If you have coeliac disease, start by choosing a product clearly labelled gluten-free, and check the current ingredients and allergens when you buy it. Sliced multiseed bread is ready to top, while bake-at-home rolls need oven space and a bread mix requires preparation in a kitchen free from cross-contamination. Keep gluten-free bread separate from regular bread when serving.
You’re looking for a gluten-free alternative to multigrain bread and want to keep crumbs from regular bread away from your food. The Voedingscentrum points out that even a bread crumb can be a concern for someone with coeliac disease.
You want to be able to top bread or bake rolls, and clearly tell your guests which allergens are listed on the packaging.
As well as checking the gluten-free claim, you look at fibre and salt per 100 g, the seeds used and the storage instructions for the exact product.
First, choose a product clearly labelled gluten-free. Then decide which serving option best suits your plans.
Best when: you want to make several sandwiches for King's Day without baking the bread first.
Keep in mind: check the allergens on the current packaging. The Albert Heijn and Jumbo breads reviewed list allergens other than gluten, or state that they may be present.
Best when: you want to prepare small rolls just before serving.
Keep in mind: you’ll need a clean preparation area and oven space. PLUS recommends baking its multiseed rolls for 10 minutes at 180 °C.
Best when: you want to bake the bread yourself in advance and can plan the preparation.
Keep in mind: the worktop, utensils and ingredients must also be kept free from cross-contamination with bread containing gluten.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free and served separately | Check the gluten-free claim and the label. If you’re sharing food, use separate knives and utensils for toppings. | If I have coeliac disease, I want to be able to join in without crumbs from regular bread getting onto my sandwich. For around 50% of consumers, gluten-free safety comes first. |
| Serving option and preparation | Check whether the bread is sliced, needs baking or has to be prepared at home. Read the storage instructions too. | At a busy celebration table, I want to know whether I can serve it straight away or will need oven space. Around 30% of consumers put convenience when serving top of their list. |
| Nutritional information and ingredients | Compare fibre and salt per 100 g, and check which seeds and additional allergens are listed. | If several gluten-free products are suitable, I want to compare their nutritional information and ingredients. These product features matter most to around 20% of consumers. |
The name multigrain says nothing about whether a product is suitable for someone with coeliac disease. According to the European Commission, a product can only be labelled ‘gluten-free’ if the gluten content of the product as sold is no more than 20 mg/kg.
Look for an explicit gluten-free claim on the packaging, then read the ingredients and allergen information.
A title won’t tell you which other allergens the product contains or may contain. Product information can also change.
Check the current packaging when you buy it, especially if a guest needs to avoid allergens other than gluten.
The Voedingscentrum says that even a stray bread crumb can cause symptoms for someone with coeliac disease. Gluten-free bread can come into contact with crumbs while being sliced or topped.
Keep the bread wrapped until you’re ready to use it, and set out separate utensils and a dedicated serving area.
According to the product information, PLUS’s gluten-free multiseed rolls need 10 minutes in a preheated oven at 180 °C.
Choose sliced bread if you want to serve it straight away. For the rolls, allow time and oven space, and prepare them in a clean area.
Albert Heijn’s own-brand range includes sliced gluten-free multiseed bread, ready to top and serve.
According to Jumbo, this own-brand multiseed bread is made with tapioca starch, kernels and seeds.
PLUS offers both gluten-free multiseed bread and gluten-free multiseed rolls: two options for different occasions.
Schär’s range includes Meesterbakker Mehrkorn and gluten-free multigrain rolls.
Yam’s light gluten-free multiseed bread is one option to compare by its ingredients and nutritional information.
Under the applicable EU rule set out by the European Commission, the claim ‘gluten-free’ can only be used if the gluten content of the product sold to the final consumer is no more than 20 mg/kg. So, if you have coeliac disease, ‘multigrain’ on its own is no substitute for checking the current packaging for that claim.
Use separate utensils to slice and top gluten-free bread, and serve it in its own area, away from crumbs from regular bread. The Voedingscentrum points out that even a bread crumb can cause symptoms for someone with coeliac disease.
You can’t tell from the gluten-free claim, so check the ingredients list for the bread you choose. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may be present in bread and other bakery products through bakers’ salt. This does not mean that all gluten-free bread contains iodised salt.
Check both the allergens present and any warnings that they may be present on the packaging of each product you choose. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens must be clearly listed on the label. The breads discussed here list ingredients including soya, sesame, oats, egg, milk and nuts, but the information varies from product to product.
