If you’re buying toast for someone with coeliac disease
You’ll want to check the gluten-free claim on the packaging and keep the toast separate from standard bread products when serving it.
Who is this choice relevant to?
If you’re putting together a sharing platter
You’re looking for a crisp base to suit your toppings: plain rice toast, seasoned toast or a thinner rice cracker.
If you also need to check other ingredients
As well as gluten, ingredients such as egg, oats, sesame, soya or nuts may be relevant to your choice. A gluten-free claim alone tells you nothing about these ingredients.
What should you look for when buying?
Start with the packaging of the product you’ll actually be serving. Once you’ve confirmed that the gluten-free claim is suitable for your purchase, the flavour, shape and any additional ingredient checks will help you choose the right option for your drinks party.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free claim | Check for ‘gluten-free’ on the current packaging or look for the gluten-free certification mark mentioned by the Voedingscentrum. | When I’m shopping for someone with coeliac disease, I don’t want to choose based only on the rice ingredient or product photo. For around 50% of consumers, a clear gluten-free claim is the top priority. |
| Flavour and shape | Compare plain rice toast with seasoned toasts or a thinner rice cracker, and see which shape works best with the toppings you have planned. | For my sharing platter, I want to know whether the topping provides the flavour or the toast itself adds seasoning too. Around 30% of consumers prioritise this combination of flavour and presentation. |
| Other ingredients | Check the allergens and nutritional information for each variety; if you have a specific question about iodine, ask which type of salt has been used. | As well as gluten, I may need to consider other allergens, salt or the type of salt used. For around 20% of consumers, these additional checks come first. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming rice toast or standard Melba toast is automatically gluten-free
The ingredient or product shape doesn’t replace a claim on the finished product. Under EU Implementing Regulation 828/2014, ‘gluten-free’ means the product contains no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg.
When buying, check the current packaging for a gluten-free claim or certification mark. Don’t assume a standard variety of toast is the same as its gluten-free counterpart.
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Confusing gluten-free with free from other allergens
According to Jumbo’s product information, Gluten Free Bakery Holland Toastjes Italiaans Gekruid contains egg and gluten-free oat flour, and may also contain nuts and sesame, among other allergens. The Joybuy product page for Van der Meulen Rijsttoast Natuur states that it may contain sesame and soya.
If you need to check for other allergies, read the allergen information on the packaging of the specific flavour you’re buying.
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Serving gluten-free toast alongside standard bread products
Bread crumbs or shared serving utensils can make a carefully chosen gluten-free option unsuitable for someone with coeliac disease.
Use a clean plate and clean utensils, keep toppings and dips separate, and serve the gluten-free option before bringing standard toast to the table.
Brands to consider
Van der Meulen / Melba
Van der Meulen Rijsttoast Natuur is a 65 g plain rice toast for anyone who wants their toppings to provide the flavour.
- The Joybuy product page describes this rice toast as gluten-free and made from rice. Check the claim on the packaging you buy too.
- The same page says the rice toast may contain sesame and soya. A standard Melba Toast variety cannot be used interchangeably with this rice toast unless it has its own gluten-free claim.
Gluten Free Bakery Holland
The 100 g Toastjes Italiaans Gekruid is a good fit for a drinks party where you want the toast itself to add a herby flavour.
- Jumbo describes this variety as seasoned toasts, a different format from a rice cracker.
- Jumbo’s product information lists egg and gluten-free oat flour, possible traces of nuts and sesame, among other allergens, and 6.6 g of salt per 100 g. Check the current packaging and the portion you plan to serve.
Mitsuba
Mitsuba rice crackers are an alternative when a thin cracker works better with dips or light toppings than toast.
- Albert Heijn and Jumbo list options such as sea salt and wasabi varieties in their gluten-free ranges.
- A rice cracker isn’t the same shape as Melba toast. Check the gluten-free claim, ingredients and allergens on the packaging of each flavour separately.
Related Joybuy products
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
When can toast be labelled ‘gluten-free’?
Under EU Implementing Regulation 828/2014, the claim ‘gluten-free’ can be used if the finished product contains no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg. If you’re buying for someone with coeliac disease, check the claim on the current packaging of the toast.
Is rice-based toast automatically suitable for someone with coeliac disease?
No. The fact that it’s made with rice doesn’t tell you whether the finished product is labelled gluten-free. Check the packaging of the specific variety, even if another variety from the same brand is gluten-free.
How should I serve gluten-free toast alongside standard toast?
Keep the gluten-free toast and its toppings separate from standard bread products. Use a clean plate and clean utensils to stop crumbs or shared knives coming into contact with the gluten-free option.
Does gluten-free toast always contain iodine from baker’s salt?
No. Don’t assume gluten-free toast uses a particular type of salt or contains added iodine. Check the ingredients of the specific product and ask the manufacturer for more information if the type of salt used matters to your purchase.
How should I store gluten-free rice toast once opened?
Follow the storage instructions on your product’s packaging. The Joybuy product page for Van der Meulen Rijsttoast Natuur recommends storing it in a cool, dry place, protecting the toast from moisture and resealing the packaging securely after opening.