For a pupil with coeliac disease, choose only toast or toast bread whose current packaging clearly states that it is gluten-free. Small pieces of toast are handy for a snack or a little topping, while toast bread is larger and more like a slice of bread. Also check for other allergens, and agree with the school or after-school club how to keep the food separate from ordinary bread and crumbs.
For them, the first step is to look for a clear gluten-free statement on the packaging. Even after the food has been packed, contact with ordinary bread and crumbs remains a concern. The Dutch Coeliac Society highlights the risk of cross-contamination.
As well as checking for a gluten-free statement, they need to read the allergen information for each product. The toast products discussed here list, among other things, soya, egg, sesame and nuts as ingredients or possible traces.
For a small portion, cracker-sized pieces of toast may be more practical than toast bread. The size doesn’t change the need to check the current packaging and take care when packing the food.
Start by checking for a gluten-free statement and any other allergens. Then decide whether you’re looking for a small snack or toast bread for lunch, and how to pack it safely so it stays separate on the way to school.
| What to consider | What to check | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free statement | Check the current packaging: does it say ‘gluten-free’ or carry a suitable certification mark, and what does the ingredients list say? | When buying toast for a child with coeliac disease, I wouldn’t rely on the name or main ingredient alone to decide whether it’s suitable. This check is the top priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| Taking it to school | Check that the food can be packed in a sealed container. Use a clean lunchbox and clean cutlery, and agree how to handle sharing food and treats. | Even a gluten-free product needs to be kept away from gluten crumbs while it’s being prepared and eaten. Around 30% of consumers say keeping food separate in practice is their top priority. |
| Size and other allergens | Choose between small pieces of toast and toast bread; check the ingredients and allergen information on each pack. | If I’m looking for a small snack or something bread-like for lunch, the product also needs to be suitable for any other allergies. This combination matters most to around 20% of consumers. |
A product name or type of grain doesn’t, by itself, tell you whether a specific toast product is suitable for someone with coeliac disease.
Check the current packaging for a gluten-free statement and read the ingredients. The Dutch Coeliac Society advises reading the label to establish whether a product is gluten-free.
A gluten-free product may still contain ingredients such as soya, egg, sesame or nuts, or carry warnings about them. That doesn’t mean another variety is automatically a suitable alternative.
Every time you buy, compare the allergen information on the packaging with the child’s relevant allergies.
According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, gluten crumbs can get onto gluten-free food from shared utensils and equipment.
Use a clean lunchbox, clean cutlery and a clean preparation surface. Talk to the school or after-school club about how to keep lunches and treats separate.
Rice Toast Original is a small rice toast for a snack or a little topping. Jumbo describes the product as gluten-free.
Schär describes Zwieback as gluten-free, cracker-sized toast: a crunchy base for sweet or savoury toppings.
Céréal presents its Toastbrood as gluten- and lactose-free bread in toast form, for anyone looking for something other than small pieces of toast.
Toastjes Italiaans Gekruid is a savoury, gluten-free toast option listed as a product by Jumbo.
Check that the current packaging identifies the specific toast product as gluten-free, and read the ingredients and allergen information too. The European Commission sets out rules on information about the absence or reduced presence of gluten. The Dutch Coeliac Society recommends checking the product label.
No. Rice as the main ingredient isn’t enough to establish that it’s suitable. Jumbo describes Van der Meulen Rice Toast Original as gluten-free, but also lists possible sesame and soya. Check the packaging of the variety you’re actually buying.
Pack the toast in a clean lunchbox and use clean cutlery. Keep it away from ordinary bread, shared spreads and gluten crumbs. The Dutch Coeliac Society recommends agreeing arrangements with the school or after-school club, including for mealtimes and treats.
No, it varies from product to product. According to the relevant product information, Céréal Toastbrood contains soya and may contain traces of certain nuts and eggs; Van der Meulen Rice Toast Original may contain sesame and soya, and Schär Zwieback may contain soya. If there are additional allergies, always check the current packaging.
