If you have coeliac disease, choose bread or a roll with a clear gluten-free label, then decide which type suits your lunch: sliced bread to top yourself, or a roll that may need baking before eating. If your roll is prepared on the premises, how crumbs, fillings and equipment are handled is also crucial. Ask how it is made before you buy.
It’s not just the gluten-free label on the bread that matters. Slicing, adding fillings and heating it also need careful attention: according to the Dutch Nutrition Centre and the Dutch Coeliac Society, even bread crumbs can cause a problem.
You’re looking for a packaged option that suits where you’ll eat and how much time you have. Sliced bread is ready to top; check whether rolls need baking first and what the packaging says about storage.
If gluten-free bread is often on the menu, you can compare products for fibre and salt. Check the ingredients for iodised salt if that matters to you: the Dutch Coeliac Society points out that gluten-free bread is not always made with bakers’ salt.
If you have coeliac disease, start by checking the gluten-free label and how the roll is handled. Then choose a type you can prepare and eat where you’ll be having lunch.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free status and cross-contamination | Check the gluten-free label on the packaging. If it’s prepared on the premises, ask whether they use a clean work surface and utensils, and fillings that haven’t come into contact with bread crumbs. | If I have coeliac disease, I want to know that crumbs won’t get onto my roll after it’s opened and filled either. This is the most important check for around 50% of consumers. |
| Type of lunch bread and preparation | Check whether you’re buying sliced bread, rolls or a bake-at-home option, and follow the preparation and storage instructions on the packaging. | When I’m out and about or at work, I want a roll that suits the time and facilities I have. Around 30% of consumers put practicality first. |
| Nutrition information for regular use | Compare fibre and salt per 100 g; check the ingredients list if iodised salt is relevant to you. | If I eat gluten-free bread often, I want to be able to compare products by their ingredients too. This is the main consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
Bread made with maize may also contain wheat. So an ingredient’s name doesn’t tell you whether the whole loaf is suitable for someone with coeliac disease.
Check that the finished product is labelled gluten-free or carries the Crossed Grain symbol. According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, a product labelled ‘gluten-free’ contains less than 20 mg/kg of gluten.
A knife, chopping board, shared butter or bread crumbs could bring the roll into contact with gluten after it has been opened.
Ask how the roll is sliced, filled and, if necessary, heated. If the vendor can’t explain how they prepare it separately, it’s better to choose an unopened packaged product.
The gluten-free label says nothing about fibre or salt content. A name such as ‘multiseed’ doesn’t replace the nutrition information either.
If you eat a product regularly, compare the fibre and salt listed per 100 g.
According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, gluten-free bread is not always made with bakers’ salt. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds are added to bread via bakers’ salt; that doesn’t mean they’re present in every loaf.
Check the ingredients of the specific product if iodised salt matters to you.
These supermarkets list gluten-free bread or rolls in their online ranges. For your lunch, always check the current packaging and in-store availability.
Albert Heijn lists a range of products online, including gluten-free sliced bread, white rolls and products from Schär.
Jumbo’s online category lists various Schär products, including mini baguettes, ciabatta rolls and sliced bread.
PLUS lists its own-brand gluten-free bread, rolls and Schär products online.
Dirk’s online search results include a range of gluten-free bread products from Schär.
ALDI mentions gluten-free bread on its page about rolls and bake-at-home products.
Lidl has a page dedicated to gluten-free products.
If you’re planning to make a roll for lunch, you could take a look at these mini baguettes. Before buying, check the packaging to see whether the product is gluten-free and how it should be prepared. If you have coeliac disease, it’s also important to prevent contact with crumbs.
Image unavailable
The mini baguette shape is ideal if you want to put together your own lunch roll. According to the product name, the pack contains seven pieces; check the current packaging for the gluten-free label, allergens and preparation instructions.
Don’t rely on the type of grain alone: maize bread, for example, may also contain wheat. Choose a finished product labelled gluten-free or bearing the Crossed Grain symbol. If a gluten-free product contains oats, contamination must also be prevented during production and processing.
If you have coeliac disease, it’s only a suitable choice if the vendor can explain the allergens before you buy and clearly tell you how they prevent contact with gluten. Ask about a clean chopping board, clean utensils, separate fillings and how the roll is heated.
No. Allergen information doesn’t automatically tell you how a roll is prepared. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority requires allergen information for unpackaged foods; also ask about shared equipment and contact with bread crumbs.
No. According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, gluten-free bread is not always made with bakers’ salt. If iodised salt matters to you, check the ingredients list on the specific bread.
