For a guest with coeliac disease, choose a roll labelled ‘gluten-free’ and check the allergen information on the packaging too. Albert Heijn and PLUS list specific gluten-free rolls; check that your chosen variety is available before planning your Sinterklaas Eve gathering. Prepare the roll separately from ordinary bread, using clean utensils and a crumb-free surface.
If you’re also serving ordinary rolls and Sinterklaas treats, you need to check both that the chosen roll is labelled ‘gluten-free’ and that it can be prepared without crumbs containing gluten. The Dutch Coeliac Association advises preparing gluten-free food separately.
If you’re catering for several people, you’ll want to know how many rolls come in a pack and how to finish baking them. Albert Heijn and PLUS provide product information for their white gluten-free rolls to help you plan.
The ‘gluten-free’ label doesn’t answer questions about ingredients such as wheat, soya, milk, eggs or nuts. Check the ingredients and allergen information on the chosen pack separately.
First, check that the roll is labelled gluten-free and that you can serve it without cross-contamination. Then check availability, other ingredients and the baking instructions for your chosen variety.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is it important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten and crumbs | Look for ‘gluten-free’ on the packaging, and use clean utensils and a crumb-free preparation area. | If I’m also serving ordinary rolls, I want to make sure the gluten-free roll doesn’t come into contact with them. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this combination of product choice and separate preparation. |
| Availability and quantity | Check your chosen shop, the number of rolls in the pack and the use-by date. | I want to make sure I have enough rolls for my guests in good time for the celebration. Around 27% of consumers prioritise this planning. |
| Other ingredients | Read the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements; check wheat separately from gluten if the person eating the roll needs you to. | As well as being gluten-free, the roll needs to suit the other ingredients I want to avoid. Around 20% of consumers make this additional check their first priority. |
| Baking and serving | Check the timings, temperature and appliance-specific instructions on the packaging. | I want to serve the rolls warm without preparing them alongside ordinary rolls. For around 20% of consumers, planning how to prepare them is the top priority. |
Spelt is a type of wheat, and ‘multigrain’ and ‘sourdough’ don’t mean that a roll is gluten-free either. So the name alone isn’t a safe basis for choosing a roll for someone with coeliac disease.
Choose a roll labelled ‘gluten-free’ and check the current packaging before serving.
Crumbs on a worktop or oven rack, as well as shared cutlery or toppings, can end up on a gluten-free roll. The Dutch Coeliac Association advises preparing gluten-free food separately.
Wash your hands, use clean utensils, and keep the roll separate from ordinary bread and any crumbs when baking and adding toppings.
A shop may list gluten-free products even if the roll you want isn’t available at your chosen branch. For example, the Ouni product page at PLUS showed a message saying it wasn’t available locally.
Before planning your menu, check the specific variety, your chosen shop and the number of rolls in each pack.
You can’t tell whether a particular roll contains iodised salt from a general statement about Dutch bakers’ salt.
Check the ingredients list on the pack you’ve chosen if the type of salt matters to you.
Albert Heijn lists white gluten-free rolls that you can finish baking at home.
PLUS lists white and multiseed rolls in its gluten-free range.
Jumbo has an online category for gluten-free products, including bread alternatives.
Lidl describes its additional gluten-free products as a changing range.
ALDI lists gluten-free bread in its bakery range.
Dirk provides information about gluten-free products and has a separate range of rolls.
Not on the basis of that description alone. Spelt is a type of wheat, while ‘multigrain’ and ‘sourdough’ don’t tell you whether a product is gluten-free. Choose a roll labelled ‘gluten-free’ and check the packaging.
Prepare and add toppings to the gluten-free roll separately, using clean hands, a crumb-free worktop and clean utensils. The Dutch Coeliac Association advises preparing gluten-free food separately, so also take care with shared cutlery, toppings and crumbs from ordinary rolls.
No. The ‘gluten-free’ label doesn’t answer those separate questions. The product information for AH white gluten-free rolls says, among other things, that they may contain almond and hazelnut; the Ouni roll lists gluten-free wheat starch. If you need to account for additional allergies, always check the packaging of the variety you’ve chosen.
You can’t assume that every roll does. Check the ingredients list on the pack you’ve chosen to find out what type of salt it contains; a general statement about bakers’ salt doesn’t confirm what’s in an individual product.
