If you have coeliac disease, first look for bread clearly labelled gluten-free; the name tiger bread or a crusty top tells you nothing about its gluten content. Sliced gluten-free bread is a good option if you mainly want an everyday sandwich, while a gluten-free bake-at-home roll may suit you if a warm, crusty finish matters more. Neither is automatically identical to tiger bread. If you have other allergies, check the full ingredients and allergen information too.
You simply want to replace tiger bread without relying on the bread’s name or crust. The Voedingscentrum (Netherlands Nutrition Centre) recommends looking for the gluten-free label and Crossed Grain logo on the packaging. Check for these every time you buy the product you’ve chosen.
You can bake rolls at home and care more about the crust than the shape of a sliced loaf. A gluten-free bake-at-home roll may suit the occasion, but it isn’t the same as tiger bread.
You may also have a diagnosed wheat allergy or another food allergy to take into account. According to the Voedingscentrum, coeliac disease is different from a wheat allergy. So the gluten-free label doesn’t replace checking the ingredients and relevant allergens.
First, check that the bread is gluten-free and look for any other allergens you need to avoid. Then compare the nutritional information and choose a type of bread that suits the occasion.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free label | Read the packaging and look for the gluten-free label or Crossed Grain logo. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, the European Commission sets the maximum gluten content for food labelled gluten-free at 20 mg/kg, as sold to the final consumer. | If I’m replacing bread because of coeliac disease, I need to be able to confirm that it’s gluten-free first, even if that means choosing a different crust. For around 36% of consumers, this check comes first when choosing. |
| Other allergens | Read the full ingredients and allergen information for anything you need to avoid; don’t assume a product is wheat-free or allergen-free just because it’s gluten-free. | If I have a diagnosed allergy as well as coeliac disease, I need to take that into account too; the gluten-free label doesn’t answer that second question. Around 29% of consumers pay most attention to checking for other allergens. |
| Fibre and iodine | Compare fibre per 100 g or per serving, and check the ingredients list to see whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is used. The Voedingscentrum points out that bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. | If I eat bread often, I want to compare the nutritional information of my alternative rather than rely on the name of the bread. For around 21% of consumers, the nutritional content matters most. |
| Crust and preparation | Choose between sliced bread and gluten-free bake-at-home bread; if you choose bake-at-home bread, check the preparation instructions and the gluten-free label on the packaging. | If I want a warm, crusty roll, I want to be able to bake it at home, even if it won’t be identical to tiger bread. This type of bread is the deciding factor for around 14% of consumers. |
The crust and product name don’t tell you whether a loaf is gluten-free. For this choice, the label on the packaging is what matters.
Check the label on the specific bread every time you buy it, even if you’ve bought the same type before.
According to the Voedingscentrum, coeliac disease and wheat allergy are different conditions. A gluten-free label doesn’t automatically tell you whether a product is suitable for someone with another allergy.
If you have a diagnosed allergy, read the full ingredients and allergen information for the product in question.
Fibre and ingredients vary from product to product. The Voedingscentrum says baker’s salt contains iodine, but bakers aren’t required to use it.
Compare the nutritional information of the breads you’re considering, and check the ingredients list for baker’s salt or iodised salt.
A range page can help you find different types of bread, but it doesn’t tell you which pack will be available in your local shop when you visit.
Check current availability where you shop and read the label on the product you actually buy.
These brands and shops offer different types of gluten-free bread. Choose based on the individual product and its current packaging, rather than the brand name or shop category alone.
Schär offers packaged gluten-free loaves and bake-at-home mini baguettes, among other products listed online by Jumbo, PLUS and Dirk.
PLUS lists a gluten-free chia seed loaf from Consenza, among other products.
PLUS lists its own gluten-free bread and rolls online, alongside products from Schär and Consenza.
Jumbo lists Schär Meesterbakker Classic, Mehrkorn and Vital online as gluten-free bread varieties, among others.
Dirk lists gluten-free Schär bread and mini baguettes online, among other products.
No. The name doesn’t confirm that a loaf is gluten-free. The Voedingscentrum recommends looking for the gluten-free label or Crossed Grain logo on the packaging. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, the European Commission allows a food to be labelled gluten-free only if it contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten as sold to the final consumer.
Not automatically. If you have a diagnosed wheat allergy, check the ingredients and allergen information for the specific bread. The Voedingscentrum distinguishes between wheat allergy and coeliac disease; the gluten-free label doesn’t replace checking for wheat or other relevant allergens.
A bake-at-home roll may suit you if you’re mainly looking for a warm, crusty roll, but it isn’t identical to tiger bread. PLUS describes the gluten-free Schär Mini Baguette as a bake-at-home product. Check the packaging and follow the preparation instructions for the variety you buy.
Compare the fibre per 100 g or per serving, and read the ingredients list if you want to know whether a loaf contains baker’s salt or iodised salt. The Voedingscentrum points out that bread is an important source of iodine in the Netherlands, but bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt.
Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS have online categories for gluten-free bread; Dirk lists gluten-free Schär products, among others. These listings can help you find options, but they don’t confirm that a particular shop has the bread in stock or that a tiger loaf on offer is gluten-free. So check your local shop’s stock and the label on the product you choose.
