If you have coeliac disease, choose bread clearly labelled gluten-free or bearing a gluten-free mark, and take care to keep crumbs from regular bread away from your lunch at home. Then compare the nutritional information, other allergens and storage instructions for each loaf. Sliced white bread suits a regular lunch routine, while rolls can be handy when you want individual portions.
For your lunch, it’s not just the gluten-free label on the bread that matters. The Dutch Coeliac Association advises taking care to stop crumbs from regular bread getting onto your food via the worktop or kitchen utensils.
You want gluten-free bread and are also checking fibre, salt, ingredients and allergens. Compare the nutritional information per 100 g on the packaging of the exact product; whether it contains iodised salt can also vary from one loaf to another.
If you don’t have lunch at home every day, the loaf size and storage instructions matter. For example, Albert Heijn says that half a loaf of AH Glutenvrij Wit bread can be frozen at home on the day of purchase; for other breads, follow the instructions on the packaging.
Start with a gluten-free label and safe preparation. Then compare the labels on sliced bread and rolls, focusing on what matters for your lunch.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free and safely prepared | Look for a clear gluten-free label or a gluten-free mark. Also think about how to keep crumbs from regular bread away from your food at home. | If there’s regular bread at home too, I want to prepare my lunch without any gluten crumbs getting into it. This is the top concern for around 50% of consumers. |
| Nutritional information and ingredients | Compare fibre and salt per 100 g, and check whether iodised salt or baker’s salt is listed among the ingredients. Read the allergen information too. | If white bread is often on my lunch menu, I want to know what’s on my plate in each portion. This label comparison matters most to around 30% of consumers. |
| Portions and storage | Check the loaf size and storage instructions. If you plan to freeze it, check when and how the packaging says you can do so. | If I only work from home a few days a week, I want to store bread without opening more portions than I need. This convenience is the main priority for around 20% of consumers. |
The Dutch Coeliac Association warns that gluten crumbs can get into a gluten-free lunch via knives, chopping boards and worktops, among other things.
Keep the bread wrapped until you’re ready to use it, and use a clean work surface and clean or separate utensils.
You can’t rely on the impression given by a single ingredient instead of a gluten-free label. Products labelled gluten-free may also contain other allergens.
Read the full, current packaging, including the allergen information that’s relevant to you.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So if you want to know whether a loaf contains iodised salt, check the ingredients list.
Look for ‘baker’s salt’ or ‘iodised salt’ on the packaging, and compare the exact products you’re considering.
Half a loaf, a 500 g loaf and mini baguettes come in different shapes and pack sizes. The most practical option depends on how many lunches you want to make.
Check the weight, number of pieces and storage instructions before choosing a size.
These examples can help you compare product labels. A brand name alone doesn’t tell you what to expect from every product in its range.
AH Glutenvrij Wit brood half is a white own-brand loaf in a half-loaf size.
Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten Wit is a 500 g white loaf.
PLUS Wit glutenvrij is a white own-brand loaf; the online category also includes other types of gluten-free bread.
Dirk’s range overview includes gluten-free branded breads and smaller bread formats.
This product is a mini baguette, an alternative to sliced white bread. If you’re specifically looking for pre-sliced bread, this format won’t meet your needs.
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A good choice if you’d rather have rolls than sliced bread for your working-from-home lunch. If you have coeliac disease, check the gluten-free label and allergen information on the packaging. Also check the product format and preparation instructions before choosing these rolls.
The label is the starting point when choosing a product, but how you prepare food at home matters too. The Dutch Coeliac Association advises preventing cross-contamination from crumbs, hands and kitchen utensils.
If you’re buying for someone with coeliac disease, don’t rely on that impression alone. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises looking for a clear gluten-free label or a gluten-free mark, and reading the label for the product you choose.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list for ‘baker’s salt’ or ‘iodised salt’ on each loaf.
Follow the storage instructions for the bread you choose, and only freeze portions as directed on the packaging. Albert Heijn says that half a loaf of AH Glutenvrij Wit bread can be frozen at home on the day of purchase.
