Who is this choice relevant to?

Small households with coeliac disease

You’re looking for a gluten-free breakfast product in a pack size that suits your needs. If you want rusks, a 500 g loaf isn’t automatically a practical alternative to a smaller pack of rusks.

Consumers who check labels carefully

You’re shopping for yourself or someone with coeliac disease and want to rule out ordinary wheat rusks, even if the brand is familiar or the pack looks convenient. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises checking the label of gluten-free products every time.

Consumers who want a back-up option

You’re looking for a different type of product if your preferred gluten-free rusks aren’t available. Check again that the alternative is labelled gluten-free, and make sure bread rather than rusks will meet your needs.

What should you look for when buying?

If you have coeliac disease, first check for a gluten-free label and read the current packaging. Then compare the pack size and decide whether you need rusks or could also use bread.

What to consider What to check when buying Who is this most important for?
Gluten-free labelling Look for ‘gluten-free’ or a gluten-free certification mark on the current packaging, and read the ingredients and allergen information. When I’m shopping for someone with coeliac disease, I want to rule out ordinary wheat rusks before I consider the pack size. This check comes first for around 50% of consumers.
Pack size and product type Compare the net weight and decide whether you’re looking for rusks or would also use bread. In a small household, I want to choose a pack size that suits what we’ll use, without confusing half a loaf with a pack of rusks. This is the main priority for around 30% of consumers.
Availability Check the current store listing and, if you choose an alternative, check its gluten-free labelling again. If my usual rusks aren’t available, I want to know whether I can choose a different gluten-free product type. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this option.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a small pack of ordinary rusks is suitable

    The pack size tells you nothing about whether a product is gluten-free. Bolletje lists wholemeal wheat flour and wheat gluten among the ingredients in its Volkoren Beschuit Mono, for example.

    If you have coeliac disease, check the labelling and current packaging first. Only then should you compare the pack sizes of suitable products.

  • Assuming an old product listing means it’s still available

    Albert Heijn lists Damhert Gluten-Free Rusks, 125 g, as discontinued. Jumbo lists its 125 g Damhert version as no longer available online.

    Check the current status shortly before ordering. If necessary, look for another product labelled gluten-free and check its packaging too.

  • Assuming every gluten-free bakery product contains iodised salt

    The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may be present in bakery products through bakers’ salt. This doesn’t tell you which type of salt is used in any individual product.

    Check the ingredients list of the product you’re buying. PLUS multiseed gluten-free bread lists iodised salt; don’t assume this applies to other breads or rusks.

Brands to consider

Schär

Schär makes gluten-free bread and bakery products. PLUS specifically lists Schär Zwieback, 175 g, as gluten-free rusks.

  • The PLUS product listing specifies both ‘gluten-free’ and the product type: rusks.
  • When buying, check the label on the pack you’ve chosen and confirm it’s currently available.

Damhert

Albert Heijn and Jumbo list Damhert gluten-free rusks in 125 g packs.

  • The store listings explicitly describe them as gluten-free rusks and give the pack size as 125 g.
  • Albert Heijn shows the item as discontinued; Jumbo lists its version as no longer available online.

Bolletje

Bolletje’s Volkoren Beschuit Mono is mainly an example of a product you should rule out if you have coeliac disease.

  • The ingredients list for this product includes wholemeal wheat flour and wheat gluten. Buying an individual pack doesn’t change those ingredients.

Bread alternative on Joybuy

This product is only an option if you’re considering bread instead of rusks. It isn’t a rusk, nor is it confirmed to be half a loaf. If you have coeliac disease, check the current packaging before choosing it.

Gv Baguette Mini, pack of 7

Gv Baguette Mini, 7 pieces

A bread alternative for when you don’t need rusks. The product description says it’s gluten-free, and the title specifies 7 mini baguettes. If you’re buying for someone with coeliac disease, check the gluten-free labelling, ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging. If the pack size matters to you, also check the net weight and preparation instructions.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

If I can’t see any wheat, can I choose ordinary rusks when I have coeliac disease?

No. You can’t tell whether rusks are gluten-free just by looking at them. Check the gluten-free labelling, ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging. For example, Bolletje Volkoren Beschuit Mono lists wheat flour and wheat gluten.

What does ‘gluten-free’ mean on a packaged product?

According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, a product may be described as ‘gluten-free’ if it contains less than 20 mg of gluten per kg of product. EU Implementing Regulation 828/2014 governs information for consumers about the absence or reduced presence of gluten in food. When shopping, always go by the labelling on the current packaging.

Is half a loaf the same as a small pack of gluten-free rusks?

No. Bread and rusks are different types of product. PLUS lists Schär Zwieback as gluten-free rusks, 175 g, and PLUS multiseed gluten-free bread as a 500 g loaf. If you’re specifically looking for half a loaf, check the size of the bread you’re actually considering.

Does gluten-free bread or gluten-free rusks always contain iodised salt?

Don’t assume so; check the ingredients list for each product. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may be present in bakery products through bakers’ salt. PLUS multiseed gluten-free bread lists iodised salt, but that doesn’t tell you anything about other products.