If you have coeliac disease, don’t assume ordinary tiger bread is suitable for a road trip. Choose bread or a snack whose packaging explicitly says ‘gluten-free’ or carries the Crossed Grain symbol. Then decide whether you want something ready to eat or something you can bake on the way, and keep it separate from gluten-containing bread and crumbs.
For you, a clear gluten-free label matters more than looking like tiger bread. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that even a bread crumb can cause symptoms if you have coeliac disease. So pack your chosen product separately and avoid contact with food containing gluten.
If you can bake something at a stop or at your destination, a product labelled gluten-free that’s suitable for baking is an option. Bear in mind that this takes time and requires suitable equipment, and the crust won’t necessarily be the same as tiger bread.
Ready-to-eat, packaged gluten-free bread, flatbread or crackers are a good fit if you don’t want to slice or heat anything during a stop. Check the packaging and instructions for your chosen product; these types of food don’t have the same texture as tiger bread.
If you’re taking a road trip and have coeliac disease, first check the gluten-free label and other allergens. Then decide between ready-to-eat bread, a compact snack or something you can bake.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Eating gluten-free without contact with crumbs | Look for ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging. Keep the product separate from bread containing gluten and shared cutlery while travelling. | If I have to avoid gluten because of coeliac disease, I also want to avoid contact with ordinary bread crumbs while transporting and preparing my food. This is the top priority for around 38% of consumers. |
| Ready-to-eat convenience | Check whether the snack is ready to eat, and read the storage and usage instructions for after opening. | On a short stop, I want to be able to eat something straight from the packaging, without an oven or any further preparation. This is the most important consideration for around 31% of consumers. |
| Crust and warm bread | Check whether your chosen gluten-free product needs baking and whether you have suitable facilities available on the way. | If I can warm up my bread, having it warm matters more to me than the convenience of eating it straight away. Around 16% of consumers prioritise this bread experience. |
| Ingredients and nutritional information | Compare allergens, fibre and salt on the packaging; check the ingredients list for iodised salt if that matters to you. | I want to know which other ingredients the gluten-free product contains before setting off, and be able to compare its nutritional information. For around 15% of consumers, this is their top priority when buying. |
The name doesn’t mean the bread is gluten-free. The standard AH tiger bread listed by Albert Heijn contains, among other ingredients, wheatmeal, wheat flour and wheat gluten.
If you have coeliac disease, choose an alternative whose current packaging explicitly says ‘gluten-free’ or carries the Crossed Grain symbol.
‘Gluten-free’ doesn’t mean that a product is also free from other ingredients or allergens you need to avoid.
Read the full ingredients and allergen information for the product you’ve chosen, even if you’ve bought it before.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that even a stray bread crumb can cause symptoms if you have coeliac disease. So even a suitable packaged product can come into contact with gluten while you’re preparing it.
Store portions separately and use a clean surface and separate cutlery.
Ingredients vary from one loaf to another. The fact that a particular product contains iodised salt tells you nothing about another gluten-free product.
Check the ingredients list of the bread you’re actually taking with you.
A gluten-free bread category can help you search, but always check the packaging of each individual product. Ordinary tiger bread in the same range isn’t gluten-free just because it’s listed alongside gluten-free products.
Albert Heijn lists gluten-free bread online alongside its standard bread range.
Jumbo has a gluten-free bread category online and also lists standard tiger breads.
PLUS lists white, brown and multiseed gluten-free bread, among other options, in its online bread category.
Dirk’s online search results include gluten-free loaves, mini baguettes and flatbreads.
Lidl describes a gluten-free range online to suit a variety of dietary needs.
ALDI mentions gluten-free bread in its information about bread and bake-at-home products.
Don’t assume it is: according to Albert Heijn, its standard AH Extra lang lekker tiger brown loaf contains wheatmeal, wheat flour and wheat gluten, among other ingredients. If you have coeliac disease, choose a product whose packaging explicitly says ‘gluten-free’ or carries the Crossed Grain symbol.
Store the gluten-free product separately, and use clean, separate cutlery and a clean surface when preparing it. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre warns that even a stray bread crumb can cause symptoms if you have coeliac disease.
You can’t tell from the ‘gluten-free’ label. Check the ingredients list of the specific loaf to see whether it contains iodised salt.
Yes. If you also need to avoid other ingredients, read the full allergen information for the product you’ve chosen. Gluten-free doesn’t automatically mean free from ingredients such as soya, milk or nuts. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains what allergen information must be provided for food products.
Check current availability before driving to Lidl for a specific product. On its range page, Lidl distinguished between its standard range and extra gluten-free products, which weren’t available at the time of that notice.
