Gluten-free mini toasts and crackers for Asian-style appetisers

Who is this relevant to?

Hosting a guest with coeliac disease

You want to serve a gluten-free appetiser without crumbs, utensils or a shared dip coming into contact with it. The Dutch Coeliac Society stresses the importance of preventing cross-contamination.

Putting together a sharing platter of Asian-style appetisers

You’re looking for a mini toast or cracker to go with your topping or dip. Herbed toast and a salty cracker each offer a different flavour base; remember to check the topping’s ingredients too.

Shopping with other allergens in mind

As well as checking for a gluten-free label, you look for ingredients such as soya, milk and egg. For example, Albert Heijn lists soya in Laurieri Scrocchi sea salt gluten-free crackers, while the product information says they are made without milk or egg.

What should you look for when choosing?

If coeliac disease is a concern, start by checking for a gluten-free label and making sure the food is prepared separately. Then choose a size and flavour to suit your appetisers, and check for any other allergens.

What to consider	What to check when buying	Who it matters to
Gluten and cross-contamination	Look for ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain symbol on the current packaging. Have clean, separate utensils and a separate dip ready for serving.	If I’m hosting someone with coeliac disease, I want to make sure not even a crumb ends up on their appetiser. For around 42% of consumers, this precaution would be the top priority.
Size and flavour	Compare mini toasts and crackers for the topping or dip you’re serving. Check whether a herbed or salty base will work with the flavours you have planned.	For bite-sized toppings, I want a handy mini toast; a cracker might work better with a dip. Size and flavour would matter most to around 25% of consumers.
Other ingredients	Read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact product; if you’re serving several savoury snacks, check the salt per 100 g too.	If a guest also needs to avoid soya, I can’t rely on ‘gluten-free’ alone. Around 17% of consumers would put checking additional ingredients first.
Availability	Check the current range before planning your menu around one particular mini toast; consider a gluten-free cracker as an alternative.	If I want to buy all the appetisers at the same time, I want to know whether my chosen product is available. For around 16% of consumers, that would be the first thing to consider.

Common mistakes

Assuming ordinary toast is almost gluten-free

Ordinary toast, Melba toast and crackers are not automatically gluten-free choices for someone with coeliac disease. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises checking for a gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain symbol.

Choose a product with one of these labels on the current packaging for your guest, and serve it separately from ordinary toast.
Sharing a dip or knife

The Dutch Coeliac Society says cross-contamination can also happen through crumbs and shared utensils. So even a gluten-free mini toast won’t stay separate if everyone uses the same dip.

Set out a separate dip and use clean, separate utensils for the gluten-free appetisers.
Only checking for ‘gluten-free’

That label doesn’t tell you which other ingredients or allergens a product contains. For example, Albert Heijn lists soya in Laurieri Scrocchi sea salt gluten-free crackers.

Read the ingredients, allergen information and nutritional details on the packaging of the product you’re buying; check the topping too.
Assuming every mini toast contains iodine

The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may be present in bread, bread substitutes and other bakery products through baker’s salt. This doesn’t mean that every gluten-free mini toast contains iodine.

If iodine is relevant to your choice, check the packaging or ask the manufacturer about the specific product.

Brands to consider

Gluten Free Bakery Holland

Jumbo lists this brand’s Toastjes Italiaans Gekruid 100 g in its range. These are mini toasts, not plain crackers.

Their small size makes them a good fit for bite-sized toppings.
The Italian seasoning won’t necessarily suit every Asian-inspired topping; check the current label too.

Laurieri

Scrocchi sea salt gluten-free crackers are a savoury option to consider instead of mini toasts.

According to Albert Heijn’s product information, this variety is made without milk or egg.
The same product information lists soya and chickpea flour; check whether these are suitable for your guests and the other appetisers.

Schär

Jumbo lists Schär gluten-free crackers in its mini toast category; Albert Heijn describes Schär Cereal Crackers as gluten-free multigrain crackers.

These varieties offer a cracker-sized alternative to mini toasts.
Check the size, ingredients and current gluten-free label for each variety; a cracker won’t necessarily be suitable for bite-sized toppings.

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Frequently asked questions

What should I look for if a guest has coeliac disease?

Choose a product whose current packaging says ‘gluten-free’ or displays the Crossed Grain symbol. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends looking for these labels; the Dutch Coeliac Society also advises avoiding contact with gluten-containing crumbs and utensils.

How can I keep gluten-free mini toasts separate when serving?

Use a clean, separate plate, separate utensils and a dip that hasn’t been used with gluten-containing products. The Dutch Coeliac Society warns that cross-contamination can also happen through crumbs.

Does ‘wheat-free’ mean the same as gluten-free?

No. If someone has coeliac disease, don’t assume a product is suitable just because wheat isn’t mentioned in its name. Check the gluten-free label and the ingredients on the current packaging, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.

Does gluten-free toast in the Netherlands always contain iodine?

No, that doesn’t follow from the rules on baker’s salt. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may be present in bread, bread substitutes and other bakery products through baker’s salt. For a specific mini toast, check the packaging or ask the manufacturer.

Are gluten-free crackers also free from soya, milk and egg?

Not necessarily. Albert Heijn says that Laurieri Scrocchi sea salt gluten-free crackers contain soya and are made without milk or egg. Check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact cracker and the topping you’re serving.