Rye bread isn’t a gluten-free choice: rye contains gluten. When doing your weekly shop, look for a bread alternative explicitly labelled gluten-free, then choose a pack that suits how much you use and how you can store it. Compare the fibre and ingredients on the current label; a dark colour alone doesn’t tell you anything conclusive.
A dark colour or resemblance to rye bread doesn’t make a loaf gluten-free. The Dutch Coeliac Association points out that rye contains gluten, so look for an explicit gluten-free label on your alternative.
If you’re planning several breakfasts or lunches, pack size, storage instructions and availability at your shop all matter. Albert Heijn and Jumbo list gluten-free loaves in different pack sizes; Jumbo also lists a frozen option.
Once you’ve checked the gluten-free label, compare the fibre in the nutritional information and check the ingredients list to see which salt has been used. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt.
Start by checking for a gluten-free label. Then decide which size, nutritional information and storage method will work for your weekly shop.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free label | Look for an explicit gluten-free label or an appropriate gluten-free logo on the packaging. Don’t rely on the colour or name of the bread. | If I’m replacing rye bread because of coeliac disease, I want to know that my bread choice is explicitly labelled gluten-free, even if the taste or texture is different. This certainty comes first for around 36% of consumers. |
| Weekly stock-up | Compare the pack weight, storage instructions and availability at your shop or in your delivery area. | I want enough bread for my planned breakfasts and lunches, without buying more than I can store. For around 29% of consumers, planning for the week comes first. |
| Fibre and salt | Compare the fibre on a like-for-like basis in the nutritional information, for example per 100 g, and check whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed in the ingredients. | Once I’ve chosen a gluten-free option, I want to see how it differs from my usual bread in terms of fibre and ingredients. This comparison matters most to around 21% of consumers. |
| Practical portions | Consider how much bread you’ll use within the stated storage period and whether you have room to freeze portions. | If how much bread I eat varies, I don’t want to be left with unused portions. Around 14% of consumers prioritise reducing waste. |
Dark or seeded bread isn’t automatically gluten-free. According to the Dutch Coeliac Association, rye contains gluten; nor does the absence of wheat in a product name prove that it’s gluten-free.
When buying, check for an explicit gluten-free label on the packaging, even if you’ve bought the same bread before.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that baker’s salt can contribute to your iodine intake, but bakers aren’t required to use it. So don’t assume that a gluten-free bread alternative contains iodised salt.
Check the ingredients list of your chosen bread for baker’s salt or iodised salt.
A larger pack only helps with planning for the week if you can use the portions or store them as directed on the packaging. The gluten-free breads listed by Albert Heijn and Jumbo differ in weight and storage method.
Choose the number of packs to suit your mealtimes, and check the storage and any freezing instructions.
An additional gluten-free range isn’t guaranteed to be available for every weekly shop. Lidl stated that its extra gluten-free products were temporarily unavailable; this doesn’t tell you anything about the shop’s full range.
Check current availability and have a second suitable bread option in mind.
A supermarket where you can compare gluten-free own-brand and branded bread for the same weekly shop.
A supermarket with an online gluten-free bread category, including own-brand and branded options.
A brand with several styles of gluten-free bread available in the online ranges at Albert Heijn and Jumbo.
A gluten-free bread brand to consider if you’re also looking at a frozen option for your weekly stock-up.
These products offer two different ways to plan gluten-free bread for the week: a pack described as mini baguettes and a bread mix you prepare yourself. Before counting the mini baguettes as part of your weekly stock, check the product format and preparation method.
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An option to consider if you’re looking for gluten-free bread rolls for several mealtimes; check for a gluten-free label on the current packaging.
The name states 7 pieces. Before buying, check whether these are ready-to-eat rolls, part-baked rolls or a mix, what preparation is required and the net weight.
If you have relevant allergies, check the label for ingredients and information about soya and possible traces of lupin and mustard.
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For anyone who’d rather make their own gluten-free bread than buy ready-made bread for the week.
This is a 1 kg bread mix, so allow for the time and ingredients needed to prepare it. The pack weight isn’t the weight of the baked bread.
Check the current gluten-free label, the allergen information if you have a soya allergy, and the ingredients list to find out which salt has been used.
No. The Dutch Coeliac Association says that rye contains gluten. Rye bread is therefore not a gluten-free alternative for someone with coeliac disease, whatever its colour or fibre content.
Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, the term ‘gluten-free’ may be used if the gluten content of the product as sold to the final consumer is no more than 20 mg/kg. Check the label on the bread you choose.
Yes. If a bread contains oats, check that the product is labelled gluten-free. The Dutch Coeliac Association points out that oats can become contaminated with gluten and advises looking for an appropriate gluten-free claim or a gluten-free certification mark on products containing oats.
No, a gluten-free label doesn’t tell you this. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list for the specific bread to see whether it contains baker’s salt or iodised salt.
Choose a pack that suits how often you plan to eat bread and the storage space you have. If you want to freeze bread, check the instructions on the packaging and plan how many portions you’ll need.
