For an Easter lunch with someone who has coeliac disease, don’t assume tiger bread is suitable. Choose a loaf or roll that is explicitly labelled ‘gluten-free’. A whole or half loaf works well for filled slices, while rolls or mini baguettes are ideal for serving individually. Check the packaging, keep the bread away from ordinary crumbs and check opening times if you’re shopping on Easter Sunday.
For this guest, what matters is the gluten-free label on the product you choose, not how much it looks like tiger bread. The Voedingscentrum (Netherlands Nutrition Centre) points out that even a stray breadcrumb can cause symptoms, so serve the bread separately from ordinary bread.
If you’d like to serve guests individually filled rolls, look for gluten-free rolls or mini baguettes. Jumbo and PLUS list these types of bread in their gluten-free ranges.
If you want to buy or collect the bread on the day of the lunch, check the opening hours of your chosen store. According to the Dutch government, Sunday opening varies by municipality, so one shop’s opening hours don’t tell you whether another will be open.
Start by checking that the exact product is labelled gluten-free. Then choose the type of bread to suit your menu and plan your purchase around the store you’ve chosen.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free label and separate serving | Check the current packaging for the words ‘gluten-free’ and use clean, separate utensils when serving. | If someone with coeliac disease is joining us, I want to choose bread labelled gluten-free and keep it away from ordinary crumbs; this reassurance is the top priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| Type of bread for lunch | Choose between a whole or half loaf and individual gluten-free rolls; check the pack size or weight. | For a lunch with individually filled rolls, I want to be able to give each guest their own portion; around 30% of consumers prioritise this way of serving. |
| Buying on Easter Sunday | Check the opening hours and whether you can buy or collect from your chosen store. | If I need to collect the bread on Easter Sunday, I don’t want to find the shop closed; being able to buy it in good time is the top priority for around 20% of consumers. |
‘Tiger bread’ and ‘tiger roll’ describe the type of bread, not whether it’s gluten-free. An ordinary tiger roll from ALDI’s bakery range isn’t automatically suitable for a guest with coeliac disease.
Check that the exact loaf or roll you buy is labelled gluten-free.
The Voedingscentrum says that even a stray breadcrumb can cause symptoms for someone with coeliac disease. Shared knives, chopping boards and bread baskets also need special attention.
Store, slice, fill and serve the gluten-free bread separately, using clean utensils.
According to the Dutch government, Sunday opening varies by municipality. A product range listed online also doesn’t confirm that the bread you want is available at your local store.
Check with the store before setting off, and think about which other type of gluten-free bread would work for your lunch.
Information from the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority about the use of iodine in baker’s salt doesn’t tell you which salt is used in a particular gluten-free loaf. The ‘gluten-free’ label won’t answer that question either.
If you have a question about the iodine content of a specific product, check the packaging or ask the manufacturer.
Albert Heijn lists gluten-free white bread and multiseed bread, among other options, if you’re serving filled slices.
Jumbo lists gluten-free bread and mini baguettes, giving you a choice between slices and individual rolls.
PLUS lists gluten-free loaves and rolls for lunches with sliced bread or individual portions.
At Dirk, you can compare gluten-free Schär bread with other types of bread for Easter lunch.
Lidl lists gluten-free options in its standard range; check which products at your local store are suitable for your lunch.
ALDI lists gluten-free bread and rolls as options alongside its regular bakery range.
No. According to the European Commission, the EU ‘gluten-free’ label means a food product contains no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg as sold to consumers. The name ‘tiger bread’ doesn’t tell you whether it meets this requirement.
Use a clean knife, a separate chopping board and a dedicated plate or bread basket. Keep ordinary bread crumbs away from the gluten-free bread and its fillings. The Voedingscentrum points out that even a stray breadcrumb can cause symptoms for someone with coeliac disease.
No. Don’t assume that every store will have the same opening hours. According to the Dutch government, Sunday opening varies by municipality, so check the opening hours and whether collection is available at the store you plan to visit.
No, you can’t tell that from the Dutch information about baker’s salt. Check the packaging or ask the manufacturer to find out whether a particular loaf contains baker’s salt with iodine.
Use online information to compare your options, but check the packaging of the loaf you’ve bought before serving it. PLUS notes that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change.
