If someone has coeliac disease, choose a pre-packed roll labelled ‘gluten-free’ to serve with pea soup, and keep it away from ordinary bread crumbs during preparation and serving. Albert Heijn lists white and multiseed gluten-free rolls. If the shape of a roll is less important, another bread product labelled ‘gluten-free’ may also go well with the soup. Check the other allergens, preparation instructions and nutritional information on each pack, and don’t assume anything about its iodine content based on the name of the bread.
They want a roll to go with pea soup that’s labelled ‘gluten-free’ on the packaging and won’t come into contact with ordinary bread crumbs when served. According to the Voedingscentrum, even a stray crumb can cause symptoms for someone with coeliac disease.
They want to keep the gluten-free roll clearly separate when ordinary rolls are also on the table. This means taking care with the breadboard, knife, tongs and serving basket.
Once they’ve checked that it’s labelled ‘gluten-free’, they want to choose between white, multiseed or another type of bread. Ingredients, other allergens and nutritional values vary by product, so it’s important to compare the current packaging.
If someone with coeliac disease is joining you for a meal, start by checking that the roll is labelled ‘gluten-free’. Then consider how you’ll prepare and serve it separately from ordinary bread. Only after that should you compare the type of bread and its nutritional information.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free labelling | Check the current packaging of the specific roll for the ‘gluten-free’ label. Don’t rely on the product name or shop category alone. | If I’m choosing a roll to go with soup for someone with coeliac disease, I want to be able to see the gluten-free label on that product. For around 50% of consumers, this is their main concern when buying. |
| Serving it separately | Consider whether you can use a separate breadboard and serving utensils for the gluten-free roll. | When ordinary rolls are on the table alongside the gluten-free one, I want to avoid transferring crumbs with a knife or tongs. This is the main concern for around 30% of consumers. |
| Type of bread and nutritional information | Compare the ingredients, other allergens and nutritional values per 100 g. Check the packaging to see whether it mentions iodised salt. | After choosing a gluten-free option, I want to know whether white, multiseed or another type of bread suits my preferences, without making assumptions about fibre or iodine based on the name. For around 20% of consumers, this comparison matters most. |
A supermarket may list ordinary rolls and gluten-free products in separate categories. Jumbo, for example, lists standard rolls in its roll category. That category name says nothing about whether an individual roll is labelled gluten-free.
Check the label on the specific product before choosing it for someone with coeliac disease.
Even a roll labelled ‘gluten-free’ can come into contact with ordinary bread when it’s cut, heated or put out on the table. The Voedingscentrum points out that even a stray bread crumb can cause symptoms for someone with coeliac disease.
Keep the roll separate and use clean, separate knives, boards, tongs and serving baskets.
The name of a roll doesn’t tell you how much fibre or salt it contains. Iodine isn’t a given either: according to the Voedingscentrum, bakers aren’t required to use bakers’ salt.
Compare the nutritional values of rolls per 100 g, and check the ingredients list for iodised salt if it’s relevant to your choice.
The product types mentioned can help you narrow down your search, but a brand name is no substitute for checking the ‘gluten-free’ label and the current packaging.
Albert Heijn lists both white rolls and multiseed rolls under its own-brand AH Glutenvrij range.
Jumbo lists a gluten-free category online, alongside a separate category for rolls.
Jumbo lists, among other products in its gluten-free range, a gluten-free Schär burger bun.
Jumbo lists, among other products in its gluten-free range, brown bread and gluten-free pitta breads from Consenza.
No. Removing the crumbs doesn’t make an ordinary roll gluten-free. According to the Voedingscentrum, even a stray bread crumb can cause symptoms for someone with coeliac disease. Choose a product labelled ‘gluten-free’ and serve it separately from ordinary bread.
No. ‘Gluten-free’ doesn’t literally mean that there can’t be any traces of gluten. Check the label on the roll’s current packaging, and also avoid contact with ordinary bread crumbs during preparation and serving.
Not automatically. If you have other allergies, check the ingredients and allergen information on the specific packaging. The ‘gluten-free’ label alone doesn’t tell you anything about other allergens.
No. Don’t assume a particular iodine content based on the type of bread. According to the Voedingscentrum, bread can contain iodine from bakers’ salt, but bakers aren’t required to use it. So check the ingredients and nutritional information for the roll you choose.
