If you have coeliac disease, first look for bread that is explicitly labelled ‘gluten-free’ on the packaging: ‘multigrain’ and ‘thickly sliced’ tell you nothing about whether it is gluten-free. If you’re then looking for thick slices to add toppings to, Schär Meesterbakker Mehrkorn is one option to consider, as Albert Heijn describes its slices as thick. No measurement in millimetres is given, so also check the allergens and ingredients on the packaging you buy.
The ‘gluten-free’ label on the packaging takes priority over your preferred grains or slice thickness. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that a lifelong gluten-free diet is essential for people with coeliac disease and warns that even a stray bread crumb can cause symptoms.
If you want a snack with toppings, look for sliced bread whose product information specifies the thickness of the slices. Albert Heijn uses this description for Schär Meesterbakker Mehrkorn; the words ‘multigrain’ and ‘multi-seed’ alone tell you nothing about slice thickness.
Sliced loaves, larger own-brand loaves and bake-at-home rolls won’t all meet the same needs. Compare the product type and check availability at your local shop before making a choice.
Start with the gluten-free label. Then compare the slices, the type of bread and the information on the label that matters for how you plan to use it.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free label | Check that ‘gluten-free’ appears on the packaging, and read the ingredients and allergen information. Under Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, food sold to consumers can be labelled ‘gluten-free’ only if it contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. | When I’m buying bread for someone with coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely on the name ‘multigrain’. That’s why the gluten-free label is the top priority when shopping for around 33% of consumers. |
| Thick slices | Look for sliced bread that is explicitly described as having thick slices; don’t assume a particular thickness if no measurement is given. | For a generously topped snack, I want to choose a slice of bread, not a roll that I still need to bake. Thick slices that are easy to top are the top priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Type of bread and shop | Check whether you’re buying sliced bread or rolls, look at the net weight and check availability at your shop. | When I’m looking for bread for everyday use, I want the type and packaging to suit how much I eat. For around 20% of consumers, the choice of format and shop matters most. |
| Ingredients | Compare the nutritional information per 100 g, check allergens and possible traces, and look specifically for iodised salt or baker’s salt in the ingredients list if you want to check for iodine. | If I’m also checking for other allergens or looking at the ingredients, ‘gluten-free’ isn’t the only thing I need to check on the label. For around 20% of consumers, this is their top priority. |
Multigrain bread can contain grains that contain gluten. If you’re buying for someone with coeliac disease, the name of the bread is no substitute for the ‘gluten-free’ label.
Use the ‘gluten-free’ label on the packaging as your first selection criterion, then compare the type of bread and the slices.
Gluten-free bread may also contain ingredients such as soya or oats, and the packaging may mention possible traces of other allergens. A thick slice doesn’t change any of this information.
If you have additional allergies, read both the allergen information and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the packaging of the product you choose.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bakers are not required to use baker’s salt. So, seeing iodised salt listed for one loaf tells you nothing about another.
Check the ingredients list for each product to see whether it contains iodised salt or baker’s salt.
Albert Heijn describes the slices of Schär Meesterbakker Mehrkorn as thick, but doesn’t give a measurement in millimetres. This means you can’t accurately compare the thickness of its slices with those of another loaf.
Use the description as a guide, and check the packaging if the exact slice thickness is important to you.
These product ranges can help you narrow down your search for gluten-free bread. If you want thick slices, always check the individual product; a listing on a shop’s website doesn’t tell you what’s in stock at every branch.
The range includes gluten-free multigrain bread and multigrain rolls. Albert Heijn describes the slices of Meesterbakker Mehrkorn as ‘thick, soft slices’.
Albert Heijn lists its own gluten-free multi-seed bread and also stocks Schär loaves.
Jumbo lists gluten-free multi-seed bread and gluten-free rolls, among other products.
PLUS lists both Schär Meesterbakker Mehrkorn and its own Meerzaden gluten-free bread.
Dirk’s search results include Schär Mehrkorn gluten-free bread and Schär gluten-free multigrain rolls.
No, not based on the name ‘multigrain’: check that the packaging says ‘gluten-free’. Under Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, food can be labelled ‘gluten-free’ if it contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten when sold to consumers.
Only if rolls also suit the snack you have in mind. Jumbo lists Schär gluten-free multigrain rolls for baking at home, but these aren’t thickly sliced pieces of bread. Check the packaging for each type of bread separately.
Keep gluten-free bread separate from ordinary bread and its crumbs when storing and preparing it. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre warns that even a stray bread crumb can cause symptoms for someone with coeliac disease.
No, don’t assume it does: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list on the bread you buy for iodised salt or baker’s salt.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging you choose. For Schär Meesterbakker Mehrkorn, the product advice is to close the packaging after opening and use the bread within a few days or freeze it straight away; don’t assume the same advice applies to other loaves.
