People with coeliac disease buying lunch
You’re looking for a clearly labelled gluten-free alternative to rye bread and want to avoid the roll coming into contact with gluten-containing crumbs during storage or preparation.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Anyone looking for a quick roll for work or school
You want a bread roll, petit pain or ready-to-fill loaf that suits the time and facilities you have available at lunchtime.
Anyone who regularly compares bread ingredients
As well as checking for a gluten-free label, you look at fibre, relevant allergens and whether iodised salt or baker’s salt is listed.
What should you look for when buying?
First check the gluten-free label and how the bread is prepared. Then choose a practical size for lunch and compare the nutritional information that matters to you.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free and protected from cross-contamination | Look for a clear gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain symbol on the current packaging. If it’s prepared on the premises, ask whether separate, clean equipment is used. | If I’m buying a roll, I want both the bread and its preparation to be suitable for my gluten-free diet; this is the top priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| A suitable size for lunch | Consider whether you want slices, rolls or petit pains, and whether the product is ready to eat or needs baking first. | For a short lunch break, I want a roll I can fill without any extra preparation; around 30% of consumers say convenience comes first. |
| Fibre and ingredients | Compare fibre per 100 g and check the ingredients for iodised salt or baker’s salt. | If I eat bread regularly, I want to be able to compare its nutritional information and ingredients; these matter most to around 20% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming dark bread is a gluten-free alternative
A dark colour or visible seeds don’t tell you whether a product contains gluten. The Dutch Coeliac Association specifically lists rye as a grain that naturally contains gluten.
If you have coeliac disease, avoid ordinary rye bread. Check the current packaging to make sure the alternative is clearly labelled gluten-free.
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Checking only the roll, not how it’s prepared
According to the Dutch Coeliac Association, cross-contamination can introduce gluten into a product that should not contain it. Crumbs and shared equipment are therefore important considerations at a sandwich counter.
Ask how the roll is stored and prepared, and whether clean, separate equipment is used. If in doubt, choose a sealed product with a clear label.
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Assuming all bread is made with baker’s salt
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt when making bread. So the type or colour of the bread won’t tell you which salt was used.
If this is something you want to consider, check the ingredients list for iodised salt or baker’s salt.
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Assuming the online range matches what’s in store
A product listed on a range page may not be available at the branch where you’re having lunch.
Check the current range at your branch or in the online shop before you set off, and base your final choice on the packaging of the product you buy.
Brands to consider
AH Glutenvrij
The range includes dark multiseed bread and white rolls in a variety of sizes for lunch.
- The dark multiseed bread is sold as gluten-free bread; it isn’t rye bread.
- Check the current packaging for ingredients and allergens, especially if you need to avoid anything other than gluten.
Schär
Schär offers various types of bread, including Meesterbakker loaves and smaller rolls.
- Albert Heijn lists the Meesterbakker vital product included in this review as gluten-free bread.
- Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information for each individual variety; they aren’t the same across the whole range.
Consenza
The Vezelrijk zadenbrood chia product included in this review is a seeded loaf for anyone looking for an alternative to ordinary rye bread.
- Albert Heijn lists this variety as gluten-free.
- The product information also mentions oats. Check the current packaging and allergen information before choosing this variety.
Jumbo Lekker Vrij
This Jumbo range includes various types of gluten-free bread, including brown bread.
- Jumbo displays the Crossed Grain symbol on the brown variety included in this review.
- Check the packaging for each variety and see whether the product you want is available at your branch.
PLUS
As well as gluten-free bread, PLUS lists petit pains, a useful option if you’re specifically looking for a roll for lunch.
- The range includes both white and multiseed petit pains.
- Check the current packaging of your chosen petit pain for its ingredients, allergens and gluten-free label.
Related products on Joybuy
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Can I eat ordinary rye bread if I have coeliac disease?
No. Ordinary rye bread isn’t suitable for a gluten-free diet: according to the Dutch Coeliac Association, rye naturally contains gluten. Choose an alternative whose current packaging clearly states that it is gluten-free.
Is a gluten-free roll from the sandwich counter safe?
Not if it comes into contact with gluten-containing crumbs while being filled. Ask how it’s stored and whether clean, separate equipment is used to prepare it.
What should I do if there’s a warning about cereals containing gluten?
Consider the warning before choosing the product. It may indicate a risk of cross-contamination, but it doesn’t automatically mean the product contains gluten. Also look out for any statement that the product isn’t suitable for people with coeliac disease.
Does gluten-free bread always contain iodised baker’s salt?
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that using baker’s salt when making bread isn’t compulsory. Check the ingredients list for the specific bread to see whether it contains iodised salt or baker’s salt.
Where can I look for a gluten-free roll for lunch?
Albert Heijn and PLUS list gluten-free rolls or petit pains, among other products; other supermarkets also offer a variety of gluten-free bread products. Check the current range at your branch and read the packaging of the product you actually buy.