Parents of a child with coeliac disease
For them, both the ‘gluten-free’ label on the bread and the way it is prepared matter. The Dutch Coeliac Society warns that crumbs can get onto gluten-free bread from a shared knife or chopping board.
Who is this choice important for?
Parents who also need to consider other allergens
Gluten-free does not mean that bread is also free from allergens such as soya, egg, milk or nuts. The allergen information on the pack you choose must match the arrangements agreed for your child and the childcare setting.
Families planning lunches for several days at childcare
Pack size, how long the bread keeps once opened and freezing instructions all affect how easy it is to portion. Whatever your plan, you still need to keep the bread separate from ordinary bread.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start by checking the gluten-free label and agreeing how the bread will be prepared at the childcare setting. Then check for any other allergens and work out how much bread you will need for each day.
| What to consider | What to check | Who does this matter most to? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free and crumb-free | Look for ‘gluten-free’ on the current label. Agree that the childcare setting will use clean, separate equipment and fillings that have not been contaminated. | If my child has coeliac disease, I want the bread to be gluten-free and kept free from crumbs from ordinary bread. For around 50% of consumers, this reassurance is the top priority. |
| Other allergens and childcare arrangements | Check the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements on the pack, and discuss with the childcare setting how they will store and serve the lunch. | If my child has another food allergy, I want to know whether this particular bread fits the arrangements we have agreed. Other allergens and how food is handled at the childcare setting matter most to around 30% of consumers. |
| Portions and storage | Compare pack sizes and storage instructions. For nutritional information, check the values per 100 g and the ingredients. | When I pack bread for several days at childcare, I want to plan portions without keeping an opened pack for too long. Around 20% of consumers put everyday practicality first. |
Common packing mistakes
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Assuming ‘gluten-free’ means ‘free from all allergens’
Gluten-free bread can still contain other allergens. Product information from Albert Heijn, Schär and PLUS does not list the same ingredients and warnings for every loaf.
Read the full allergen information on the pack you are actually sending in, even if you have bought the product before.
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Keeping the bread separate, but not the preparation
The Dutch Coeliac Society says that crumbs can get onto gluten-free bread from items such as a knife or chopping board.
Pack the bread in a clearly identifiable, sealed container. Beforehand, agree with the childcare setting which clean equipment and fillings they will use for this lunch.
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Relying on online product information instead of checking the label
The ingredients or allergen statements may have changed since you last bought the product, even if you remember what was on the previous pack.
Check the physical label before packing, especially if you have switched products or the packaging has changed.
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Assuming every loaf contains iodised salt
Not all bread lists iodised salt. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre highlights the role of bread made with iodised salt in iodine intake; this is separate from whether the bread is labelled gluten-free.
Check the ingredients list for iodised salt or baker’s salt when comparing loaves on this point.
Brands and product ranges to help you compare
These examples of ready-to-eat gluten-free bread can help you compare labels. Always check the specific product and its current packaging.
AH Glutenvrij
Albert Heijn’s own-brand range includes products such as AH Glutenvrij Wit brood half.
- Albert Heijn lists 10 g of fibre per 100 g for this bread and advises freezing it at home on the day of purchase.
- The product information says it may contain, among other things, egg, milk, soya, oats, almonds and hazelnuts. Check the warnings on the current pack.
Schär
Schär Meesterbakker Classic is a gluten-free white bread whose listed ingredients include millet, quinoa and sourdough.
- Product information from Albert Heijn and PLUS lists 8,1 g of fibre per 100 g and iodised salt.
- The bread contains soya and may contain lupin and mustard. Also follow the storage instructions once the pack is open.
PLUS
PLUS Wit glutenvrij is a ready-to-eat gluten-free bread made with tapioca starch.
- PLUS lists 6,158 g of fibre per 100 g for this product.
- The product contains soya and may contain oats, egg, milk and nuts, among other things. Check the current label for the full details.
Gluten-free bread rolls on Joybuy
These mini baguettes are an option for a gluten-free lunch if you can bake them at home beforehand. They are a different choice from ready-to-eat, sliced white bread.
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Gv Baguette Mini 7 Pieces
Ideal for a gluten-free bread roll lunch when you can bake them at home. Agree with the childcare setting how the rolls will then be stored and served separately.
The pack contains seven mini baguettes. Check for soya and possible traces of lupin and mustard, and read the allergen information on the current label.
Frequently asked questions
When can bread be labelled ‘gluten-free’?
According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, ‘gluten-free’ means a product contains less than 20 mg of gluten per kg. If your child has coeliac disease, choose bread with this explicit label. Checking an ingredients list for the absence of gluten-containing grains is not the same thing.
Can gluten-free bread be prepared in the same place as ordinary bread?
Only if the gluten-free bread does not come into contact with crumbs from ordinary bread. The Dutch Coeliac Society gives a shared chopping board as an example of how crumbs can be transferred. So agree with the childcare setting that they will use clean, separate equipment and fillings that have not been contaminated.
Does gluten-free bread always contain iodised salt?
No. Check the ingredients list for each loaf for iodised salt or baker’s salt. PLUS does not list it in the ingredient information discussed here, whereas the product information for Schär Meesterbakker Classic does mention iodised salt. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises paying attention to overall iodine intake if you eat little bread or bread made without iodised salt.