Who is this choice relevant to?

A guest with coeliac disease

You want to share something with your guest at dinner without relying on the shape of a roll or the ingredients list alone. Both a gluten-free label and a clean serving process matter.

A home baker who wants to serve currant buns

You want to make classic buns yourself and can set aside time to check the ingredients and keep gluten-containing flour and crumbs away from the food you’re preparing.

Someone who’d rather serve something without a lengthy baking session

You’re happy to serve gluten-free bread or rolls instead, even if they aren’t currant buns. Check the packaging of the product you actually buy.

What should you consider when choosing?

First, work out what the guest with coeliac disease can safely eat. Then choose between baking your own currant-bun-shaped rolls and opting for a different gluten-free bread product for an easier preparation.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters most to
Gluten-free preparation and serving Look for the words ‘gluten-free’ on the packaging and use clean preparation and serving equipment. According to the European Commission, this claim can only be used when the finished product contains no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg. If one of us has coeliac disease, I don’t want crumbs from ordinary bread getting onto the gluten-free food. For around 50% of consumers, this is the top priority.
Currant-bun shape or convenience Compare the preparation needed for a recipe with the packaging and product status of a ready-made gluten-free alternative. For dinner for two, I’d love to make fresh currant buns, even if it takes some preparation. Around 30% of consumers give this experience top priority.
Salt used Check which salt is used in the product or baking mix, or ask the baker about unwrapped bread. A gluten-free claim doesn’t tell you anything about the salt used. If I’m also checking the nutritional information for a bread alternative, I want to know which salt has been used. For around 10% of consumers, this is their top priority.
Ruling out ordinary currant buns Check the ingredients and allergens for the exact product, and keep ordinary and gluten-free products separate when serving. When I’m serving different bread products to two people, I want to avoid anyone mistaking an ordinary currant bun for the gluten-free option. This is the main concern for around 10% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming currant buns or raisin bread are gluten-free

    The shape and filling don’t tell you whether a product is labelled gluten-free. Jumbo lists wheat and gluten in its ordinary Rozijnen Krentenbollen; ALDI describes its Rozijnen-krentenbollen as wheat rolls.

    For a guest with coeliac disease, choose a product clearly labelled gluten-free or bake with checked gluten-free ingredients.

  • Relying on an old product listing

    Jumbo says that Yam Rozijnenbrood Glutenvrij is no longer part of its online range. So a product name alone doesn’t tell you whether you can buy it for dinner.

    Check the product’s current availability, then read the label on the variety you choose.

  • Baking gluten-free on a worktop dusted with wheat flour

    According to the Dutch Coeliac Association, flour dust and crumbs can get into gluten-free food via hands, worktops and kitchen utensils.

    Clean the worktop and equipment, prepare the gluten-free food first, and keep gluten-containing bread and toppings separate.

Brands to help you decide

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn Allerhande has a recipe for gluten-free currant buns. Albert Heijn also offers other gluten-free bakery products.

  • The recipe is an option if you want to make currant-bun-shaped rolls yourself.
  • Gluten-free bread and other bakery products in the range aren’t the same as ready-made currant buns.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists products including raisin bread and brown rolls in its gluten-free bread category.

  • The category offers options if you don’t need the currant-bun shape.
  • Jumbo says that Yam Rozijnenbrood Glutenvrij is no longer part of its online range. Ordinary Jumbo Rozijnen Krentenbollen contain wheat and gluten.

PLUS

PLUS offers products including gluten-free white bread and gluten-free pistolets.

  • Bread and pistolets are alternatives if you don’t need to serve currant buns.
  • Check the gluten-free claim on the packaging of the variety you choose.

Lidl

Lidl offers ordinary currant buns in packs of six.

  • The product name makes it clear what type of bun you’re looking at.
  • Don’t serve these buns to someone with coeliac disease unless the packaging of the product you’re buying clearly says it is gluten-free.

ALDI

ALDI describes its Rozijnen-krentenbollen as wheat rolls.

  • The description helps you distinguish ordinary wheat rolls from a gluten-free option.
  • These Rozijnen-krentenbollen aren’t a gluten-free alternative for a guest with coeliac disease.

A roll alternative on Joybuy

These mini baguettes are an option if you’d rather serve rolls than currant buns. Before serving, check that the packaging of the variety you’ve chosen says ‘gluten-free’, and keep the bread separate from gluten-containing products during preparation.

Gv Baguette Mini, pack of 7

Gv Baguette Mini 7 Pieces

A roll alternative for anyone who doesn’t need to serve currant buns at dinner. If you have coeliac disease, check the gluten-free claim on the packaging of the variety you choose.

Pack of 7 mini baguettes. These aren’t currant buns.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Can I serve someone with coeliac disease an ordinary currant bun?

No. An ordinary currant bun isn’t a gluten-free alternative. Jumbo lists wheat and gluten in its Rozijnen Krentenbollen. Choose a product labelled gluten-free or a carefully prepared gluten-free recipe for this guest.

What does ‘gluten-free’ on packaging mean?

According to the European Commission, a product can be labelled ‘gluten-free’ if the finished product contains no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg. Check the label on the product you’re going to serve rather than relying on the type of bread.

Does a gluten-free currant bun automatically contain iodised baker’s salt?

No. The gluten-free claim doesn’t tell you which salt has been used. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So check the ingredients or ask which salt was used in unwrapped bread.

How can I serve ordinary and gluten-free rolls alongside each other?

Keep the products separate and use clean hands, a clean worktop, and clean or separate utensils. The Dutch Coeliac Association points out that crumbs containing gluten could otherwise get onto gluten-free food.