If you’re buying bread for someone with coeliac disease, first choose a pack that explicitly says ‘gluten-free’ or carries a gluten-free certification mark; ‘multigrain’ alone tells you nothing about whether it’s gluten-free. Then compare the ingredients, other allergens and fibre content, and choose a bread format and pack size to suit the number of coffee breaks you’re planning.
An explicit gluten-free claim or certification mark is the first thing to look for. Also take care to avoid contact with crumbs from ordinary bread when setting the table for coffee, as the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises.
The words ‘multigrain’ and ‘multi-seed’ don’t tell you how much fibre a loaf contains. Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and check the ingredients and allergen lists.
If you don’t use gluten-free bread every day, the bread format, number of pieces and storage instructions can determine how much you’ll be able to use in time.
If the bread needs to be suitable for someone with coeliac disease, an explicit gluten-free claim or certification mark is essential. Which other feature matters most depends on how you plan to serve the bread with coffee and cake.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free status and crumbs | Look for the explicit wording ‘gluten-free’ or a gluten-free certification mark on the pack. Keep the bread separate from crumbs from ordinary bread while preparing it. | When I’m preparing bread for someone with coeliac disease, I want to be able to check the label and avoid contact with ordinary bread crumbs. This assurance is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Fibre and other allergens | Compare fibre per 100 g and read the allergen information for the exact variant, including any possible presence of other allergens. | When choosing between gluten-free breads, I want to know how much fibre they contain and whether there are any other allergens to consider. This composition is the most important factor for around 20% of consumers. |
| Pack size and availability | Check the pack size, storage instructions and availability at the shop where you want to order or buy it. | I want enough bread for my coffee breaks, without choosing a pack that will leave me with lots I can’t use. Finding a suitable pack is the most important consideration for around 27% of consumers. |
| Bread format | Choose between sliced bread and smaller formats, such as rolls; check the number of pieces and the instructions for use. | For a small coffee spread, I only want to put out the portions I’m going to serve. Format and ease of use are the deciding factors for around 20% of consumers. |
Ordinary multigrain bread can contain grains that contain gluten. The Dutch Coeliac Society says that the gluten-free claim or certification mark on the label is what matters.
Check for this wording on the pack before comparing ingredients, seeds or fibre.
A large loaf can be impractical if you only serve bread with coffee and cake occasionally.
Compare the number of portions with how you plan to use it, and follow the storage instructions on the pack you choose.
Gluten-free bread can still contain other allergens. PLUS lists soya and possible traces of lupin, mustard and sesame for Schär Meesterbakker Mehrkorn; Jumbo lists soya and possible traces of almonds, egg and milk for Lekker Vrij van Gluten Meerzaden Brood.
Read the full allergen information on the current pack of the exact variant.
The product information reviewed from PLUS for Schär Meesterbakker Mehrkorn and from Jumbo for Lekker Vrij van Gluten Meerzaden Brood mentions iodised salt. This tells you nothing about the ingredients of other gluten-free breads.
Check the ingredients list for each product if iodised salt is relevant to your choice.
A shop where you can compare own-brand and other gluten-free bread options.
Jumbo lists Lekker Vrij van Gluten Meerzaden Brood as its own-brand gluten-free multi-seed option.
PLUS lists its own 500 g gluten-free multi-seed bread, multi-seed rolls sold in packs of two, and Schär Meesterbakker Mehrkorn.
A shop where you can check the local range of gluten-free bread.
Dirk’s search results include gluten-free Schär breads, which can be a starting point for comparing products.
When looking at bread at ALDI, it’s particularly important to distinguish between multigrain and gluten-free.
No, ordinary multigrain bread can contain grains that contain gluten. For someone with coeliac disease, choose bread with an explicit gluten-free claim or certification mark. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, the wording ‘gluten-free’ may be used if the finished product contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten.
Keep gluten-free bread separate from ordinary bread while preparing it. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre warns that even a stray bread crumb can cause symptoms for someone with coeliac disease. Use a clean knife and work surface, and avoid sharing crumbs in a toaster.
No, the name doesn’t tell you how much fibre the bread contains. Compare the nutritional information per 100 g: PLUS lists 9.9 g of fibre per 100 g for Schär Meesterbakker Mehrkorn, while Jumbo lists 5.7 g per 100 g for Lekker Vrij van Gluten Meerzaden Brood.
No, you can’t tell that from the wording ‘gluten-free’. The product information from PLUS for Schär Meesterbakker Mehrkorn and from Jumbo for Lekker Vrij van Gluten Meerzaden Brood mentions iodised salt. For other bread, check the ingredients list on the pack.
Choose a format based on how many portions you want to serve and use. Alongside gluten-free multi-seed bread, PLUS also lists gluten-free multi-seed rolls in packs of two; check the gluten-free claim, allergens and storage instructions for each option separately.
