If your child has coeliac disease or follows a gluten-free diet on the advice of a healthcare professional, choose bread clearly labelled gluten-free and avoid contact with crumbs from ordinary bread. If there’s no such need, gluten-free bread isn’t necessary, according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. If your child has a wheat allergy, check the ingredients and allergen information separately too: gluten-free doesn’t automatically mean wheat-free.
With coeliac disease, it’s not just the choice of bread that matters; you also need to prevent contact with ordinary bread and crumbs. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that even a stray bread crumb can cause problems. If your child has a wheat allergy, you’ll also need to check whether the product contains wheat.
Sliced bread and frozen rolls require different preparation. If you’re packing bread for a snack or only need a small portion, you can take pack size and storage instructions into account.
When it comes to white gluten-free bread, the fibre content per 100 g and whether iodised salt is listed can vary. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre highlights bread made with baker’s salt as something to consider for children’s iodine intake.
When: your child doesn’t need to follow a gluten-free diet and the bread fits into their overall diet.
Consider: ordinary white bread isn’t suitable for a strict gluten-free diet. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also notes that white bread contains fewer nutrients than wholemeal and brown bread.
When: you’re looking for a slice of bread for a child who needs to eat gluten-free.
Consider: gluten-free doesn’t rule out other allergens. Check the packaging of the variety you choose, and keep the bread away from ordinary bread crumbs while preparing it.
When: individual rolls are more suitable for a planned snack than a whole loaf of sliced bread.
Consider: the Odenwald Bakery rolls at Jumbo need around 3 hours to defrost and must not be refrozen afterwards.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping it gluten-free and crumb-free | Check the gluten-free label on the packaging. If your child has coeliac disease, use clean, separate equipment to prepare the bread. | If my child has coeliac disease, I want to prevent crumbs from ordinary bread getting onto their gluten-free slice; this gluten-free safety is the top priority for around 39% of consumers. |
| Other allergens and school or childcare policies | Read the current ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements, and check the school or childcare setting’s policy on food brought from home. | If I need to consider another allergy or school policies, I want to know whether this variety is suitable and can be brought in; this is a priority for around 23% of consumers. |
| Nutritional value and iodised salt | Compare the fibre content per 100 g and check whether iodised salt is listed in the ingredients. | When choosing white gluten-free bread, I also want to consider how it contributes to my child’s overall diet; this matters most to around 23% of consumers. |
| Portion size and preparation | Check the pack size and instructions for freezing, defrosting and storing after defrosting. | If I only need one roll, I want to be able to store the rest and remember to prepare it in time for the snack; a practical portion size is the main concern for around 15% of consumers. |
Gluten-free bread may contain soya, for example, or state that it may contain egg, milk or nuts. This makes it important to check the exact variety if your child has another allergy too.
Always read the allergen information on the pack you’re buying; don’t rely on a pack you bought previously.
If your child has coeliac disease, contact with crumbs from ordinary bread can cause problems, even if the bread you’ve bought is gluten-free. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre warns that even a stray bread crumb can matter.
Use clean hands, knives, plates and work surfaces, and keep the breads separate.
White gluten-free breads can vary in fibre content per 100 g and in whether they contain iodised salt. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that white bread contains fewer nutrients than wholemeal and brown bread.
Compare the nutritional information and ingredients, and consider your choice alongside what else your child eats.
The gluten-free Odenwald Bakery rolls at Jumbo need around 3 hours to defrost. According to the product information, they can be kept for up to 2 days after defrosting and must not be refrozen.
Plan ahead for defrosting and only take out of the freezer the amount you’ll use within the stated time.
The range includes AH Glutenvrij Wit brood half, a 480 g sliced loaf.
Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten Wit is a 500 g sliced loaf. Jumbo also sells individual Odenwald Bakery frozen rolls.
PLUS Wit glutenvrij is a white bread option made with tapioca starch.
Schär Meesterbakker classic is a gluten-free white bread made with millet, quinoa and sourdough.
Jumbo sells these gluten-free oval white frozen rolls in packs of two, at 90 g each.
These mini baguettes are one possible bread option for a gluten-free snack. Before buying, check the preparation method and pack contents. If your child follows a strict gluten-free diet, also check the current label and how you’ll prepare the product.
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An option to consider if you’re looking for small portions of gluten-free bread for a snack. Check the packaging to see whether you’re buying bake-at-home rolls or a mix, and what preparation is required. If your child has additional allergies, read the current allergen information; the product contains soya and may contain traces of lupin and mustard.
No, not unless there’s a reason for a gluten-free diet. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that children without coeliac disease or another relevant condition don’t need to eat gluten-free. If your child has been prescribed a diet, follow their individual dietary advice.
Not necessarily. Gluten-free breads can contain other allergens, so check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact variety. If your child has a wheat allergy, you’ll need to check separately whether the product contains wheat.
Prepare the gluten-free slice with clean hands and clean, separate equipment, on a work surface free from ordinary bread crumbs. This is particularly important for coeliac disease: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, even a stray bread crumb can cause problems.
Check the ingredients list for iodised salt or baker’s salt; don’t assume that all gluten-free bread has the same ingredients. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre highlights bread made with baker’s salt as something to consider for children’s iodine intake.
