘gluten-free’ label and allergen information, even if you’ve bought the product before.

Parents looking for a convenient gluten-free breakfast

A bread-like product with raisins can be a handy option if you don’t want to bake. Bear in mind that gluten-free raisin bread isn’t the same product as a pack of individual currant buns.

Parents looking for variety at breakfast

For a child aged 1 to 3, their overall diet matters. The Voedingscentrum highlights the role of bread and variety, so don’t assess gluten-free raisin bread solely by its gluten-free label.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, establish whether eating gluten-free is medically necessary. Then choose between a ready-made, bread-like product and baking individual buns yourself, and compare the nutritional information in the context of your toddler’s overall breakfast.

What to consider What to check when buying Who should pay particular attention?
Gluten-free status For a packaged product, check the current ‘gluten-free’ label and read the ingredients and allergen information. If my toddler has coeliac disease, breakfast must be demonstrably suitable for a strict gluten-free diet. For around 33% of consumers, this assurance comes first.
Nutritional information Compare fibre, sugars and salt per 100 g, and consider how the product fits into the rest of the day. I don’t want a sweet raisin product to end up replacing all our wholemeal bread meals without me realising. For around 27% of consumers, this is the top priority.
Availability and format Before buying, check that the product is available and whether you’ll get a whole loaf of raisin bread or individual buns. On a busy morning, I want something I can serve without baking, and the format also needs to work for how I pack breakfast. For around 20% of consumers, convenience comes first.
Reason for the diet If your child has symptoms but hasn’t been diagnosed with coeliac disease, don’t rely solely on switching products; discuss their diet with a doctor or paediatric dietitian. If it’s not yet clear why my child has symptoms, I want to know what support they need before changing their diet. For around 20% of consumers, this is the first concern.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming the name ‘currant bun’ tells you whether it contains gluten

    Currants and raisins tell you nothing about the grains used. The ingredients lists for ordinary currant buns from Jumbo and PLUS include wheat, so these products aren’t suitable alternatives for a toddler with coeliac disease.

    For a packaged alternative, check the current ‘gluten-free’ label and the allergen information too.

  • Relying on an old product listing

    A product page doesn’t show what’s available in your local shop when you do your shopping. The packaging and product information may also change.

    Before ordering or shopping in store, check availability, then read the label again when the product arrives.

  • Assuming gluten-free means wholemeal

    Gluten-free raisin bread may be suitable for someone with coeliac disease, but it has its own nutritional information. The Voedingscentrum also highlights the importance of variety in breakfasts for children aged 1 to 3.

    Compare fibre, sugars and salt per 100 g, and consider how breakfast fits into the rest of the day.

  • Assuming every gluten-free baked product contains iodised salt

    The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority outlines the conditions for adding iodine to bakery products through baker’s salt. This doesn’t mean that every gluten-free product contains iodised salt.

    Check the ingredients on the packaging. If needed, discuss questions about the diet of a child eating strictly gluten-free with a paediatric dietitian.

Brands and shops to consider

These examples can help you distinguish between gluten-free raisin bread, recipes and ordinary currant buns. Always check the current product and label before buying.

Yam

PLUS describes Yam Rozijn glutenvrij as gluten-free raisin bread.

  • A bread-like raisin alternative for anyone looking for a packaged gluten-free product.
  • It’s a whole loaf of raisin bread, not a pack of individual currant buns; check the current packaging.

PLUS

PLUS lists both Yam Rozijn glutenvrij and ordinary PLUS Krentenbollen.

  • Yam’s product description makes it clear that this is gluten-free raisin bread.
  • The ordinary PLUS Krentenbollen list wheat flour and wheat gluten, so they aren’t suitable for someone with coeliac disease.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn offers a recipe for gluten-free currant buns through Allerhande.

  • The recipe makes eight individual buns if that’s the format you’re looking for.
  • Baking from scratch takes preparation; check that all the ingredients you use are suitable for your child.

Jumbo

The ordinary Jumbo Rozijnen Krentenbollen show why a product name isn’t proof that something is gluten-free.

  • The ingredients information lets you check which grains have been used.
  • These ordinary currant buns list wheat flour and wheat gluten, so they aren’t suitable for someone with coeliac disease.

Lidl

Lidl lists currant buns, but the product name alone doesn’t tell you whether they’re gluten-free.

  • The shop’s range can be a starting point when looking for a suitable alternative.
  • Check the current packaging and availability; don’t assume a product is gluten-free based on its category.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Can a toddler with coeliac disease eat an ordinary currant bun?

Not if it contains wheat or other gluten-containing ingredients. The ordinary currant buns from Jumbo and PLUS list wheat in their ingredients, so choose a packaged alternative with the current ‘gluten-free’ label and read the allergen information.

Is gluten-free raisin bread the same as a gluten-free currant bun?

No, they’re different products and come in different formats. PLUS describes Yam Rozijn glutenvrij as gluten-free raisin bread. If you want individual buns, you can try Albert Heijn Allerhande’s recipe for eight gluten-free currant buns and check the ingredients used.

Should I switch straight to a gluten-free diet if I suspect gluten sensitivity?

Ask a medical professional to assess the reason for the diet first, rather than simply switching products. The Dutch Association for Paediatrics describes how, for children suspected of having non-coeliac gluten sensitivity, a paediatric dietitian can support elimination and reintroduction as part of the diagnostic process.

Does baker’s salt mean every gluten-free loaf contains iodine?

No, rules about baker’s salt don’t guarantee that every gluten-free loaf contains iodised salt. Check the ingredients of the specific product and, if needed, discuss questions about your child’s overall diet with a paediatric dietitian.

Can I pack a gluten-free breakfast for school or childcare?

Check the school or childcare setting’s policy on food and allergens in lunchboxes in advance. If your child has coeliac disease, also check the current packaging for the ‘gluten-free’ label and bear in mind any other allergies they may have.