If you’re catering for a guest with coeliac disease, choose white bread or white rolls whose packaging specifically says “gluten-free”, and check the allergen information too. A whole loaf is handy for several sandwiches, while individual rolls may suit a small bread basket better, provided you allow for their preparation and shelf life. Serve the gluten-free bread separately, with clean, dedicated utensils and spreads.
You’re looking for bread labelled gluten-free and want to avoid it coming into contact with crumbs from ordinary bread when serving. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre stresses that even small amounts of gluten matter for people with coeliac disease.
You’d like white rolls for the bread basket, but may not need a whole loaf. Compare pack sizes, and check when frozen rolls need to be thawed.
As well as gluten, you may need to watch out for soya, milk, eggs or nuts, for example. The “gluten-free” label does not replace the allergen information on the pack you choose.
For a guest with coeliac disease, first check for a gluten-free label and any other allergens. Then choose the bread shape, quantity and preparation method to suit your Easter lunch.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free and served separately | Check that the packaging specifically says “gluten-free”. If ordinary bread is also on the table, have clean, separate serving utensils ready. | When I’m hosting someone with coeliac disease, I want to be sure about the bread and prevent ordinary bread crumbs getting onto it when serving. This is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Bread shape and portion size | Compare white bread and white rolls by shape, net weight and the stated number of portions or items. | For a small bread basket, I don’t want to buy more than we’ll use; a whole loaf may be a better fit if we’re making several sandwiches. Around 29% of consumers prioritise bread shape and quantity. |
| Other allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack you’ve chosen, even if you’ve bought the product before. | If a guest has a food allergy as well as coeliac disease, I need to know whether the bread contains soya, for example. Additional allergens are the main concern for around 21% of consumers. |
| Preparation and storage | Check whether the bread needs to be thawed or baked, and follow the storage instructions for any leftovers. | When I buy bread in advance, I want to know what I’ll need to do on the day and how long any leftovers will keep. This is the main consideration for around 14% of consumers. |
Avoiding wheat is not enough for coeliac disease: rye and barley also contain gluten.
Choose bread whose packaging specifically says “gluten-free”, rather than relying on the absence of wheat alone.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that even small amounts of gluten can matter for people with coeliac disease. Crumbs can get onto gluten-free bread from a board, knife or jar of spread.
Keep the gluten-free bread separate and use clean, dedicated serving utensils and separate portions of spread.
Jumbo says its Lekker Vrij van Gluten Wit contains soya and may contain eggs, milk and nuts. Albert Heijn also notes that AH Glutenvrij Wit brood half may contain other allergens.
Choose products to suit your guest’s allergies and check the current packaging just before use.
Jumbo advises thawing Odenwald Bakery Glutenvrij Ovaal Wit Broodje at room temperature for three hours. These rolls must not be refrozen once thawed.
Plan ahead and allow for the maximum shelf life of two days after thawing, as stated by Jumbo.
Albert Heijn’s range includes white bread, white rolls and white bread rolls: a choice of shapes for sandwiches or a bread basket.
Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten Wit is a 500 g white loaf for anyone who’d rather serve slices than individual rolls.
Jumbo stocks a range of Schär products, including mini baguettes, ciabatta and other types of bread. These are worth considering if the shape matters more than having a whole white loaf.
According to Jumbo, Odenwald Bakery Glutenvrij Ovaal Wit Broodje comes in a frozen pack of 2 × 90 g, making it a good choice for a small bread basket.
These mini baguettes are a good shape for an Easter lunch bread basket. For a guest with coeliac disease, check the gluten-free label on the packaging and plan how to prepare them before serving.
Image unavailable
For a bread basket with small white rolls: the product description identifies these mini baguettes as gluten-free.
The product title states that there are 7 pieces; check the pack for the number of rolls and the net weight. According to the product information, it contains soya and may contain traces of lupin and mustard.
Before buying, check whether the rolls need baking, or need to be shaped and baked, so you can plan for the preparation. If you’re serving them to someone with coeliac disease, keep them separate from ordinary bread.
No. Ordinary wheat-based white bread is not suitable. Choose bread whose packaging specifically says “gluten-free” and avoid contact with ordinary bread when serving.
Yes, especially if your guest has another food allergy. “Gluten-free” does not mean that the bread is also free from soya, milk, eggs or nuts, for example, so check the current packaging of the product you’ve chosen.
Keep the gluten-free bread separate and use a clean, dedicated board, separate utensils and separate portions of spread. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that even small amounts of gluten can matter for people with coeliac disease.
Yes, as long as you can follow the storage instructions for the product you choose. Albert Heijn advises freezing AH Glutenvrij Wit brood half at home on the day of purchase and using it within one month. Jumbo says Odenwald Bakery’s frozen rolls need three hours to thaw and will keep for a maximum of two days afterwards.
You can’t assume that for every gluten-free bread. Albert Heijn and Jumbo list iodised salt in the ingredients of the gluten-free white breads mentioned above; for another product, check its own ingredients list.
