Picnickers with coeliac disease
A gluten-free label on the roll is important, but so is how it’s handled afterwards. The Dutch Coeliac Society warns that crumbs from regular bread can end up on gluten-free bread, for example via a chopping board.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Anyone who wants to bake them at home
If there’s no oven in the park, you’ll need to prepare the rolls before you leave. Compare the baking instructions and check how the product should be stored once opened.
Anyone checking fillings and other allergens
White rolls, multiseed rolls and ciabatta differ in their ingredients. As well as checking for a gluten-free label, check the ingredients and allergens in both the bread and the filling. ‘Gluten-free’ doesn’t mean free from other allergens.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start by checking for a gluten-free label and making sure the rolls can be prepared separately. Then choose a type of bread you can prepare at home and check the ingredients for everyone who’ll be eating.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Especially relevant for |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten and cross-contamination | Read the gluten-free label and any warnings on the packaging. At home, use clean, separate utensils and fillings. | If I’m taking rolls for someone with coeliac disease, I want to make sure regular bread crumbs don’t come into contact with the gluten-free roll. This is the top priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| Baking and packing | Compare the baking time and temperature, and check the storage instructions after opening. | With no oven in the park, I want to be able to prepare the roll at home and pack it according to the instructions on the packaging. This practical consideration matters most to around 33% of consumers. |
| Type of bread and ingredients | Check the ingredients and other allergens. If you wish, compare the fibre per 100 g in the nutritional information. | If I’m choosing between white, multiseed and a different type of bread, the ingredients also need to suit the person who’ll be eating it. This is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a spelt roll is gluten-free
Spelt contains gluten. A roll made with spelt is therefore not a gluten-free choice for someone with coeliac disease, even if it’s organic.
Check the packaging of the specific roll for a ‘gluten-free’ label, rather than relying on its shape or the name of a single grain.
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Preparing regular and gluten-free bread with the same utensils
The Dutch Coeliac Society says crumbs can transfer from a shared chopping board to gluten-free bread. A knife used in a shared tub of filling can also transfer crumbs.
Use clean, separate utensils and a fresh portion of filling. Then wrap the gluten-free roll separately for the picnic.
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Overlooking other allergens
Albert Heijn states that its white gluten-free rolls may contain eggs, milk, soya, almonds and hazelnuts. According to the product information from PLUS, Schär gluten-free ciabatta contains soya and may contain lupin, mustard and sesame.
When buying, read the full allergen information for your chosen bread, especially if anyone also needs to avoid ingredients other than gluten.
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Relying on an old product page
Albert Heijn marks its gluten-free multiseed rolls as ‘discontinued’ on the product page. So a variety you looked at previously may not be available for your shopping list.
Check the current range before your picnic and read the packaging again when you buy the product you’re actually taking with you.
Brands and shops to consider
Albert Heijn and PLUS are the most directly relevant options if you’re looking for rolls. Other shops may offer gluten-free bread in a different shape, which could be an alternative as long as the label suits your needs.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn has a product page for AH Gluten-Free White Rolls: two part-baked rolls to finish baking at home.
- The product information lists the ingredients, allergens and preparation instructions: 6–7 minutes in an oven at 180 °C or 5 minutes in a preheated air fryer at 180 °C.
- According to the product information, the white rolls aren’t suitable for freezing at home and should be refrigerated after opening. The multiseed variety is marked as ‘discontinued’ on the product page.
PLUS
PLUS lists gluten-free white rolls and gluten-free multiseed rolls, both sold in packs of two.
- At PLUS, you can look specifically for two types of rolls rather than only considering bread in other shapes.
- For your chosen variety, check the ingredients, allergens and baking instructions on the current product page or packaging.
Jumbo
Jumbo’s gluten-free bread range includes products such as Schär Mini Baguette, Schär Ciabatta Rustica and brown bread rolls.
- These types of bread are alternatives if you don’t specifically need a roll.
- The roll category also includes regular products, including a spelt roll. Check whether each individual product is labelled gluten-free.
Dirk
Dirk lists Schär Kaiserbrötchen gluten-free rolls and Schär gluten-free ciabatta among its bread rolls.
- Both are alternatives if the precise shape of the roll is less important.
- Before planning your picnic, check the ingredients, allergens and preparation method for the product you choose.
ALDI
ALDI mentions gluten-free rolls in its information about part-baked bread and bakery products.
- A different type of roll could work if you’re not looking for a particular shape.
- Check which specific rolls are available in store and what the label says.
Lidl
Lidl refers customers looking for gluten-free food to its standard range.
- You can check whether a specific product from that range is labelled gluten-free.
- Don’t assume a particular gluten-free roll will be available for your picnic without checking the current in-store range and the label.
Joybuy: mini baguettes as an alternative
This product selection features mini baguettes for anyone considering a different type of bread instead of rolls for a picnic. If you’re choosing for someone with coeliac disease, the gluten-free label on the current packaging is what matters most.
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Gv Baguette Mini, 7 pieces
This pack of 7 mini baguettes is an option if a different type of bread will do for your picnic.
Before choosing them for someone with coeliac disease, check the packaging for a gluten-free label, allergens, product type, and preparation and storage instructions.
Frequently asked questions
What should I look for if someone with coeliac disease is joining us?
Choose bread that’s labelled ‘gluten-free’ on the packaging, and then prevent it from coming into contact with regular bread. The Dutch Coeliac Society says that simply having no wheat in the ingredients list isn’t enough to confirm that a product is gluten-free; crumbs can also get onto the bread while it’s being prepared.
How should I pack regular and gluten-free rolls together?
Keep the gluten-free roll wrapped separately and prepare it using a clean knife, a clean chopping board and a fresh portion of filling. The Dutch Coeliac Society points out that otherwise, crumbs from regular bread could get onto gluten-free bread.
Does iodised salt mean a roll contains gluten?
No. The mention of iodised salt doesn’t, by itself, tell you whether a product contains gluten. Albert Heijn lists iodised salt in its white gluten-free rolls; if you’re choosing for someone with coeliac disease, check the gluten-free label and other information on the current packaging.
Does gluten-free bread still need to be baked in the park?
It depends on the preparation instructions for the product you choose. If there’s no oven at your destination, bake part-baked bread at home. Albert Heijn says to bake its white gluten-free rolls for 6–7 minutes at 180 °C in the oven, while PLUS gives instructions of 8–10 minutes at 200 °C for Schär gluten-free ciabatta. Always follow the instructions on the packaging of the bread you’re taking with you.