Who is this choice relevant to?

Employees with coeliac disease

They want to identify which lunch products are gluten-free and know how the canteen prevents unwanted contact with gluten when serving them.

Canteen visitors looking to replace a currant bun

They’re looking for an alternative with raisins and choosing between the soft texture of raisin bread and the crisp texture of a cracker.

Canteen and facilities buyers

They need easy-to-identify products and accessible allergen information, especially when bread is sliced or products are served unpackaged. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority also highlights the need to provide allergen information for unpackaged catering products.

What should you look for when choosing?

For a lunch suitable for someone with coeliac disease, start by looking for an explicit gluten-free label. Then choose the type of product you want and check how it will be served in the canteen.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it’s for
Gluten-free label Check the gluten-free label and the ingredients of the exact product. If I have coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely on how much it looks like a regular currant bun. For around 42% of consumers, a clearly identifiable gluten-free status comes first.
Bread or cracker Compare soft gluten-free raisin bread with a crisp gluten-free raisin cracker. I’m mainly looking for the bread-like texture I associate with a currant bun; around 25% of consumers give this eating experience top priority.
Other ingredients Check the current label for other allergens and any precautionary statements about traces. Gluten-free on its own isn’t enough for me if I also need to avoid other ingredients. These additional restrictions are a deciding factor for around 17% of consumers.
Serving in the canteen For unpackaged or sliced products, ask about the allergen information and how the product is stored and served. I want to be able to see which product I’m getting at lunchtime and how it has been handled. Around 16% of consumers give practical serving arrangements top priority.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming that raisins mean a product is gluten-free

    A regular currant bun might look like a suitable alternative. However, Jumbo’s ingredient information lists wheat flour and wheat gluten in its Rozijnen Krentenbollen.

    Don’t let the shape or its place on the bread shelf make the decision for you: look for an explicit gluten-free label and read the ingredients list.

  • Checking only the label, not how the product is served

    A product labelled gluten-free may be unpacked or sliced in the canteen, or placed next to other products. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority stresses that allergen information must also be available for unpackaged catering products and that contact with allergens must be prevented.

    Ask which product is being served and how it is stored and handled. Keeping it in its clearly identifiable original packaging can help prevent mix-ups.

  • Overlooking other allergens

    Gluten-free doesn’t mean a product is free from all other allergens. PLUS’s product information lists egg and sesame in the Consenza raisin cracker, as well as possible traces of other allergens.

    Check the current packaging of the specific bread or cracker for any ingredients you need to avoid.

  • Assuming a product page guarantees availability

    Albert Heijn’s product page for gluten-free raisin bread and Jumbo’s page for Yam Rozijnenbrood both state that the products have been discontinued.

    Before placing an order, check which version is available and read the label on the packaging that is actually supplied.

Relevant brands to compare

Yam

Raisin bread as a bread-like alternative to a currant bun.

  • PLUS describes Yam Rozijn glutenvrij as gluten-free raisin bread.
  • It’s bread, not an individual currant bun, and according to the product information it contains gluten-free oat flour. Check the current packaging for other ingredients.

Albert Heijn

Gluten-free raisin bread for anyone looking for a soft bread texture.

  • The product information describes gluten-free bread with raisins.
  • Albert Heijn has marked this specific product as discontinued. The product information also lists egg; check any alternative separately.

Consenza

A gluten-free raisin cracker for anyone looking for a crisp lunch option.

  • PLUS describes the Consenza Cracker rozijnen biologisch as gluten-free.
  • A cracker doesn’t have the soft texture of a currant bun. The product information lists egg and sesame, and possible traces of soya, milk, nuts and lupin.

Jumbo

A useful distinction between regular currant buns and an alternative labelled gluten-free.

  • The ingredient information makes clear what’s in regular Jumbo Rozijnen Krentenbollen.
  • According to Jumbo, these currant buns contain wheat flour and wheat gluten. Jumbo has marked its product page for Yam gluten-free raisin bread as no longer available.

Joybuy products

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are regular currant buns suitable for someone with coeliac disease?

Not if they contain wheat or gluten. According to Jumbo, its regular Rozijnen Krentenbollen contain wheat flour and wheat gluten, among other ingredients. Choose a product that is explicitly labelled gluten-free instead, and check the packaging.

Can the canteen serve gluten-free bread unpackaged?

Yes, but when serving unpackaged food, it must be clear which product is being offered and which allergens it contains. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority includes catering in its guidance on providing allergen information for unpackaged products. Also ask how the bread is stored, sliced and served so you can assess the risk of unwanted contact with gluten.

Should I choose raisin bread or a raisin cracker?

Choose gluten-free raisin bread if you’re mainly looking for a soft, bread-like alternative to a currant bun. A gluten-free raisin cracker is a good choice if you prefer something crisp. Also check the label of the version you choose: according to PLUS’s product information, the Consenza raisin cracker contains egg and sesame.