If you have coeliac disease, choose a bread product that is explicitly labelled gluten-free. Sliced bread is handy for several breakfasts and lunches, while gluten-free rolls or ciabatta are a good choice when you want bread to bake before a meal. Check the preparation instructions too, and avoid contact with gluten-containing crumbs in the holiday cottage kitchen. If bread is a regular source of iodine for you, check the label to see whether iodised salt has been used.
Who is this relevant to?
Holiday cottage guests with coeliac disease
You’re looking for bread that’s explicitly labelled gluten-free, and a way to prepare it without contact with gluten-containing crumbs. The Dutch Coeliac Society also stresses the importance of preventing cross-contamination.
Self-caterers planning their bread supplies
You want to decide what you’ll have for breakfast and lunch before you arrive: sliced bread, rolls or something to bake. Albert Heijn, Jumbo, PLUS and Dirk stock a range of gluten-free bread types. Check what you can order or collect from your chosen shop.
Shoppers who are also keeping an eye on iodine
If you’re replacing regular bread while on holiday, you may want to know whether your chosen bread contains iodised salt. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt, so the ingredients list is the best way to check for a particular product.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, think about how you’ll avoid contact with gluten in the holiday cottage and how many meals you want your bread to cover. Then choose a type of bread that suits the kitchen facilities and the meal you have in mind.
| What to consider |
What to check when buying |
Who it matters to |
| Gluten-free preparation |
Check that the product is labelled gluten-free, and use a clean work surface and clean utensils, away from gluten-containing crumbs. |
If I’m sharing a kitchen with people who eat regular bread, I want to be able to prepare mine without it coming into contact with crumbs. This is the top priority for around 40% of consumers. |
| Supplies for when you arrive |
Check the local range before you leave, and read the storage instructions for any bread you plan to bring with you. |
If I’m catering for several breakfasts and lunches, I don’t want to rely on visiting a shop for every meal. Around 30% of consumers prioritise planning their supplies in advance. |
| Type of bread and preparation |
Choose between sliced bread and rolls or ciabatta that need to be prepared. Read the instructions and check what equipment is available. |
If I want a bread-based meal similar to when I’d usually have tiger bread, I want to know whether I can bake rolls. The type of bread matters most to around 20% of consumers. |
| Iodine and ingredients |
Check the current ingredients list for iodised salt or baker’s salt, and look out for any other allergens that are relevant to you. |
If bread is a regular part of my diet, I don’t want to assume that every gluten-free option contains iodised salt. For around 10% of consumers, checking the label is the first thing they consider. |
Common mistakes when buying and preparing bread
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Assuming wheat-free means gluten-free
The absence of wheat doesn’t confirm that a loaf is suitable for someone with coeliac disease. The Dutch Coeliac Society advises looking for an explicit gluten-free label.
Choose a product labelled gluten-free and check the current label every time you buy it.
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Preparing gluten-free bread among regular bread crumbs
A shared breadboard or toaster can bring gluten-free bread into contact with gluten-containing crumbs. The Dutch Coeliac Society says preventing cross-contamination is essential for people with coeliac disease.
Clean the work surface and use clean or separate utensils. Keep the bread away from products containing gluten.
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Waiting until you arrive to look for suitable bread
What’s available can vary from shop to shop and from one day to the next. So a loaf shown online may not be available when you shop near your holiday cottage.
Plan your bread-based meals in advance, check what’s available locally and, if necessary, bring bread with storage instructions that suit your journey.
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Assuming all gluten-free bread contains iodised salt
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt isn’t compulsory. So a gluten-free label tells you nothing about the salt used.
Check the ingredients list if you want to know whether a particular bread contains iodised salt or baker’s salt.
Brands with relevant bread options
Albert Heijn
For anyone who wants to choose gluten-free sliced bread for breakfast and lunch in advance.
- Albert Heijn lists options including gluten-free white and multiseed bread. The light multiseed bread can be frozen at home on the day of purchase.
- Check the current ingredients and storage instructions for each product. These types of bread aren’t the same as tiger bread.
Jumbo
For anyone considering gluten-free ciabatta or rolls as well as sliced bread.
- Jumbo lists a range of gluten-free bread types, including multiseed bread and ciabatta.
- Check what’s available at your chosen shop and whether each product needs any further preparation.
PLUS
For anyone comparing gluten-free white, brown or multiseed bread with rolls.
- PLUS lists these types of bread as well as gluten-free pistolets. The ingredients list for PLUS Brown Gluten-Free bread includes iodised salt.
- Don’t assume other breads have the same ingredients. Check the packaging of the product you buy.
Dirk
For anyone looking at Schär rolls and other gluten-free bread options.
- Dirk lists products including gluten-free ciabatta, baguettini and Kaiserbrötchen from Schär.
- Check the individual product page and availability at your shop. Search results don’t always show the correct product details.
ALDI
A shop to check if you’re looking for rolls or bake-at-home products during your stay.
- ALDI mentions gluten-free options in its information about bread and bakery products.
- Ask your chosen shop about a specific suitable product, and check that it’s labelled gluten-free before you buy it.
Lidl
Another shop to consider if you can check what’s available shortly before you leave.
- Lidl describes a standard range of gluten-free products.
- Lidl reported that additional gluten-free products were temporarily unavailable. Don’t rely on an earlier range update when looking for a specific loaf.
Joybuy products for your holiday cottage
These products suit two ways of planning your own bread-based meal: choose mini baguettes or make bread using a mix. Before buying, check the gluten-free label and preparation instructions on the packaging. Neither option is tiger bread.
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Gv Baguette Mini, 7 pieces
A bread-based meal option if you’d like to use mini baguettes instead of tiger bread. Check the gluten-free label and preparation method on the packaging, as the product descriptions give different instructions.
View on Joybuy
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Schär Bread Mix-Mix B gluten-free bread mix, 1 kg
For anyone who wants to make their own bread during their stay and has the right equipment. This is a mix, not ready-to-eat bread. Read the preparation instructions and check the current gluten-free label on the packaging.
View on Joybuy
Frequently asked questions
Is bread with no wheat in the ingredients list suitable for someone with coeliac disease?
No. The absence of wheat alone doesn’t confirm that it’s suitable. Choose bread explicitly labelled gluten-free. According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, this label means the product contains less than 20 mg of gluten per kg.
How do I prepare gluten-free bread in a shared holiday cottage kitchen?
Keep the bread away from food containing gluten, and use a clean work surface and clean or separate utensils. For people with coeliac disease, the Dutch Coeliac Society stresses the importance of preventing contact with gluten-containing crumbs, including those on chopping boards and other equipment.
Is allergen information for unpackaged bread the same as a gluten-free label?
No. Information about ingredients or allergens doesn’t, on its own, confirm that unpackaged bread is gluten-free or has been prepared without cross-contamination. Ask about both the product and the preparation environment. An explicit gluten-free label remains important when making your choice.
Does gluten-free bread automatically contain iodised salt?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So if you want to know whether your chosen bread contains iodised salt or baker’s salt, check the ingredients list.