Who is this choice relevant to?

Picnickers with coeliac disease

You need bread labelled gluten-free and want to prevent crumbs from ordinary bread or shared kitchen utensils from coming into contact with it.

Picnickers comparing nutritional values

You’re replacing ordinary wholemeal bread and want to compare the ingredients and fibre in gluten-free alternatives, rather than judging by colour or name alone.

Organisers of a shared picnic

You’re bringing both ordinary and gluten-free bread and want portions that you can pack, transport and serve separately.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, check that the bread is labelled gluten-free and that you can prepare and carry it separately. Then choose the type of bread and compare the nutritional information for each product.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Gluten-free and kept separate Look for ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging. Use clean, separate kitchen utensils and keep the bread in a sealed pack. If I have coeliac disease, I want to be sure which bread is for me and prevent ordinary bread crumbs from getting on it; around 46% of consumers put this first.
Transport and serving Choose portions that you can pack separately, and carry any fillings that need to stay chilled in a cool bag. At a shared picnic, I want to serve my lunch separately without leaving the fillings out of the fridge for too long; around 27% of consumers give this top priority.
Nutritional information and iodine Compare fibre per 100 g and per portion, and read the ingredients list if you want to know whether bakers’ salt has been used. When I replace ordinary wholemeal bread, I want to know what the alternative’s nutritional information looks like; around 18% of consumers put this comparison first.
Type and quantity of bread Check the current packaging, portion size and availability of a whole loaf or individual rolls. For one person, I don’t want to take more bread than I need, while for a group I’m looking for enough individual portions; this is a key consideration for around 9% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘wholemeal’ or ‘multigrain’ means ‘gluten-free’

    These words describe the bread, but they don’t mean it’s suitable for someone with coeliac disease. Ordinary wholemeal bread may contain gluten.

    First check for the gluten-free label on the packaging, then compare the type of bread and its fibre content.

  • Preparing gluten-free bread alongside ordinary bread

    Crumbs on a shared chopping board or a used knife can bring gluten into contact with gluten-free bread.

    Use clean, separate kitchen utensils and pack gluten-free portions separately in sealed packaging.

  • Taking chilled fillings without keeping them cool for hours

    Even if the bread is packed separately, fillings that would normally be kept in the fridge need to be kept cool in transit.

    Carry them in a cool bag. The Voedingscentrum advises throwing away products that are normally kept chilled if they have been left unrefrigerated for more than two hours.

  • Assuming all gluten-free bread contains bakers’ salt

    According to the Voedingscentrum, using bakers’ salt when baking bread is not compulsory.

    Read the ingredients list if you want to know whether your chosen bread contains bakers’ salt.

Brands and shops to consider

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn’s online category includes gluten-free dark and light multiseed bread.

  • You can browse different types of bread within the same category.
  • Check the ingredients and nutritional information on each pack; an online listing doesn’t tell you whether it’s in stock at your local shop.

Jumbo

Jumbo has an online category for gluten-free bread, with both loaves and other types of bread.

  • The category gives you a starting point for comparing a whole loaf with individual portions.
  • Check each product separately: a Céréal wholemeal variety listed previously was marked as no longer available on its product page.

PLUS

PLUS lists gluten-free brown bread, multiseed bread and rolls.

  • This lets you compare a loaf to slice with individual rolls.
  • ‘Brown’ and ‘multiseed’ don’t in themselves confirm that a product is wholemeal; check the label.

Dirk

Dirk’s search results show gluten-free Schär loaves and rolls.

  • Individual rolls are worth considering for separate picnic portions.
  • Check the packaging, portion size and availability in store for each product.

ALDI

ALDI mentions wholemeal bread and gluten-free options in its information about its bakery range.

  • You can ask in store specifically for gluten-free bread.
  • Don’t assume that a wholemeal option mentioned is also gluten-free; check that both labels apply to the same product.

Lidl

Lidl provides information about its gluten-free range, but you’ll need to check what’s available each time you visit.

  • The shop’s information can help you look specifically for gluten-free products.
  • Before buying, check that the specific bread carries the required gluten-free label and is the type of bread you want.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is ordinary wholemeal bread gluten-free?

No, ‘wholemeal’ doesn’t mean ‘gluten-free’. Ordinary bread made from wheat, spelt or rye isn’t suitable for someone with coeliac disease; check the gluten-free label on the packaging when choosing an alternative.

Does gluten-free bread need to carry the Crossed Grain symbol?

No. According to the Voedingscentrum, you can identify gluten-free products by the words ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain symbol. The European Commission’s Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014 states that the label ‘gluten-free’ may only be used if the gluten content of the finished product is no more than 20 mg/kg.

How should I take gluten-free sandwiches to the park?

Prepare them with clean, separate kitchen utensils and pack them separately from ordinary bread. Use a cool bag for fillings that need to stay chilled; the Voedingscentrum advises throwing away such products if they have been left unrefrigerated for more than two hours.

Does gluten-free bread automatically contain iodine from bakers’ salt?

No, you can’t assume that: according to the Voedingscentrum, using bakers’ salt isn’t compulsory. Read the ingredients list on your chosen bread if this is relevant when comparing it with ordinary bread.