If a guest needs to avoid gluten, choose white bread explicitly labelled ‘gluten-free’. When buying a new pack, check the ingredients and allergen warnings too: gluten-free does not automatically mean free from soya, milk, egg or nuts. Then choose the bread format and quantity to suit the number of guests, and check that your chosen bread is available at your local shop.
This guest needs to follow a gluten-free diet. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, even a stray bread crumb can cause symptoms. Choose bread labelled ‘gluten-free’ and keep it separate from ordinary bread when serving.
Gluten-free bread may contain soya or carry warnings about egg, milk and nuts, as product information from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS shows. Check the label on the pack you buy for every allergen the guest needs to avoid.
If not everyone eats gluten-free bread, the pack weight, bread format and any freezing instructions can help you choose the right amount. Check in advance whether your shop stocks the product you have chosen.
First, check that the bread is labelled gluten-free and look for any other allergens. Then choose a quantity and bread format to suit your dinner, and check whether the product is available locally.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who this matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Choosing and serving gluten-free bread | Look for ‘gluten-free’ on the pack and keep the bread and serving utensils separate from ordinary bread. | If someone with coeliac disease is joining us, I want to prevent crumbs from ordinary bread getting onto the gluten-free bread; this gluten-free choice is the top priority for around 38% of consumers. |
| Other allergens | Read the ingredients and the warning about possible allergens on the exact pack. | If soya or nut allergies are also a concern, I want to know which allergens the bread contains or may contain; around 23% of consumers put this extra check first. |
| Quantity and bread format | Compare the pack weight, number of slices or rolls, and any freezing instructions. | For a small group, I want enough bread without unnecessary leftovers; around 23% of consumers prioritise getting the quantity right. |
| Local availability | Check whether your shop stocks the bread you have chosen, and look at the label when you buy it. | If I’m shopping just before dinner, I want to know whether my chosen bread is available at my shop; around 16% of consumers prioritise local availability. |
For a guest with coeliac disease, checking whether bread contains wheat is not enough to know that it is gluten-free.
Choose a pack that actually says ‘gluten-free’ and check the label every time you buy a new pack.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, even a stray bread crumb can cause symptoms for someone with coeliac disease. Crumbs can get onto gluten-free bread via a shared knife or bread basket.
Use clean utensils and serve the gluten-free bread separately.
Product information from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS shows that gluten-free white bread may also contain soya or carry warnings about other allergens.
Ask which allergens the guest needs to avoid, and read both the ingredients and warnings on the pack.
A product listing on a shop’s website does not mean that the same bread will be available at every branch for your dinner.
Check availability in advance at the shop where you plan to buy your groceries.
An unexpected extra stop at another shop takes time away from preparing dinner.
Albert Heijn lists AH Gluten-free White Half Loaf, 480 g, a pack to consider if only a few guests will be eating gluten-free bread.
Jumbo lists Lekker Vrij van Gluten White, 500 g; the same range also includes other types of bread.
PLUS lists Gluten-free White Bread as well as gluten-free white rolls. This gives you a choice of loaf or individual rolls when planning your meal.
Dirk lists Schär Meisterbackers classic gluten-free bread, 300 g, a smaller pack to consider if only a few guests will be eating gluten-free bread.
ALDI lists gluten-free rolls among its bread range. Check which rolls are suitable for your dinner at your local branch.
Lidl is an option if your local branch stocks bread that meets your guest’s gluten-free needs.
Ordinary wheat-based white bread is not suitable for someone with coeliac disease. Choose bread explicitly labelled ‘gluten-free’ and prevent it coming into contact with crumbs from ordinary bread.
Under European Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, food for consumers may carry this label if it contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. The label does not mean that the product is free from other allergens.
Serve the gluten-free bread separately, with clean utensils and a clean breadboard. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that even a stray bread crumb can cause symptoms for someone with coeliac disease.
No, the ‘gluten-free’ label does not guarantee this. Product information from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS states that the breads mentioned contain soya or carry warnings about other allergens, so always read the label on the exact pack.
