Picnickers with coeliac disease
You’re looking for toast or crackers whose current packaging says ‘gluten-free’. The product name or an ingredients list with no obvious mention of wheat is not a substitute for this claim.
Who is this choice relevant to?
People bringing savoury toppings
You want something crunchy to serve with dips, cheese or vegetable spreads. As well as the gluten-free claim, you’ll need to consider the size, packaging and any other allergens.
Picnickers looking for an alternative to Melba toast
You want a similar base for toppings, but don’t want to mistake ordinary Melba toast for gluten-free toast. Gluten-free crackers may also work, although their shape and flavour can be different.
What should you look for when choosing?
If you’re buying for someone with coeliac disease, first check for the gluten-free claim on the current packaging. Then compare toast and crackers in terms of transport, toppings and other ingredients: a cracker isn’t automatically the same kind of base as Melba toast.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free claim | Read the current packaging and look for the claim ‘gluten-free’. Don’t rely on the words toast, cracker or Melba alone. | If I’m packing for someone with coeliac disease, I want to be clear about the label before considering flavour or size. For around 36% of consumers, the gluten-free claim comes first. |
| Transport and portions | Compare the number of individual packs and think about how to keep an opened pack dry and protected. | I want the toast to arrive intact, rather than loose in the bag. For around 29% of consumers, avoiding broken or damp products in transit is the main concern. |
| Toppings and other allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information for both the base and the topping. Also compare savoury flavours with sweet ones. | When sharing a picnic, I want the flavour I choose to go with the toppings, and I want everyone eating with me to be able to check for allergens. Around 21% of consumers give this combination top priority. |
| Finding a suitable alternative | Look at both gluten-free toast and gluten-free crackers, and check the packaging and product type for each option. | If I can’t find suitable toast, I want to know whether a cracker will work with my toppings. For around 14% of consumers, finding this kind of alternative comes first. |
Common mistakes when choosing picnic toast
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Assuming toast or Melba toast is gluten-free
The product category tells you nothing about whether it carries a gluten-free claim. Under EU Regulation 828/2014, products bearing this claim must contain no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg.
Check the current packaging before choosing toast or crackers for someone with coeliac disease.
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Checking the toast but not the toppings
Gluten-free doesn’t mean free from other allergens. For Jumbo Gluten Free Bakery Holland Toastjes Italiaans Gekruid, the information lists egg and gluten-free oat flour, as well as a warning that the product may contain nuts and sesame.
Check the labels on the toast and toppings separately, and bear in mind any other allergies among the people eating with you.
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Taking an opened pack along without protecting it
Toast and crackers can break or lose their crunch on the way. A 100 g pack also isn’t the same as individually wrapped portions.
Choose individually wrapped portions if you want to split the pack, or put an opened pack in a sturdy, airtight container.
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Assuming all gluten-free toast contains iodine
The ‘gluten-free’ claim doesn’t tell you whether iodised salt has been used in a particular product. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre highlights bread made with iodised salt as something to consider when it comes to iodine intake.
So don’t automatically treat gluten-free toast as a replacement for bread made with iodised salt when considering your overall diet.
Brands with relevant toast and crackers
Compare the specific product, not just the brand: the toast and crackers listed here vary in flavour and packaging.
Gluten Free Bakery Holland
Jumbo lists Toastjes Italiaans Gekruid as gluten-free toast in a 100 g pack. It’s an option to consider with savoury picnic toppings.
- The product information lists maize flour, gluten-free oat flour and Italian herbs.
- This variety contains egg and may also contain nuts and sesame, among other allergens. Check the current packaging.
Schär
Jumbo lists Schär Crackers Glutenvrij in 6 × 35 g packs, and Fette Croccanti as light, crunchy gluten-free crackers in a 150 g pack.
- The six 35 g packs give you the option to divide portions between picnic bags.
- These are crackers, not necessarily Melba toast. Check whether the shape and flavour of each variety work with your toppings.
Consenza
Jumbo lists Consenza Rozijnen Crackers Glutenvrij, along with light cracker varieties made with pea and lentil or buckwheat and quinoa.
- The varieties listed offer different flavours to compare with the toppings you have planned.
- A raisin cracker has a sweet flavour and won’t automatically suit a savoury platter. Check the details of the variety you choose.
Products on Joybuy
Related products will be available soon.
Frequently asked questions
When can toast be labelled ‘gluten-free’?
Under EU Regulation 828/2014, a product may be labelled ‘gluten-free’ if it contains no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg. If you’re buying for someone with coeliac disease, check that the current packaging for your chosen toast carries this claim.
Is ordinary Melba toast a gluten-free option too?
Not on the basis of the name alone. ‘Melba toast’ is a type of product, not a gluten-free claim. If you’re buying for someone with coeliac disease, choose only a variety whose current packaging clearly says ‘gluten-free’.
Do I need to check for other allergens in gluten-free toast?
Yes. Check the ingredients and allergen information for both the toast and the toppings. For Gluten Free Bakery Holland Toastjes Italiaans Gekruid, Jumbo lists egg and gluten-free oat flour, and says the product may also contain nuts and sesame.
Does gluten-free toast automatically contain iodine?
No, the gluten-free claim doesn’t tell you that. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre highlights the importance of bread made with iodised salt for iodine intake. For a specific toast, don’t assume it contains iodised salt without checking the product information.