When packing a school lunch for a child with coeliac disease, the current ‘gluten-free’ label on the packaging matters more than the shape of the roll. Albert Heijn lists Schär Kaiser Brötchen as gluten-free Kaiser rolls; a gluten-free pistolet or sliced gluten-free bread may also work if that particular shape isn’t essential. Check for other allergens too, and take care to avoid contact with crumbs when preparing and packing the food.
You want a roll with a current gluten-free label, and a way to prepare and pack it so it doesn’t come into contact with ordinary bread crumbs. The Dutch Coeliac Association points out that even a stray crumb can matter for someone with coeliac disease.
You’d rather choose a Kaiser roll, pistolet or bake-at-home roll than sliced bread, without skipping the check for a gluten-free label.
As well as gluten, you need to compare the allergen information for your chosen product with the child’s needs. The products mentioned here may contain allergens such as soya, mustard, egg, milk or nuts.
First, check for a gluten-free label and make sure the roll can be kept separate from ordinary bread. Then choose the type of roll you want, and check the label again if there are other allergies to consider.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free and kept separate | Look for ‘gluten-free’ on the current packaging. Keep the roll away from ordinary bread crumbs when preparing and packing it. | If ordinary bread is also prepared at home, I want to prevent crumbs from getting onto the lunch roll. Around 50% of consumers prioritise the gluten-free label and keeping the roll separate. |
| Type of roll and preparation | Check whether it’s a Kaiser roll, pistolet or another type of roll, and follow the packaging instructions when baking it. | If I want to pack an individual roll, I need to be able to bake, cool and pack it before leaving. Around 30% of consumers prioritise this practical choice of roll. |
| Other allergens | Read the current ingredients and allergen information, even for a product labelled ‘gluten-free’. | If the child has a food allergy as well as coeliac disease, I want to know whether this particular roll is suitable. For around 20% of consumers, checking for other allergens is their main concern when choosing. |
A Kaiser roll isn’t automatically gluten-free. Nor does being part of a range aimed at people making mindful food choices tell you anything definitive about that specific product.
Check the current packaging for a ‘gluten-free’ label, and read it again if the packaging or ingredients change.
According to the Dutch Coeliac Association, contact with hands, kitchen utensils and ordinary bread crumbs can all lead to cross-contamination.
Use clean hands and equipment, keep the roll separate and leave it wrapped for as long as possible.
A ‘gluten-free’ label doesn’t rule out soya or other allergens. For example, Albert Heijn lists soya and possible mustard in Schär Kaiser Brötchen.
Compare the full allergen information on the current packaging with any allergies you need to take into account.
A particular type of roll may not be available every time you shop. Albert Heijn marks its AH Glutenvrij Afbakbroodjes as ‘Discontinued’ on the product page.
Check availability before buying, and have a suitable alternative in mind, such as a gluten-free pistolet or sliced gluten-free bread.
Albert Heijn lists Schär Kaiser Brötchen as gluten-free Kaiser rolls to bake at home.
AH Glutenvrij Afbakbroodjes are an example of a gluten-free roll alternative, but Albert Heijn marks this specific product as ‘Discontinued’.
Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten Wit is sliced bread for anyone who doesn’t need an individual roll for lunch.
PLUS lists white and multiseed pistolets in its gluten-free range for anyone considering a different type of individual roll.
For a child with coeliac disease, don’t choose an ordinary Kaiser roll unless the current packaging carries a ‘gluten-free’ label. Check the label on the specific product rather than relying on the shape of the roll.
Yes. If a Kaiser roll isn’t essential, a pistolet with a current gluten-free label can be an alternative. Check the allergen information too, and see how the roll needs to be prepared and packed.
Yes. Gluten-free doesn’t mean a roll is free from other allergens: for example, Albert Heijn lists soya and possible mustard in Schär Kaiser Brötchen. So always read the allergen information on the current packaging.
Prepare and pack the roll with clean hands and kitchen utensils, away from ordinary bread. The Dutch Coeliac Association advises keeping gluten-free food wrapped for as long as possible. Also agree with the school how the food will be handed out and what to do if there’s any doubt or a mix-up.
