Who might find these options useful?

People planning a lunch with coeliac disease in mind

You’re looking for a roll with a clear gluten-free label, and you’re also careful about crumbs from ordinary bread when baking and adding fillings.

People comparing labels

You want to compare ingredients, allergens, fibre and salt across the gluten-free range. The words ‘white’ and ‘multiseed’ don’t tell you the nutritional value per 100 g.

People short on time at lunchtime

Check the baking instructions and storage information before you buy, so the roll suits the equipment and time you have available for lunch.

What should you look for when choosing?

If you’re choosing for someone with coeliac disease, check the gluten-free label and relevant allergens first. Then compare the nutritional information and preparation method.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Gluten-free labelling and cross-contamination Look for the ‘gluten-free’ label on the packaging, read the allergen information, and make sure you have a clean work surface and clean utensils at home. If my lunch needs to be suitable for coeliac disease, I also want to make sure ordinary bread crumbs don’t get onto my roll or filling. For around 45% of these consumers, that reassurance matters most.
Nutritional information Compare ingredients, fibre and salt per 100 g; consider the portion and filling separately. I want to know what the roll adds to my lunch, without assuming that ‘multiseed’ means it has a particular nutritional value. For around 36% of these consumers, this is the main consideration.
Preparation and availability Read the baking and storage instructions, and check that the product you’ve chosen is available where you shop. If I’m short on time or don’t have a suitable oven, I need to be able to prepare the roll for lunch. For around 19% of these consumers, this practical consideration is the main concern when choosing.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘brown’, ‘spelt’ or ‘multiseed’ means gluten-free

    These words don’t tell you whether a roll is suitable for someone with coeliac disease. An ordinary spelt roll, for example, contains gluten.

    First check for an explicit gluten-free label, then read the ingredients and allergen information. A gluten-free product may still contain wheat starch that has been processed to remove gluten; if you also have a wheat allergy, check the wheat information separately.

  • Reading only the front of the packaging

    A gluten-free roll may still contain other allergens. For example, PLUS lists sesame in its multiseed rolls; Albert Heijn warns that its white gluten-free rolls may contain, among other things, egg, milk, soya and nuts.

    Check the current ingredients and allergen information every time you buy, especially if you have a food allergy as well as coeliac disease.

  • Forgetting about crumbs during preparation

    The Dutch Coeliac Association explains that cross-contamination can introduce gluten into food that should not contain it. This is something to watch out for when baking and adding fillings, too.

    Use clean utensils and a clean work surface. Keep the gluten-free roll and its filling separate from ordinary bread and its crumbs.

  • Assuming every roll contains iodised salt

    The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may be added to bakery products through bakers’ salt. This doesn’t mean that every roll contains iodised salt.

    Check the ingredients list of the product you’ve chosen if you want to know whether iodised salt has been used.

Brands and product ranges to consider

AH Glutenvrij / Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists white gluten-free rolls for baking, made with potato, maize and rice starch.

  • The product information explains how to prepare them in an oven or air fryer.
  • The information warns that they may contain egg, milk, soya, almonds and hazelnuts. Check the current packaging if any of these allergens are relevant to you.

PLUS

PLUS lists white gluten-free rolls and gluten-free multiseed rolls.

  • The product information for the multiseed version lists linseeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds.
  • The multiseed version lists sesame as an allergen. Compare the nutritional information rather than assuming the fibre content from the name.

Ouni

An Ouni roll listed by PLUS is labelled ‘gluten-free’ and refers to the AOECS standard for gluten-free food.

  • The product information explicitly states that it is gluten-free.
  • The ingredients include gluten-free wheat starch, and the allergen information lists wheat. Check this separately if wheat allergy is a concern.

Related products at Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Can I choose an ordinary brown or spelt roll if I have coeliac disease?

Not based on the words ‘brown’ or ‘spelt’: choose a roll that is explicitly labelled gluten-free. An ordinary spelt roll contains gluten; ‘multigrain’ and ‘organic’ don’t mean that a roll is gluten-free either.

What does ‘gluten-free’ mean on packaging?

Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, the term ‘gluten-free’ may be used if the food sold to the final consumer contains no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg. This EU rule also applies in the Netherlands.

How can I avoid cross-contamination at lunchtime?

Prepare and fill the gluten-free roll on a clean work surface, using clean utensils, and keep it separate from ordinary bread. Take care with shared spreads, too: a knife used to spread something on ordinary bread can leave crumbs in the jar.

Does a gluten-free roll always contain iodine because of bakers’ salt?

No, don’t assume that without checking the label. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine may be present in bakery products through bakers’ salt; check the roll’s ingredients list for iodised salt.

Does ‘gluten-free’ tell me anything about the nutritional value of my lunch?

No, the gluten-free label doesn’t tell you how much fibre or salt a roll contains. Compare the nutritional information per 100 g, and consider the portion and what you put in the roll, too.