If you have coeliac disease, first look for toast or crackers whose current packaging clearly says ‘gluten-free’. Small pieces of toast are ideal for toppings, while plain crackers or individually wrapped portions may be more practical for several camping meals. Also check how the product should be stored, which other allergens it contains and how to avoid contact with bread crumbs.
You’re looking for a product labelled gluten-free and want to avoid it coming into contact with bread crumbs during preparation. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that even a small amount of gluten can cause problems for people with coeliac disease.
You want to pack something for breakfast, lunch or topped snacks without needing a fridge for the basic product. Storage instructions and packaging can help determine what’s practical for your camping supplies.
As well as gluten, you may want to check for other allergens or compare fibre and salt content. Check the ingredients, allergen information and nutritional values for the exact variant you’re buying.
If you have coeliac disease, the ‘gluten-free’ label on the current packaging is the first thing to check. Then choose a format that suits your meals and the way you’ll store and prepare it at the campsite.
Ideal for: topped snacks or a drinks gathering. Jumbo says Gluten Free Bakery Holland Toastjes Italiaans Gekruid should be stored in its sealed packaging in a cool, dry place.
Bear in mind: this variant contains egg and gluten-free oat flour, may contain nuts and sesame, and lists 6,6 g of salt per 100 g.
Ideal for: breakfast or lunch with a choice of toppings. Albert Heijn’s product information describes Schär Crackers as six portions of 35 g.
Bear in mind: these crackers contain soya; check the current ingredients and allergen information each time you buy them.
Ideal for: anyone who’d rather open one portion at a time during a trip lasting several days. Albert Heijn describes Wasa Glutenvrij en lactosevrij classic as individually wrapped.
Bear in mind: these aren’t small snacks to serve with drinks; according to the product information, this variant may contain milk, soya, sesame seeds and mustard.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten and crumbs | Look for ‘gluten-free’ on the current packaging and think about how to avoid shared kitchen utensils or a toaster. | If I have coeliac disease and share a kitchen, I want to stop my food coming into contact with ordinary bread crumbs. For around 46% of shoppers, this precaution is the most important factor in their choice. |
| Storage and portions | Read the storage instructions and check whether the pack size suits how much you use at a time. | On a camping trip lasting several days, I want to be able to take my crackers with me and keep them dry without opening the whole pack each time. Around 27% of shoppers give this practical consideration top priority. |
| Nutritional values and allergens | Compare fibre and salt per 100 g and per portion; also read the ingredients and allergen information. | If crackers are a regular part of my diet or I have another allergy, I want to know what the exact variant contains. For around 27% of shoppers, these differences on the label come first. |
These labels don’t mean the same thing. If you have coeliac disease, the relevant check when buying is the ‘gluten-free’ label on the current packaging.
Check the label again if you buy a different variant or a new pack.
A gluten-free product may contain other allergens too. For example, the toast mentioned above contains egg, while the Schär Crackers mentioned contain soya.
If you have other allergies, check both the ingredients and the ‘may contain’ statement for the exact variant.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that even a stray bread crumb can cause problems for someone with coeliac disease. The risk doesn’t end when you buy the product: gluten-free food can come into contact with crumbs on appliances or kitchen utensils during preparation.
Take clean, separate utensils with you and decide before you leave how you’ll prepare the product without contact with ordinary bread crumbs.
Separate utensils or your own toasting solution will take up space in your luggage.
Jumbo lists 6,6 g of salt per 100 g for Gluten Free Bakery Holland Toastjes Italiaans Gekruid. This figure applies to this variant, not to all gluten-free toast or crackers.
If you eat them regularly, compare the nutritional values per 100 g and per portion of the products you’re considering.
The differences below apply to the product ranges and variants mentioned. Check the current packaging before choosing a product for your camping supplies.
Jumbo describes its 100 g Toastjes Italiaans Gekruid as gluten-free toasts for serving with toppings.
Albert Heijn’s product information describes Schär Crackers as gluten-free, wheat-free and lactose-free crackers, suitable for a range of toppings.
Wasa Glutenvrij en lactosevrij classic is a crispbread-style cracker, not the same type of product as a small snack toast.
Among the gluten-free products in Consenza’s range, Jumbo lists light Pea-Lentil and Buckwheat-Quinoa crackers, as well as a multigrain cracker.
In the EU, the ‘gluten-free’ label may be used under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014 if a food contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. Don’t assume a product is gluten-free based on an ingredient such as rice or maize; check the current packaging.
A gluten-free label on the product you buy won’t stop it coming into contact with ordinary bread crumbs during preparation. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that even a small amount of gluten can cause problems for people with coeliac disease. Use clean, separate utensils and take care around shared toasters.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging for the exact variant. For the Gluten Free Bakery Holland toasts mentioned above, Jumbo says to store them in their sealed packaging in a cool, dry place. Seal opened packs carefully. Bear in mind that perishable toppings may have their own storage requirements.
Don’t assume that gluten-free toast provides the same amount of iodine as ordinary bread made with baker’s salt. The Health Council of the Netherlands identifies this type of bread as an important source of iodine in the Netherlands. If you have questions about following a gluten-free diet long term, speak to a specialist dietitian if needed.
This warning indicates possible contact with sesame and is mainly relevant if you also have a sesame allergy. If you have coeliac disease, the gluten-free label and avoiding contact with crumbs containing gluten are separate considerations; read the full, current allergen information.
