If your child has coeliac disease, choose a roll whose current packaging explicitly says ‘gluten-free’. Agree with the nursery how it will be stored, prepared and served without coming into contact with gluten-containing crumbs. Also check for other allergens and read the preparation instructions: a white or seeded variety is only suitable if it also meets the arrangements you have made for your child.
They’re looking for a roll that is explicitly labelled gluten-free and want to know how it will be kept separate from ordinary bread crumbs at nursery. The Dutch Coeliac Society stresses the importance of agreeing arrangements with the nursery.
They need to know who will store the roll, bake it if necessary, add fillings and serve it, as well as which utensils and surfaces will be used. These arrangements should be agreed with the parents in advance.
A gluten-free roll isn’t automatically free from sesame, soya, milk, egg or nuts. They should therefore compare the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging with the arrangements made for the child.
Start by checking the gluten-free label and agreeing how the roll will be handled at nursery. Then compare other allergens, nutritional information and baking instructions.
| What to check | What to look for when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free labelling and separate preparation | Check that the current packaging says ‘gluten-free’, and agree how the roll will be stored, prepared and served without coming into contact with gluten-containing crumbs. | If my child has coeliac disease, I want to be sure which roll they’ll be given and how it will be handled at nursery. Around 42% of consumers put preventing contact with gluten first. |
| Other allergens | Compare the ingredients and allergen information with the arrangements made for the child, especially for a seeded variety. | If my child has another allergy, I don’t want to assume that ‘gluten-free’ also means free from sesame or other allergens. For around 33% of consumers, this is the first thing they consider. |
| Nutritional information and preparation | Compare fibre and salt per 100 g and check how the roll needs to be prepared. If iodine is a consideration, look at the type of salt listed. | If the nursery will bake the rolls, I want the instructions to suit the equipment available, and I want to be able to compare the nutritional information. Nutritional value and ease of preparation are the most important factors for around 25% of consumers. |
The shape of a roll and words such as ‘spelt’ or ‘multigrain’ don’t show that it’s suitable for a child with coeliac disease.
First, look for the explicit ‘gluten-free’ claim on the current packaging. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, this claim may be used if the product sold to the final consumer contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten.
A roll can come into contact with crumbs from ordinary bread while being stored, baked, filled or served. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that even a single bread crumb may matter for someone with coeliac disease.
Agree with the parents and nursery in advance who will take care of each step and which work surfaces, oven racks and utensils will be kept separate.
A seeded roll, for example, may contain sesame. Ingredients or warnings about other allergens may also be relevant for different varieties.
Check the current ingredients and allergen information every time you buy, and compare them with the arrangements made for the child.
A shop may offer gluten-free bread or other rolls without the specific product you want being a gluten-free roll.
Check the specific packaging. If a roll isn’t suitable, discuss with the parents and nursery whether another type of roll that is explicitly labelled gluten-free could work.
Albert Heijn describes its AH Gluten-free White Rolls as gluten-free and baked in a dedicated gluten-free bakery.
PLUS describes both a white and a seeded variety of its gluten-free rolls.
Jumbo has a range of rolls and bake-at-home bread products.
Lidl features gluten-free products in its range.
ALDI lists gluten-free bread alongside other bakery products.
Alongside rolls, Dirk lists other gluten-free bread shapes, including Schär Kaiserbrötchen.
Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, the claim ‘gluten-free’ may be used if the food sold to the final consumer contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. Before packing lunch for a child with coeliac disease, check that this claim appears on the current packaging.
No. ‘Gluten-free’ doesn’t mean that a roll is free from sesame, soya, milk, egg or nuts, for example. Compare the current ingredients and allergen information with the arrangements made for the child. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains which allergens must be listed on labels.
Agree with the parents and nursery how the roll will be stored, baked if necessary, filled and served without coming into contact with food containing gluten. The Dutch Coeliac Society stresses that the procedures at nursery should be clear in advance.
Check the ingredients list for iodised salt or baker’s salt on the roll you choose; don’t infer the type of salt from its shape. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre describes bread as an important source of iodine in the Netherlands, but that doesn’t tell you anything about the ingredients of an individual gluten-free roll.
