Who is this choice important for?

Parents of children with coeliac disease

A gluten-free label is their starting point. The Dutch Coeliac Association also advises taking care when preparing and packing food, so the snack doesn’t come into contact with ordinary bread crumbs.

Parents who check for multiple allergens

As well as gluten, ingredients such as egg, soya, oats, sesame or nuts may be a concern. Which ones matter varies from child to child and from product to product.

Families looking for a convenient savoury snack

Individual pieces of toast and crackers work well in different ways. If you’re packing a snack to take with you, portion size and clean, sealed packaging matter too.

What should you look for?

If your child has coeliac disease, check the gluten-free label first. Then decide which toast or crackers are suitable by checking the allergens, packaging and nutritional information.

What to consider What should you check? Who is this most important for?
Choosing gluten-free Check the current packaging for a gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain symbol. Keep the snack separate from ordinary bread products while preparing it. If my child has coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely on the word ‘toast’ or a wheat-free recipe alone. For around 42% of consumers, choosing gluten-free is the top priority.
Other allergens Check the ingredients and allergen information again when you buy the product. Look out for anything your child needs to avoid. If my child also needs to avoid egg or soya, a gluten-free label alone isn’t enough. Other allergens are the main concern for an estimated 25% of consumers.
Packing and serving Compare the format and portion packaging. Use clean cutlery and a sealed container for a snack with toppings. I want to be able to pack an after-school snack quickly and serve it appropriately, without it coming into contact with bread crumbs. For around 17% of consumers, practical use comes first.
Nutritional information Compare things such as salt and fibre per 100 g and per portion. If the snack is regularly replacing bread, consider how it fits into the overall diet. If toast often replaces bread, I want to look beyond a single snack. For an estimated 16% of consumers, nutritional considerations are the top priority.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘toast’ or ‘wheat-free’ means gluten-free

    Ordinary toast and crackers may contain ingredients that contain gluten. For a child with coeliac disease, contact with bread crumbs can also be a concern.

    Check for a gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain symbol, and read the ingredients again if the packaging or recipe changes.

  • Overlooking other allergens

    A gluten-free product may also contain ingredients such as egg, soya or oats, or carry a warning that it may contain nuts or sesame.

    Before packing a snack for school or childcare, compare the current allergen information with the ingredients your child needs to avoid.

  • Transferring bread crumbs while adding toppings

    A gluten-free cracker can come into contact with crumbs while you’re preparing it, through a breadboard, knife or shared spread.

    Use clean utensils, keep gluten-free products separate and store the prepared snack in a sealed container.

  • Assuming toast is an obvious replacement for bread

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread made with iodised baker’s salt is an important source of iodine in the Netherlands. Using this salt isn’t compulsory, so you can’t tell how much a piece of toast contributes to the overall diet by looking at the toast alone.

    Use the nutritional information to help choose a portion. If bread is regularly being replaced, consider the overall diet rather than just the snack.

Brands to consider

Schär

Schär Gluten-Free Crackers are an alternative for an after-school snack, but they’re not small pieces of toast.

  • Albert Heijn lists these crackers in a 6 × 35 g pack and describes them as gluten-free.
  • These crackers contain soya. If your child has a soya allergy, check the current packaging.

Gluten Free Bakery Holland

These Italian-herb gluten-free toast pieces are small enough to enjoy on their own or with toppings.

  • Jumbo lists this product in a 100 g pack, with 5,3 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • According to Jumbo, it contains egg and oats, may contain nuts and sesame, and has 6,6 g of salt per 100 g.

Bolletje

Bolletje Sesame Bagel Crackers show why ordinary crackers aren’t automatically a gluten-free alternative.

  • Bolletje’s ingredient information allows you to check this specific product.
  • These Bagel Crackers contain wheat flour and barley malt extract, so they aren’t suitable for a child who needs to eat a strictly gluten-free diet.

Rice toast for an after-school snack

This rice toast is worth considering if you’re looking for a toast-style snack. For a child with coeliac disease, check the gluten-free label on the current packaging and avoid contact with crumbs when serving.

Van Der Meulen Rice Toast Natural, 65 g

Van Der Meulen Rice Toast Natural, 65 g

Rice toast for anyone looking for a toast-style snack. The product description states that it’s gluten-free; if you have coeliac disease, check the current packaging. If you need to avoid other allergens, also check the information about sesame and soya, and use clean cutlery when adding toppings.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is ordinary toast or Melba toast automatically gluten-free?

No. The name doesn’t tell you whether a product is gluten-free. If you have coeliac disease, check for a gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain symbol and read the current ingredients. For example, Bolletje Sesame Bagel Crackers contain wheat flour and barley malt extract.

How can I take gluten-free toast to school or childcare?

Pack the toast separately and keep it away from ordinary bread crumbs. Use clean cutlery and a clean, sealed container. Take care with shared spreads, and check the allergy policy at your child’s school or childcare setting in advance.

Should I check for other allergens in gluten-free toast too?

Yes, if your child also needs to avoid particular allergens. According to Jumbo, Gluten Free Bakery Holland Italian-Seasoned Toast contains egg and oats and may contain nuts and sesame. Schär Gluten-Free Crackers are listed as containing soya. Always check the current packaging.

Can gluten-free toast replace bread as a source of iodine?

You can’t tell from the toast alone. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread made with iodised baker’s salt is an important source of iodine in the Netherlands, although using this salt isn’t compulsory. If bread is regularly being replaced, consider the overall diet.