If your toddler has coeliac disease, choose a bread roll labelled ‘gluten-free’ and check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging every time you buy it. For breakfast, also consider whether you can serve the roll in small pieces that are easy to chew. If gluten-free bread regularly replaces ordinary bread, look at its fibre content and whether baker’s salt is listed as part of your child’s overall diet.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that toddlers with coeliac disease need to follow a gluten-free diet. When choosing a bread roll, the ‘gluten-free’ label and the current packaging information therefore matter more than the name or appearance of the roll.
You want to serve the bread roll and toppings in pieces that suit your child’s chewing ability. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against giving babies and toddlers pieces of food that are too large.
Look beyond a single breakfast and compare information such as the fibre content on the label. Whether baker’s salt is listed is also relevant: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers are not required to use it.
If your child has coeliac disease, first check for a gluten-free label and read the current packaging information. Then consider whether the texture suits your toddler and how the roll fits into their usual breakfast.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free label | Check that ‘gluten-free’ appears on the packaging and read the current ingredients and allergen information. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, this label may only be used on a food intended for the final consumer if it contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. | If my toddler has coeliac disease, I want to be able to check that this particular roll meets the gluten-free requirement every time I buy it. For around 46% of consumers, this check comes first. |
| Size and texture | Consider whether you can cut the roll into small pieces, and whether the crust, any seeds and the toppings suit your child’s chewing ability. | My toddler needs to be able to chew the roll and toppings well; I want to avoid large or hard pieces. For around 27% of consumers, serving a manageable portion for a toddler is the main consideration. |
| Nutritional information | Compare the fibre and salt content on the label, for example per 100 g, and check whether baker’s salt is listed if the roll regularly replaces ordinary bread. | If gluten-free bread is often on the menu, I don’t want to judge its nutritional value by the words ‘multigrain’ alone. For around 27% of consumers, how the roll fits into the overall diet matters most. |
A name such as ‘multigrain’, ‘spelt’ or ‘organic’ doesn’t mean a roll is gluten-free. For a toddler with coeliac disease, that distinction is essential.
Look for the ‘gluten-free’ label on the current packaging. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, food intended for the final consumer must contain no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten to carry this label.
‘Gluten-free’ doesn’t tell you how much fibre a product contains. Nor can you tell from the type of bread whether baker’s salt has been used; according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers are not required to use it.
Compare the nutritional information and, if gluten-free bread regularly replaces ordinary bread, consider the overall diet. If your child follows a restricted or limited diet, ask a specialist dietitian for advice tailored to their needs.
Whether a child can chew the crust, seeds and toppings easily varies from one child to another. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against giving babies and toddlers pieces of food that are too large.
Cut the roll into small pieces, adapt the crust and toppings to suit your child, and stay with them while they eat calmly sitting down.
Albert Heijn says that a product’s ingredients, nutritional values and allergy information may change. A product page you viewed previously is therefore no substitute for checking the packaging of the product you buy.
Read the current label every time you buy a product, especially if coeliac disease or another food allergy is involved.
Albert Heijn lists white gluten-free bread rolls and other gluten-free rolls under AH Glutenvrij.
Consenza lists gluten-free multigrain rolls for baking at home, as well as a range of fresh rolls, including bread rolls.
Jumbo lists products from Schär including gluten-free burger buns and flatbreads.
Not unless there’s a reason to follow a gluten-free diet. A gluten-free diet is necessary for people with coeliac disease; according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, people without coeliac disease or another confirmed reason don’t need to eat gluten-free. If your child also has other food allergies, check the relevant ingredients and allergens separately.
Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, a food intended for the final consumer may only be labelled ‘gluten-free’ if it contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. This EU rule also applies in the Netherlands. Check the current label for ingredients and other allergens too.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers are not required to use baker’s salt. For packaged bread, check the label to see whether it has been used; for unwrapped bread, ask the baker. If gluten-free bread regularly replaces ordinary bread, consider iodine as part of the overall diet.
