Gluten-Free Toast Bites for Christmas Dinner: What to Check

Who are these considerations important for?

Hosting a guest with coeliac disease

You’re looking for suitable toast bites for Christmas dinner and want to avoid them coming into contact with gluten during preparation or serving.

Organising a Christmas drinks party with guests who have different dietary requirements

You’re looking for a crisp base for your appetisers and checking the ingredients and allergens on each pack, including egg, soya, oats, sesame and nuts.

Looking to replace regular toast

You’re comparing Melba toast and other toast bites with gluten-free alternatives, without assuming a product is suitable based on its name alone.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start with the product packaging itself. Then consider how you’ll prepare and serve the appetisers separately, and whether your chosen toast bites suit the toppings and any other allergies.

What to consider	What to check	Who is this most important for?
Gluten-free product	Look for ‘gluten-free’ on the packaging or the Crossed Grain symbol; check the ingredients too.	If a guest has coeliac disease, I first want to be sure which product I can serve them. For around 50% of consumers, choosing a gluten-free product comes first.
Preparing and serving separately	Use a clean worktop and separate, clean serving cutlery; keep crumbs containing gluten away.	When serving both regular and gluten-free appetisers, I want to stop crumbs getting onto the separate platter. This is the main concern for around 30% of consumers.
Shape and other allergens	Check that the size works with the topping and review the allergen information for the exact product variant.	I want a crisp base that works with the appetisers, while also taking guests’ other allergies into account. This is the main consideration for around 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes at the Christmas table

Assuming ‘toast’ or ‘Melba’ means gluten-free

Van der Meulen Melba Toast Naturel, as described by Jumbo, contains wheat flour and barley malt flour. Its familiar shape or name doesn’t make this variant gluten-free.

Check the packaging of each variant for the ‘gluten-free’ label or Crossed Grain symbol, and read the ingredients.
Putting gluten-free toast bites on a shared board

According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, crumbs and shared kitchen utensils can transfer gluten to gluten-free food.

Keep the toast bites wrapped until you’re ready to serve them, then put them out separately with their own clean cutlery.
Checking only for the words ‘gluten-free’

Gluten-free products can contain other allergens. For example, Toastjes Italiaans Gekruid, as described by Jumbo, contains egg and oats and may contain nuts or sesame.

Ask which other allergies you need to consider, then check the ingredients and allergen information for both the toast bites and the toppings.

Relevant brands and product ranges

Gluten Free Bakery Holland

Jumbo describes its 100 g Toastjes Italiaans Gekruid as gluten-free toast bites for small savoury appetisers.

A toast shape that works well with a topping.
This variant contains egg and oats and may contain nuts or sesame; check that it’s suitable for your guests.

Schär

Schär Crackers Glutenvrij, as described by Jumbo, are a cracker option if a cracker works as a base for your appetisers.

A cracker labelled gluten-free as an alternative to small toast bites.
A cracker won’t necessarily have the same shape as a toast bite; this particular variant contains soya.

Van der Meulen Melba

Melba Toast Naturel, as described by Jumbo, is an example of regular Melba toast, not a gluten-free alternative.

The product information makes it possible to compare it with regular Melba toast.
This specific variant contains wheat flour and barley malt flour, so it isn’t suitable for a guest with coeliac disease.

AH Glutenvrij

Albert Heijn lists a range of products under this own brand, including gluten-free crackers, crispbread and party bread.

The range includes different product shapes to consider for your appetisers.
Don’t choose based on the range name alone: check the packaging of the product you want to serve.

Lidl

Lidl lists both gluten-free products and a separate product called Melba toast.

You can check what gluten-free products are available in each shop and look for a suitable option.
The name Melba toast doesn’t mean a product is gluten-free; check the exact packaging.

Related products at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Can I serve regular Melba toast to a guest with coeliac disease?

Don’t serve regular Melba toast without checking the packaging of the exact variant. Van der Meulen Melba Toast Naturel, as described by Jumbo, contains wheat flour and barley malt flour. Choose a product labelled ‘gluten-free’ or carrying the Crossed Grain symbol for your guest.

How should I serve gluten-free toast bites alongside regular appetisers?

Serve the gluten-free toast bites separately with their own clean serving cutlery. Ideally, keep them wrapped until you’re ready to prepare them, work on a clean surface and make sure bread crumbs or a used knife don’t come into contact with the gluten-free appetisers.

Are gluten-free toast bites free from other allergens too?

No. The label ‘gluten-free’ doesn’t mean a product is free from all other allergens. Check the exact packaging and the toppings: Gluten Free Bakery Holland Toastjes Italiaans Gekruid, as described by Jumbo, contains egg and oats and may contain nuts or sesame.