Organiser with a guest who has coeliac disease
You want your guest to be able to identify the gluten-free platter and to keep the toast, toppings and serving utensils separate from the other buffet items.
Who is this choice important for?
Host organising a drinks reception
You’re looking for a gluten-free toast base that works with your planned toppings, so the separate platter is practical to serve too.
Organiser who needs to check for other allergens
Ingredients such as egg, oats, sesame or soya may also be a concern, alongside gluten. If so, compare the current allergen information for each product and topping you choose.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide which toast can go on the gluten-free platter and how you’ll serve it separately. Then check whether its shape works with the toppings and whether you need to consider any other allergens.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free labelling and serving separately | Check that the current packaging is labelled ‘gluten-free’. Plan to use a separate platter, tongs and utensils for the toppings. | If I’m hosting a guest with coeliac disease, I don’t want crumbs or shared tongs to make the separate platter unsuitable. This is the top concern for around 42% of consumers. |
| Shape and toppings | Check the size and storage instructions. Try the toast with the toppings you’ve actually chosen before the buffet. | I want the toast on my buffet to hold the planned toppings without breaking straight away. This is the most important consideration for around 33% of consumers. |
| Other allergens | Compare the current allergen information for both the toast and toppings with your guests’ requirements. | If guests also need to avoid other ingredients, I want to know what’s in every bite. Around 25% of consumers put this check first. |
Common buffet mistakes
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Assuming a toast-like shape means a product is gluten-free
The shape or name tells you nothing about whether a product is labelled gluten-free. Bolletje lists wheat flour in its Bakkers Beschuit Origineel; these rusks don’t belong on the gluten-free platter.
Only put toast whose purchased packaging says ‘gluten-free’ on that platter. Keep regular toast on a clearly separate platter.
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Separating the toast but not the toppings and utensils
Shared tongs or crumbs from regular toast can end up on the separate platter. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) also says that allergen information must be available to consumers for non-prepacked products.
Serve the gluten-free bites separately with their own tongs, knife and toppings. Keep the packaging available and make it clear which allergens the bites contain.
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Assuming ‘gluten-free’ means ‘free from all allergens’
Jumbo lists egg and oats for Gluten Free Bakery Holland’s toasts. Ekoplaza’s product information lists sesame and soya for Lisa's Choice toasts, as well as warnings about other possible allergens.
Ask which other allergens your guests need to avoid, then check the packaging of each product individually.
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Assuming toast always contains baker’s salt
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bread doesn’t have to be baked with baker’s salt. So don’t assume that something contains baker’s salt or iodine just because it’s toast.
If this information matters to a guest, check the packaging or ask the baker. Don’t assume that buffet toast generally contains iodine.
Brands to consider
These brands offer examples of different product shapes and things to look out for. For your buffet, always check the specific product and its packaging.
Gluten Free Bakery Holland
According to its own company information, Gluten Free Bakery Holland makes bakery products that are entirely gluten-free. Jumbo lists toasts from this brand.
- A specific toast shape to compare with the toppings planned for your buffet.
- The toasts reviewed contain egg and oats. A separate production process also doesn’t remove the need for separate serving utensils at the buffet.
Schär
Schär describes its Zwieback as gluten-free toast that can also be used as a base for party snacks.
- A toast-like option to try with both savoury and sweet toppings.
- Check in advance that the size and sturdiness suit your chosen topping, and read the current packaging.
Lisa's Choice
Ekoplaza presents Lisa's Choice gluten-free toasts as a base for party snacks.
- A toast shape for a drinks-party platter.
- The product information shown lists sesame and soya, and warns that other allergens may also be present.
Bolletje
Bolletje Bakkers Beschuit Origineel is an example of regular rusks, not a gluten-free option for a buffet.
- Bolletje lists wheat flour as an ingredient. Don’t put these rusks on the platter for guests with coeliac disease.
Toast for the gluten-free buffet platter
This rice toast is an option to consider for a separate buffet platter. Before serving, check the gluten-free labelling and allergen information on the packaging you buy, and try it with your planned toppings to see how well it holds them.
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Van Der Meulen Rice Toast Natural 65 g
Consider this rice toast for a separate gluten-free platter if the current packaging confirms the required labelling.
Also check the packaging for information about sesame and soya. Before the buffet, try it with your chosen toppings to see if the toast is sturdy enough.
Frequently asked questions
Is toast with no visible wheat suitable for a guest with coeliac disease?
You can’t tell from its appearance or product name. Check that the packaging is labelled ‘gluten-free’. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, this label may be used when the gluten content of the finished product is no more than 20 mg/kg.
How should I provide allergen information for loose toasts on the buffet?
Make the allergen information available before guests eat the snacks. For non-prepacked products, the NVWA lists cards and menus among the ways to provide information. A clear card beside the platter, with the packaging available to consult, makes it easier for guests to check the specific product.
Should gluten-free toast be kept separate from regular toast?
For a buffet with a guest who has coeliac disease, using a separate platter and dedicated tongs is a practical way to guard against crumbs and shared utensils. Keep the toppings separate too: the gluten-free label on the packaging doesn’t tell you what happens later on the buffet platter.
Are gluten-free toasts also free from egg, sesame and soya?
No, that doesn’t follow from the ‘gluten-free’ label. Jumbo lists egg for the Gluten Free Bakery Holland toasts reviewed; Ekoplaza lists sesame and soya for the Lisa's Choice toasts reviewed. Always check the packaging of the product you buy.
Is baker’s salt a reason to choose a particular toast for this buffet?
Not without product-specific information. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that using baker’s salt in bread isn’t compulsory. If its presence matters to a guest, check the label or ask the baker.