If you’re catering for a guest with coeliac disease, first choose a roll with a clear gluten-free label on the current packaging. Then take care to prevent crumbs coming into contact with it during preparation and at the table. For a smaller dinner, the four ambient Schär Kaiserbrötchen are an option that don’t need to be defrosted; the six frozen Kaisersemmel require more planning. For both options, check for other allergens too: gluten-free doesn’t mean free from soya or possible traces of other allergens.
If there’s regular bread on the table too, you’ll want to protect the gluten-free rolls from crumbs transferred by knives, boards, butter and dips. The Dutch Coeliac Association advises taking steps to prevent cross-contamination.
You’ll need to plan the number of rolls and the preparation around your guests. Albert Heijn and Jumbo list ambient Schär Kaiserbrötchen in packs of four; Jumbo also lists frozen Kaisersemmel in packs of six, so you’ll need to allow time for defrosting.
As well as checking the gluten-free label, check the allergens listed for the exact variant you’ve chosen. Albert Heijn and Jumbo’s product information lists soya for both Schär variants, but the warnings about possible traces of other allergens differ.
First, check the gluten-free label and make sure there’s a clean, separate preparation area. Then choose the pack size and preparation method that suit your dinner, and read the ingredients and allergen information for the product you buy.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Serving gluten-free food | Check the gluten-free label on the packaging. Keep the work surface, utensils, fillings and serving plate clean and separate from regular bread. | If I’m serving regular bread too, I don’t want crumbs ending up on the gluten-free bread or in the filling. Around 50% of consumers might see preventing this kind of contact as their main concern. |
| Quantity and preparation | Count the guests who need gluten-free food and compare four ambient rolls with six frozen rolls. If you choose the frozen option, allow time for defrosting. | For a planned dinner, I want to have enough rolls ready without having to change how I prepare them at the last minute. Around 30% of consumers might put this kind of planning first. |
| Allergens and ingredients | Read the current allergen list for the variant you’ve chosen. Check the ingredients label too if iodised salt is relevant to your choice. | If a guest has an allergy as well as coeliac disease, I want to know which other allergens are listed on that specific pack. This might be the main concern for around 20% of consumers. |
The Dutch Coeliac Association says gluten can still get onto a roll through crumbs, hands, kitchen utensils or shared fillings.
Prepare and serve the gluten-free rolls separately, using clean hands, a clean work surface and clean utensils. Keep them wrapped for as long as possible.
ALDI and Lidl list regular Kaiser rolls. The fact that a shop also lists gluten-free bread products doesn’t mean those Kaiser rolls are gluten-free.
For a guest with coeliac disease, only choose a roll whose current packaging clearly says it is gluten-free.
According to the product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo, both of the Schär variants mentioned contain soya and may contain mustard. For the frozen Kaisersemmel, Jumbo also warns that they may contain egg, hazelnuts and milk.
Ask which allergens are relevant to your guests and check the ingredients and allergen list on the pack you’ll actually be serving.
Jumbo says that frozen Schär Kaisersemmel must not be refrozen once defrosted and should be used within one day if kept in the fridge.
Plan how many rolls you’ll need, defrost only that number and follow the storage instructions on the packaging.
Albert Heijn and Jumbo list ambient Schär Kaiserbrötchen in packs of four; Jumbo also lists frozen Schär Kaisersemmel in packs of six.
Albert Heijn lists gluten-free Schär Kaiserbrötchen, four rolls weighing 240 g in total.
Jumbo lists both ambient Schär Kaiserbrötchen in packs of four and frozen Kaisersemmel in packs of six.
PLUS lists gluten-free bread and gluten-free bread rolls for anyone who isn’t specifically looking for a Kaiser roll.
ALDI lists gluten-free bread options in its range and also lists regular white wheat Kaiser rolls.
Lidl lists regular Kaiser rolls and notes that its fresh bread range can vary between shops.
These mini baguettes are a different shape from Kaiser rolls. They’re only an option for your family dinner if the current packaging clearly says they’re gluten-free and the ingredients, allergens and preparation method suit your plans.
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These mini baguettes could be an alternative to rolls if you don’t need a Kaiser roll shape. The product description says they’re gluten-free; check that claim on the current packaging before serving them to a guest with coeliac disease.
Before dinner, check whether the pack contains bread rolls that need baking or a mix: the available preparation details differ on this point. Also read the information about soya and possible traces of lupin and mustard, and prepare and serve the bread separately from food containing gluten.
You can, as long as you prevent contact with gluten. Keep the gluten-free rolls and fillings separate, and use clean hands, utensils and a work surface. The Dutch Coeliac Association warns that even crumbs can pose a risk to someone with coeliac disease.
Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, a food can be labelled ‘gluten-free’ if it contains no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg. That label says nothing about possible contact with gluten while preparing or serving the food at home.
The ambient Schär Kaiserbrötchen don’t need to be defrosted. According to the product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo, you should finish baking the part-baked rolls in a fan oven at 200 °C for 6–8 minutes. Jumbo says the frozen Kaisersemmel can be defrosted for 1–2 hours or prepared in the oven; always follow the instructions on the pack you buy.
No, you can’t tell from the type of bread or the gluten-free label. Albert Heijn lists iodised salt in its ambient Schär Kaiserbrötchen. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may be present in bread and bakery products because baker’s salt has been added. Check the ingredients list for the specific roll you’re considering.
