Who is this choice relevant to?

Stocking up for someone with coeliac disease

If you’re buying several packs at once, every variant you choose must carry the gluten-free label. A familiar brand name or a place on the shelf among gluten-free products is no substitute for checking.

Planning nibbles for people with other dietary requirements

Looking for a gluten-free product that also avoids certain other ingredients? Check the ingredients and allergens for each flavour. For example, Albert Heijn lists soya in Laurieri Scrocchi sea salt, despite describing it as made without added milk or eggs.

Managing a store cupboard

When buying several packs, the best-before date, intact packaging and how much you’ll use once a pack is open all matter. Smaller, individually wrapped portions may be more practical if a large pack would be left open for a long time.

What should you look for when stocking up?

First, check that the exact packaging says gluten-free. Then compare the pack size and ingredients to make sure they suit the people you’re buying for.

What to look for What to check when buying Who is this important for?
Gluten-free labelling Look for ‘gluten-free’ on the exact packaging. Under Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, this label means the product contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten; ‘very low gluten’ is a different category. When I’m stocking up on toast for someone with coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely on the product name or appearance. For around 36% of these consumers, an explicit gluten-free label is the priority.
Packaging and storage Compare the best-before date, the condition of the packaging, individual portions and storage instructions once opened. When I take a while to finish a pack, I want to choose products I can store properly according to the label. For around 29% of consumers, practical shelf life is the most important factor.
Other ingredients and allergens Check the ingredients, allergens and any relevant warnings on the packaging for each flavour. If I also need to consider things like soya, milk or egg, ‘gluten-free’ alone isn’t enough to make a choice. Around 21% of consumers prioritise these additional dietary requirements.
Nutritional information For specific products, compare details such as salt per 100 g and the amount you’d normally serve. Don’t assume a product contains iodine just because it’s called ‘toast’. If you regularly serve savoury toast, you may want to weigh up its nutritional make-up as part of your overall diet. Around 14% of consumers give this consideration the most attention.

Common mistakes when stocking up

  • Mistaking ordinary toast or melba toast for a gluten-free option

    A range of toast products may include ordinary and gluten-free options side by side. The brand name, shape or position on the shelf won’t tell you what the packaging of the product you’ve chosen says.

    When you buy, check the exact variant. If you order online, check the label again when the product arrives.

  • Buying lots of packs without checking dates and portions

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a best-before date relates to quality. Storage instructions and whether the pack is unopened are important when planning your supplies.

    Compare the dates and pack sizes before buying several packs. Once opened, follow the storage advice on the product.

    A pack that is left open for a long time or not stored according to the label may lose quality and end up going unused.

  • Assuming gluten-free means free from other allergens

    The gluten-free label doesn’t tell you whether a product contains soya, milk or egg, for example. Albert Heijn describes Laurieri Scrocchi sea salt as made without added milk or eggs, but also lists soya.

    Check the ingredients and allergens again for every flavour and pack variant you buy.

  • Assuming a product contains iodine based on its category

    The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that baker’s salt contains iodine, but bakers aren’t required to use it. So the name ‘gluten-free toast’ doesn’t tell you whether a product was made with baker’s salt.

    Check the ingredients of the product you’ve chosen rather than assuming it will contribute iodine to your diet.

Brands and shops to consider

These examples cover a range of toast and cracker options. Check the current packaging of the exact product each time you buy.

Schär

A brand offering gluten-free crackers as an alternative if you’re not just looking for small pieces of toast.

  • Jumbo lists Schär Crackers Glutenvrij in a pack of 6 x 35 g.
  • Check the ingredients, allergens and storage instructions for each Schär variant; crackers aren’t necessarily the same size as toast bites.

Gluten Free Bakery Holland

A brand with a specific toast-bite option if you’re looking for small gluten-free toasts.

  • Jumbo lists Toastjes Italiaans Gekruid, 100 g, and advises keeping the sealed pack in a cool, dry place.
  • Jumbo lists 6.6 g of salt per 100 g for this flavour. This value doesn’t necessarily apply to other variants, so compare the nutritional information and the portion you eat.

Laurieri

A savoury cracker that offers an alternative to classic toast bites when other ingredients are also a consideration.

  • Albert Heijn describes Scrocchi sea salt as gluten-free and made without added milk or eggs.
  • According to the product information, this variant contains soya and chickpea flour. If you have a soya allergy, check the exact packaging.

Jumbo

A shop range that includes both ordinary toast and toast and cracker products specifically labelled as gluten-free.

  • Jumbo’s product information includes toast bites from Gluten Free Bakery Holland and gluten-free crackers from Schär.
  • That doesn’t make another brand’s regular toast gluten-free. Check the label on the product you actually choose.

Albert Heijn

A shop range that includes Laurieri Scrocchi for anyone considering a gluten-free savoury cracker.

  • Albert Heijn’s product information describes the specific Scrocchi sea salt variant as gluten-free.
  • That description doesn’t apply to every toast or cracker in the range. Check the current ingredients and allergens for this variant too.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘very low gluten’ mean the same as ‘gluten-free’?

No. Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014 sets a limit of 20 mg/kg of gluten for ‘gluten-free’ and 100 mg/kg for ‘very low gluten’. If you’re stocking up for someone with coeliac disease, look for the explicit ‘gluten-free’ label on the exact packaging.

How should I store gluten-free toast that I’ve bought in bulk?

Follow the storage instructions on the packaging and check the best-before date when buying several packs. For Gluten Free Bakery Holland Toastjes Italiaans Gekruid, Jumbo advises keeping the sealed pack in a cool, dry place. Once opened, check the instructions on the product itself.

Is gluten-free toast also free from milk, egg and soya?

No. The gluten-free label doesn’t tell you which other ingredients or allergens may be present. Albert Heijn describes Laurieri Scrocchi sea salt as made without added milk or eggs, but lists soya. So check the ingredients and allergens for the exact variant.

Does gluten-free toast always contain iodine from baker’s salt?

No, you can’t tell from the product category. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, baker’s salt contains iodine, but bakers aren’t required to use it. Check the ingredients of the toast you buy.