Student with coeliac disease
Looking for a roll labelled ‘gluten-free’ and wants to check the current ingredients and allergen information before eating it.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Student without a large freezer
Looking for rolls that can be stored in a cool, dry place and wants to know what equipment is needed to prepare them.
Student looking to stock up in the freezer
Has freezer space and is considering a larger pack for several meals.
What should you look for?
First, check the ‘gluten-free’ label and the allergen information. Then see whether the storage method, preparation and quantity suit your new kitchen.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free and allergen information | Look for the ‘gluten-free’ label and read the current ingredients and allergen information, including if you have other allergies. | If I have coeliac disease, I want to be able to check the gluten-free label and find out which other allergens are in the roll. For around 50% of consumers, this would be the first thing to consider. |
| Storage and preparation | Check whether the rolls need to be stored in a cool, dry place or in the freezer, and what equipment you’ll need to prepare them. | Without much freezer space, I want to be able to store and prepare rolls using the equipment I have. This would be the main consideration for around 30% of consumers. |
| Pack size | Check the number of rolls and the storage advice after opening; make sure you can use the pack in time. | If I live alone, I don’t want to buy more rolls than I can use. For around 20% of consumers, choosing the right quantity would come first. |
Common mistakes
-
Assuming an ordinary kaiser roll is gluten-free
A roll’s shape tells you nothing about its gluten content. Under Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, a product labelled ‘gluten-free’ must contain no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten in the finished product.
If you have coeliac disease, check the label on the current packaging and read the ingredients and allergen information too.
-
Choosing a larger pack without considering storage
A pack of six frozen rolls needs freezer space; four rolls that should be stored in a cool, dry place require different planning once opened.
Compare the number of rolls, the storage instructions and how many you can use before they can no longer be stored as stated on the label.
Rolls you don’t use in time may go to waste.
-
Assuming every gluten-free roll contains baker’s salt
Baker’s salt contains added iodine, but according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use it. So neither the type of bread nor the ‘gluten-free’ label tells you which salt has been used.
For packaged bread, look for baker’s salt or iodised salt in the ingredients list. For unpackaged bread, ask about the ingredients and allergens.
-
Assuming every branch stocks the same range
An alternative roll in a bakery range isn’t necessarily available in every shop; ALDI says its bake-off range is available in shops with a bakery.
Check what your local shop stocks before relying on it, and decide whether a roll in a different shape will work for you.
Brands with suitable rolls
Schär
If you’re looking for the kaiser shape: PLUS lists Schär Kaiserbrötchen, 240 g, and Jumbo also lists Schär Kaisersemmel, 350 g, in a pack of six.
- The 240 g Kaiserbrötchen and the 350 g Kaisersemmel are separate varieties; check the storage and preparation instructions for each pack.
- PLUS lists soya and possible traces of mustard in the 240 g Kaiserbrötchen. If you have another allergy, always check the current label for the variety you choose.
AH Glutenvrij
An option if you don’t need a kaiser-shaped roll. Albert Heijn lists a range that includes gluten-free white rolls and white pistolets.
- You could consider a different shape of roll if it works for your meal.
- White rolls and pistolets aren’t kaiser rolls; check the information for the specific product you choose.
PLUS
PLUS lists its own gluten-free white and multiseed pistolets alongside Schär Kaiserbrötchen.
- The pistolets offer a different shape of roll if the kaiser shape isn’t essential.
- The PLUS pistolets aren’t the same product as Schär Kaiserbrötchen; check the ingredients, storage and preparation instructions for each pack.
Joybuy: an alternative in mini baguette form
This is a mini baguette, not a kaiser roll. Consider this shape only if you don’t specifically need a kaiser roll, and check the current packaging before choosing it for a gluten-free diet.
No image available
Gv Baguette Mini, 7 pieces
An alternative in mini baguette form if the kaiser shape isn’t important.
The product name states that the pack contains seven pieces. Before buying, check the contents and preparation instructions on the current packaging. If you have coeliac disease, also check the ‘gluten-free’ label and the ingredients and allergen information before eating it.
Frequently asked questions
Are ordinary kaiser rolls suitable for people with coeliac disease?
Not necessarily: the kaiser shape tells you nothing about the gluten content. Choose a roll labelled ‘gluten-free’ and check the current ingredients and allergen information.
What does ‘gluten-free’ mean on packaging?
Under Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, a product can be labelled ‘gluten-free’ if it contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten in the finished product. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority refers to these EU rules for this label; also check the packaging for any other allergens that are relevant to you.
How should I store and prepare Schär Kaiserbrötchen, 240 g?
According to PLUS, this variety should be stored in a cool, dry place and baked for 6–8 minutes in a fan oven at 200 °C. After opening, store the rolls according to the instructions on the current packaging; PLUS advises using them within a few days or freezing them straight away.
Does every gluten-free roll contain iodised baker’s salt?
No, you can’t tell from the type of bread. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. For packaged bread, look for baker’s salt or iodised salt in the ingredients list; for unpackaged bread, ask which ingredients have been used.