If your child needs to avoid gluten strictly, choose a pre-packaged crispy product labelled ‘gluten-free’. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, this label may be used if the product contains no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg when sold to the final consumer. Check the other allergens on the current packaging too, and prevent contact with ordinary bread crumbs. Toasts can be a useful addition to a packed lunch, but they are not automatically a complete lunch.
If your child has coeliac disease, choosing a crispy product for their lunchbox means looking for a clear gluten-free label and packing it carefully. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that even a stray bread crumb can cause symptoms.
A gluten-free label does not automatically answer questions about allergens such as egg, soya, nuts, sesame or wheat. For these parents, the ingredients and allergen information for the chosen product are what matter.
Small toasts can add variety, but the portion, toppings and rest of the lunchbox determine how they fit into the meal. You can also compare fibre and salt levels in the nutritional information for each product.
Start with your child’s dietary and allergy requirements. Then choose a product that suits the rest of their school lunch and any rules the school has in place.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten and contact with crumbs | Look for the ‘gluten-free’ label on the packaging. Keep the product separate from ordinary bread when storing and packing it. | If my child needs to avoid gluten strictly, I also want to keep bread crumbs away from their toasts when packing lunch; around 36% of consumers put this gluten check first. |
| Other allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact product. Check separately for wheat if a wheat allergy is relevant. | If my child needs to avoid another allergen too, I need to look beyond the gluten-free label; around 29% of consumers give this additional check the highest priority. |
| How it fits into lunch | Compare fibre and salt per 100 g, and consider the portion in relation to the rest of the lunch. | If toasts are going to school regularly, I want to know how they fit with toppings, vegetables or fruit; for around 21% of consumers, the make-up of the lunch matters most. |
| Product type and use | Check whether toasts or crackers are suitable for the toppings you have in mind, and check the current packaging when buying again. | For the lunchbox, I’m looking for something crispy that my child will actually eat; practical convenience comes first for around 14% of consumers. |
A light or crispy texture tells you nothing about the gluten content. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, even contact with a bread crumb can matter for someone with coeliac disease.
If your child needs to avoid gluten strictly, choose a product labelled ‘gluten-free’ and use clean utensils and equipment to pack their lunch.
Gluten-free does not mean free from other allergens. For example, Jumbo lists egg and oats for Gluten Free Bakery Holland Toastjes Italiaans Gekruid, and says it may also contain nuts and sesame, among other allergens.
Check the full allergen information for the flavour you choose. Assess wheat allergy separately from the gluten-free label.
The type of product alone tells you little about the nutritional value of a lunch. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends wholegrain products, vegetables and fruit, among other foods, for school lunches.
Check the portion and compare the nutritional information per 100 g. Also consider what else to pack in the lunchbox.
Albert Heijn says that product information, including ingredients and allergen information, can change. This is particularly important when a specific allergen determines your choice.
When you buy the product, check the packaging for the exact version again, and ask the school or after-school club about any rules for packed lunches.
Jumbo lists Toastjes Italiaans Gekruid under this brand, in a 100 g pack.
Albert Heijn lists gluten-free Scrocchi, including a sea salt variety, as a crispy alternative to toasts.
Albert Heijn lists Schär Crackers glutenvrij as a cracker option for anyone looking for a different crispy product type from small toasts.
Albert Heijn groups various gluten-free products under this name, including crackers and bakery products.
Jumbo has a gluten-free range with various product types, alongside the Gluten Free Bakery Holland toasts.
This selection includes rice toast and lentil wafers as two different crispy options for a school lunch. Before choosing either product for a child who needs to avoid gluten or other allergens, check the current packaging.
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Rice toast for anyone looking for a crispy toast-style snack for the lunchbox. If you are choosing this product for a strict diet or because of an allergy, check the current packaging for a gluten-free label and information about soya and sesame.
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Lentil wafers offer a crispy alternative to toasts, but are not automatically a replacement for a complete lunch. The product information lists milk and soya; check the current packaging for a gluten-free label and details of any other allergens.
Look for the ‘gluten-free’ label on the packaging of the product you choose. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, this label may be used if the product contains no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg when sold to the final consumer. Also read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact version.
Not automatically: a gluten-free product can contain wheat as an allergen, for example in the form of gluten-free wheat starch. If you have a wheat allergy, check the wheat information on the packaging separately from the gluten-free label.
Use clean hands and cutlery, and keep the gluten-free product separate from ordinary bread while preparing and storing it. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, even a stray bread crumb can cause symptoms for someone with coeliac disease.
Follow the storage advice on the packaging of the product you choose. Jumbo says Gluten Free Bakery Holland Toastjes Italiaans Gekruid should be stored in a sealed pack in a cool, dry place. If you need to avoid gluten strictly, keep them separate from ordinary bread too.
