Choose gluten-free rolls if you want to serve individual portions; sliced gluten-free multigrain bread lets you make your own small open sandwiches. For a guest with coeliac disease, the packaging must state ‘gluten-free’, and preparation and presentation must also be kept separate from ordinary bread and shared spreads. Also check the allergens and preparation instructions for the product you choose.
You’re looking for bread labelled ‘gluten-free’ and want to make sure crumbs, utensils or shared spreads don’t come into contact with the gluten-free food. The Dutch Coeliac Association points out that a chopping board used to cut ordinary bread is not safe for preparing a gluten-free dish.
You want to be able to serve each guest their own roll and are deciding between baking and defrosting. PLUS says its gluten-free multiseed rolls should be oven-baked; according to the product page, the Ouni multiseed roll can be eaten straight after defrosting.
Sesame or soya, for example, may also be relevant to a guest. Product information from PLUS and Albert Heijn shows that allergens vary between types of bread, so compare the current packaging for both the bread and the toppings.
Start by checking for a ‘gluten-free’ label and making sure preparation and presentation are separate. Then choose a type of bread that suits the way you want to serve it. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, a food sold to the final consumer may be labelled ‘gluten-free’ if it contains no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Serving gluten-free food | Look for ‘gluten-free’ on the packaging and use clean, separate utensils and spreads. | If a guest has coeliac disease, I don’t want crumbs from ordinary bread ending up on their food. For around 36% of consumers, gluten-free preparation and presentation come first. |
| Portions and preparation | Compare the number of rolls or slices and check whether they need baking or defrosting. | For a drinks party with individual portions, I want to know whether the rolls will be ready when guests arrive. Around 29% of consumers prioritise how easy the food is to serve. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients and allergen information, including that for the toppings. | If a guest needs to avoid ingredients other than gluten, I want to be able to compare the bread and toppings. Around 21% of consumers give this extra label check priority. |
| Availability | Check your chosen shop and, for frozen products, allow for preparation time. | If I’m shopping shortly before the drinks party, I want to be able to pick up a suitable product from my local shop. For around 14% of consumers, local availability is the main practical concern. |
A name containing ‘multigrain’ or ‘multiseed’ doesn’t mean the bread is gluten-free. So the product name alone isn’t enough when choosing for a guest with coeliac disease.
Check the packaging separately for the ‘gluten-free’ label before choosing based on the type of bread or seeds.
According to the Dutch Coeliac Association, crumbs can transfer from a used chopping board to gluten-free food. The same applies to knives and shared spreads.
Prepare the gluten-free food with clean, separate utensils and serve it away from ordinary bread.
Product information can change, and a roll shown online may not be available at your chosen shop.
Check with the shop before you go shopping, and read the packaging again when you buy the product.
Gluten-free doesn’t mean free from sesame, soya or other allergens that may matter to a guest. Information from PLUS and Albert Heijn varies between types of bread.
Ask which allergens your guests need to avoid, then compare the allergen information for both the bread and the toppings.
Albert Heijn lists products including Schär Meergranenbroodjes, Schär Meesterbakker Mehrkorn and its own gluten-free dark multiseed bread.
Jumbo lists Lekker Vrij van Gluten Meerzaden Brood and Schär Meergranenbroodjes in its online range.
PLUS lists gluten-free multiseed bread and gluten-free multiseed rolls, as well as a separate Ouni multiseed roll.
Dirk’s search results include gluten-free Schär bread products, including a mini baguette.
Lidl has a page about gluten-free products and also lists regular multigrain bread.
ALDI lists regular multigrain bread and includes gluten-free rolls in its wider bread range.
No. The word ‘multigrain’ doesn’t mean a product is gluten-free. For a guest with coeliac disease, choose bread or rolls labelled ‘gluten-free’ and avoid contact with ordinary bread when serving.
It depends on the portions you want and how much preparation you’re happy to do: rolls work well if you want to bake individual portions, a defrosted bun is handy if you don’t want to use the oven, and sliced bread lets you make your own small open sandwiches. PLUS says its gluten-free multiseed rolls need 10 minutes in an oven at 180 °C; for other products, follow the instructions on the packaging.
Use a clean, separate board, a separate knife and separate toppings for the gluten-free bread. Keep the food away from crumbs from ordinary bread, and be mindful of hands that have handled foods containing gluten.
Yes, if a guest needs to avoid other allergens too. PLUS lists sesame in its gluten-free multiseed rolls; Albert Heijn lists soya and possible traces of lupin, sesame and mustard in Schär Meesterbakker Mehrkorn. Check the current packaging for both the bread and the toppings before making your choice.
