Who is this choice relevant to?

Hosting someone with coeliac disease

You want to offer ontbijtkoek clearly labelled as gluten-free and make sure the portion doesn’t come into contact with crumbs from ordinary ontbijtkoek or bread when you serve it.

Coffee with a group

You’re looking for a whole loaf to share, provided you slice it on a clean surface with clean utensils and serve it separately.

Hosting and keeping one portion separate

You’d rather choose an individually wrapped bar, so the gluten-free treat doesn’t need to come into contact with a shared knife, chopping board or crumb-covered serving plate.

What should you look for when choosing?

When choosing for someone with coeliac disease, start by checking that the product is labelled gluten-free and can be served safely. Then decide whether you want to slice portions for several guests or offer one individually wrapped portion.

What to consider What should you check? Who is it important for?
Gluten-free labelling Look for ‘gluten-free’ on the current packaging, and read the ingredients and allergen information too. When I buy something for a guest with coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely on the ingredients list alone. Around 36% of consumers prioritise an explicit gluten-free label.
Serving it safely Use a clean surface and clean utensils, and keep the portion separate from ordinary ontbijtkoek. When slicing it, I want to stop crumbs or shared utensils coming into contact with the gluten-free loaf; around 29% of consumers prioritise serving it separately.
Portions and other allergens Compare the number of portions and check the packaging for allergens other than gluten, including milk and lupin. I want to know whether I’m serving one guest separately or sharing slices, without overlooking other allergies. Around 21% of consumers prioritise taking this into account.
Availability Before you go shopping, check that the product and pack size you want are available. When I’m planning what to buy for coffee, I want to know whether I can get the loaf or bar I’ve chosen. For around 14% of consumers, availability is the first practical consideration.

Common mistakes when buying and serving

  • Only looking for wheat in the ingredients list

    An ingredients list with no obvious wheat ingredient isn’t the same as a gluten-free label. According to the European Commission, a food can be labelled ‘gluten-free’ if it contains no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg.

    For a guest with coeliac disease, look for the ‘gluten-free’ label on the packaging and check it again next time you buy the product.

  • Slicing gluten-free ontbijtkoek on a shared chopping board

    According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, people with coeliac disease can also become ill through cross-contamination with gluten. Crumbs or shared utensils can make carefully chosen ontbijtkoek unsuitable to serve.

    Use a clean surface and clean utensils, and serve the gluten-free portion separately. Don’t use shared butter if a knife with crumbs has been in it.

  • Overlooking other allergens

    The gluten-free ontbijtkoek from Peijnenburg and Jumbo Lekker Vrij, and the AH Glutenvrij ontbijtkoek bar, also list milk and lupin. Some product information also mentions the possible presence of other allergens.

    Ask which allergies you need to cater for and read the allergen information on the exact packaging you’re serving.

Brands and product ranges to consider

Peijnenburg

Peijnenburg makes a 285 g whole gluten-free ontbijtkoek loaf. Albert Heijn lists nine portions, making it a good size for coffee when you want to slice it yourself.

  • Albert Heijn and PLUS label this loaf as gluten-free.
  • The listed allergens are milk and lupin. Slice and serve the loaf separately, using clean utensils.

Jumbo Lekker Vrij

Jumbo Lekker Vrij’s whole gluten-free ontbijtkoek loaf weighs 300 g. Jumbo lists 12 portions and displays the crossed-grain symbol.

  • The symbol makes it easier to recognise the gluten-free option.
  • Jumbo lists milk and lupin, and notes that the product may also contain nuts, egg, oats and sesame, among other allergens. So be sure to check the other allergen information on the packaging too.

AH Glutenvrij

The AH Glutenvrij gluten-free ontbijtkoek bar is an individual 65 g portion for one guest.

  • Albert Heijn describes the bar as being made in a completely gluten-free environment.
  • The bar contains milk, lactose and lupin; Albert Heijn also notes that it may contain sesame seeds and nuts.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is ‘gluten-free’ on the packaging enough for someone with coeliac disease?

The label helps you choose a product, but you also need to serve the ontbijtkoek without cross-contamination. According to the European Commission, ‘gluten-free’ means no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg; after opening, keep the portion away from crumbs and shared utensils.

How can I serve a whole gluten-free ontbijtkoek loaf separately?

Slice the loaf with clean utensils on a clean, crumb-free surface, then put the slices on a separate plate. Don’t use shared butter if a knife with crumbs has been in it.

Are these gluten-free ontbijtkoek products also free from milk and lupin?

No. Peijnenburg and Jumbo Lekker Vrij list milk and lupin; Albert Heijn lists milk, lactose and lupin for its gluten-free ontbijtkoek bar. If you need to cater for other allergies, always check the current packaging for the product you’ve chosen.

Can you tell how much iodine an ontbijtkoek contains from the ‘gluten-free’ label?

No. The ‘gluten-free’ label relates to gluten and doesn’t tell you the iodine content. If iodine matters when choosing a product, ask the manufacturer about the specific ontbijtkoek rather than trying to work out the amount from the salt content shown.