If you’re hosting a BBQ for someone with coeliac disease, choose a product labelled ‘gluten-free’. Then decide whether small toast pieces for individual bites or larger crackers for generous toppings would work best. Keep gluten-free bites separate from regular bread, shared dips and used utensils, and check the packaging for other allergens.
Looking for toast labelled gluten-free and wanting to prevent crumbs, shared dips or utensils from coming into contact with gluten-free bites. The Dutch Coeliac Society highlights the importance of preventing cross-contamination.
Choosing between a small, seasoned toast piece, a larger cracker and a plain toast piece, depending on the dips and toppings planned.
As well as gluten, checking for ingredients or warnings about allergens such as egg, oats, soya, sesame or nuts. A gluten-free label alone tells you nothing about these.
When you’re hosting a BBQ for someone with coeliac disease, check the gluten-free label and plan to serve the food separately first. Then choose the right size for the toppings and check for any other allergens.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free and served separately | Check the current gluten-free label. Use a separate plate, clean utensils and a separate dip. | When I’m preparing bites for someone with coeliac disease, I want to prevent crumbs from regular bread getting mixed in. For around 50% of consumers, choosing the right product and serving it separately come first. |
| Size and toppings | Compare a small toast piece with a larger cracker or a plain toast piece; also check the portion sizes. | For generous toppings, I want to be able to choose a different base from the one I’d use for small bites with dip. For around 30% of consumers, choosing a base to suit the planned toppings is the top priority. |
| Other allergens | Read the current ingredients list and check the warnings about possible allergens. | If a guest has an allergy as well as coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely on the gluten-free label alone. Around 20% of consumers prioritise checking for these additional allergens. |
A statement that a product contains no wheat is not a substitute for a gluten-free label. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, ‘gluten-free’ may be used when the food, as sold to the final consumer, contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten.
If you’re catering for someone with coeliac disease, check for a gluten-free label on the current packaging.
Crumbs, shared tongs or a shared dip can transfer gluten to a gluten-free bite. The Dutch Coeliac Society advises taking steps to prevent cross-contamination.
Use a separate plate and clean utensils. Set out a separate dip too, so regular bread isn’t dipped in it.
The toast pieces and crackers discussed here have different ingredients and allergen warnings. Gluten-free does not automatically mean free from egg, soya, sesame or nuts.
Ask which allergens are relevant to your guest, then check both the ingredients and the warnings on the packaging of each product you choose.
The name of a gluten-free toast product doesn’t tell you which type of salt it contains.
If added iodine matters to you, check the packaging or ask the manufacturer.
The 100 g Toastjes Italiaans Gekruid are small, seasoned pieces of toast for party bites.
Schär Crackers offer a larger format as an alternative to small pieces of toast.
The 175 g gluten-free toast pieces are a plain option that works with a range of toppings.
A range to explore when you’re choosing toast or crackers alongside your other BBQ shopping.
This rice toast is an option for small BBQ bites if you’re looking for a gluten-free toast base. Check the current packaging before serving, especially if your guests have other allergies too.
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Rice toast for small BBQ bites; the product description identifies it as gluten-free and lists two packs. Check the current packaging before serving it to someone with coeliac disease. If your guest has a soya or sesame allergy, pay close attention to the allergen information, as product listings differ on this point.
Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, food labelled gluten-free must contain no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten as sold to the final consumer. Check the label on the current packaging; ‘wheat-free’ on its own is not the same thing.
Serve the gluten-free toast on a separate plate with clean or separate utensils and its own dip. The Dutch Coeliac Society warns about cross-contamination from things such as crumbs, so keep the toast separate while preparing it too.
No, you can’t assume that from a gluten-free label. For Gluten Free Bakery Holland Toastjes Italiaans Gekruid, Jumbo lists egg and gluten-free oats; Albert Heijn lists soya for Schär Crackers; and Ekoplaza lists sesame and soya for Lisa's Choice Glutenvrije toastjes. Also check the current packaging for warnings about possible traces of other allergens.
Choose a larger cracker if you want more room for toppings; small toast pieces work well for individual party bites. Albert Heijn lists Schär Crackers as six 35 g portions, which may be useful if you want to serve the portions separately.
You can’t tell from the product category or gluten-free label. Check the packaging to see which type of salt has been used, or ask the manufacturer about the specific product if added iodine matters to you.
