For the family member with coeliac disease, only buy multigrain bread that is clearly labelled gluten-free: ‘multigrain’ does not mean ‘gluten-free’. Then check the current packaging for ingredients, other allergens, nutritional information and storage advice. A larger pack only makes sense for your family if you can eat the bread in time or freeze it according to the product’s instructions.
The bread for the family member with coeliac disease must be clearly identifiable as gluten-free. In a shared kitchen, you should also take care to avoid contact between ordinary and gluten-free bread. The Voedingscentrum identifies the ‘gluten-free’ label and the crossed-grain symbol as ways to recognise it.
If you buy several packs at once, pack weight, how much your household eats and storage instructions all matter. This helps you work out how much bread you can eat within the stated time and whether any of it can be frozen.
Fibre, salt, ingredients and other allergens can vary from one loaf to another. You can’t assume that multigrain bread contains iodised salt either: according to the Voedingscentrum, bakers are not required to use baker’s salt.
First check that the bread is labelled gluten-free for the family member with coeliac disease. Then compare the nutritional information and choose a pack size that suits how much your household will actually eat and store.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free labelling and allergens | Check the current gluten-free labelling, ingredients, allergens and any warnings. Keep ordinary and gluten-free bread separate when storing and preparing it. | If someone at home has coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely on the word ‘multigrain’ or risk crumbs from other bread getting onto their food. Around 36% of consumers put this reassurance first. |
| Nutritional information and iodine | Compare fibre and salt per 100 g; check the ingredients list to see whether iodised salt or baker’s salt has been used. | When bread is often on the table, I want to know what the chosen variety contains rather than judging by its colour or seeds. For around 29% of consumers, this nutritional information matters most. |
| Stock and storage | Check the pack weight, storage instructions and advice on freezing after opening. | If I buy several loaves at once, I want to avoid leaving an opened pack uneaten while the rest is still in the cupboard. Around 21% of consumers prioritise this storage plan. |
| Practical portions | Check how many slices or rolls are in a pack and choose the number of packs to suit your family’s needs. | If not everyone in the family eats the same bread, I don’t want to open packs that won’t get finished. This is the most important consideration for around 14% of consumers. |
According to the Voedingscentrum, ‘multigrain’ means that several types of grain are used. Ordinary multigrain bread may contain wheat, rye or barley, so it is not a substitute for gluten-free bread for someone with coeliac disease.
Choose a product that is clearly labelled gluten-free for the family member with coeliac disease, and check the current label every time you buy it.
A dark colour or seeds don’t tell you how much fibre bread contains. You can’t assume that every loaf provides iodine from baker’s salt either: according to the Voedingscentrum, bakers don’t have to use this salt.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and check the ingredients list for iodised salt or baker’s salt.
If you don’t finish a pack soon after opening it, it could go to waste. Storage advice varies by product.
Choose the number of packs to suit how much your household uses and follow the instructions on the packaging. PLUS advises eating Schär Meesterbakker Mehrkorn within a few days of opening or freezing it straight away.
‘Gluten-free’ doesn’t mean that bread is free from all other allergens. For example, the Schär Meesterbakker Mehrkorn listed by PLUS contains soya; the product information also notes that it may contain lupin, sesame and mustard.
If anyone in your family has other food allergies, always check the full ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging.
Schär offers a range of gluten-free breads, including Meesterbakker Mehrkorn and multigrain rolls. This makes the brand worth considering if you’re looking specifically for a gluten-free multigrain option.
Jumbo’s gluten-free Consenza range includes several types of bread, such as brown bread for the freezer and multigrain rolls.
Albert Heijn’s AH Glutenvrij range includes light and dark multiseed bread in 480 g packs, as well as multiseed rolls.
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, ‘multigrain’ means that several types of grain are used; the bread may also contain grains with gluten. For someone with coeliac disease, check that the current packaging clearly labels the bread as gluten-free.
No, ‘wheat-free’ is not the same as ‘gluten-free’. Before buying, ask for the allergen information, check whether the bread is explicitly labelled gluten-free and find out how contact with other bread is avoided.
No. Baker’s salt contains iodine, but according to the Voedingscentrum, bakers aren’t required to use it. Check the ingredients list for the bread you choose to see whether it contains iodised salt or baker’s salt.
Buy as many packs as your household will use and follow the storage advice for each loaf. PLUS advises resealing the Schär Meesterbakker Mehrkorn pack after opening and eating the bread within a few days or freezing it straight away; don’t assume the same advice applies to other breads.
