If you’re catering for a guest who must follow a strict gluten-free diet, choose a packaged roll labelled ‘gluten-free’, check the current label, and prepare and serve it separately from ordinary bread. A white gluten-free roll keeps the classic roll shape; a multiseed roll or gluten-free Kaiser roll offers a different mix or shape, but you’ll still need to check the allergens and preparation instructions.
You’re serving someone with coeliac disease or another diagnosed need to avoid gluten. The way you prepare and serve the roll matters just as much as the label: the Dutch Coeliac Association advises preparing gluten-free food separately.
You want to bake a few rolls just before serving, without cutting into a whole loaf. Albert Heijn and PLUS list gluten-free rolls in packs of two; check the preparation instructions for each product.
You’re looking for a white or multiseed roll, or considering another type of bread for topped bites. PLUS lists both types of roll; Dirk’s bread selection also includes gluten-free rolls from Schär.
Start by checking the gluten-free label and making sure the rolls can be prepared without contact with ordinary bread crumbs. Then choose a shape and pack size to suit your drinks party.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free and prepared separately | Look for the ‘gluten-free’ label, read the current packaging and use clean, separate equipment when baking and adding toppings. Under EU Regulation 828/2014, the label may only be used when the finished product contains no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg. | If ordinary bread is also being served, I want to prevent crumbs or shared cutlery from coming into contact with the gluten-free roll. For around 50% of consumers, gluten-free suitability is the top priority. |
| Shape and ingredients | Compare the ingredients and allergens in white and multiseed rolls. A Kaiser roll or ciabatta is a different type of bread, not a roll of this shape. | When putting together a platter with different toppings, I want to choose the shape and ingredients that work best. For around 30% of consumers, this variety is their main buying consideration. |
| Baking and pack size | Check the number of rolls and the instructions for your oven or air fryer. Albert Heijn and PLUS list packs of two rolls; preparation instructions vary by product. | If I’m baking them just before serving, I want to know how many rolls I’ll need to open and how to prepare them. For around 20% of consumers, this is the most important consideration. |
Even the right label won’t prevent contact with crumbs from a chopping board, knife, toppings or toaster rack. The Dutch Coeliac Association advises preparing gluten-free food separately.
Use clean hands and equipment, keep toppings separate, and don’t put the roll on a rack with crumbs from ordinary bread.
A bread name or type of grain is no substitute for the ‘gluten-free’ label. So simply choosing a roll based on its appearance isn’t enough for a guest who must eat strictly gluten-free.
Check the label on the specific product and read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging.
Albert Heijn lists AH Glutenvrij Pistolets meerzaden as discontinued. In a safety warning, Albert Heijn advises people with a soya allergy not to eat this product; the warning applies to all best-before dates.
If you have this variety at home, check the product details and the warning. Don’t serve it to anyone with a soya allergy.
Albert Heijn lists gluten-free white rolls in packs of two, ready to bake at home.
PLUS lists white gluten-free rolls and gluten-free multiseed rolls, both in packs of two.
Schär makes gluten-free rolls in shapes other than this type of roll, including Kaiser rolls, ciabatta and baguettini, listed in Dirk’s selection of rolls.
No. If someone must eat strictly gluten-free, choose a product labelled ‘gluten-free’: under EU Regulation 828/2014, this label may only be used if the finished product contains no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg. You should also prevent contact with ordinary bread crumbs during preparation and serving.
Prepare them in a way that prevents ordinary crumbs from coming into contact with the gluten-free rolls. The Dutch Coeliac Association advises preparing gluten-free food separately; use clean equipment and keep the rolls apart, including when adding toppings.
Yes. Check the label on the pack you’re going to serve, especially if a guest also needs to avoid other allergens. A gluten-free label doesn’t tell you which other ingredients or allergens are relevant to that particular roll.
No, there’s no general legal requirement for this in the Netherlands. According to the Dutch Bakery Centre, the use of baker’s salt containing iodine is based on an agreement; check the ingredients list of the roll you choose if you want to know which salt it contains.
