Shoppers with coeliac disease
You’re looking for white bread labelled gluten-free and want to avoid gluten-containing crumbs getting onto it at home. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that coeliac disease requires a lifelong gluten-free diet.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Shoppers with coeliac disease and other allergies
As well as checking that it’s labelled gluten-free, check the ingredients and allergen warnings that are relevant to you. The breads reviewed from Jumbo, Albert Heijn, PLUS and Schär differ in this respect.
Anyone who regularly eats gluten-free bread
For breakfast or lunch, compare the fibre per 100 g, the ingredients and the storage instructions. It’s worth checking whether the bread contains iodised salt: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre says bread doesn’t have to be made with baker’s salt.
What should you look for when choosing?
If you have coeliac disease or other allergies, you’ll need to carry out the relevant safety checks, whatever matters most to you.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free status and cross-contact | Look for an explicit gluten-free label and decide how you’ll store and prepare the bread separately at home. | If there’s ordinary bread in the house too, I want to store and prepare my gluten-free bread without it coming into contact with gluten-containing crumbs. Around 33% of consumers give the highest priority to gluten-free status and avoiding cross-contact. |
| Other allergens | Read the ingredients list and allergen warnings for the exact product, even if it’s labelled gluten-free. | If I also need to avoid soya, I can’t rely on the gluten-free label alone. Around 27% of consumers are most concerned about other allergens. |
| Fibre and iodine | Compare the fibre per 100 g and check whether the ingredients include iodised salt or baker’s salt. | If bread is a regular part of my diet, I want to compare the nutritional information and know which salt has been used. Fibre and iodine are the top priorities for around 20% of consumers. |
| Use and storage | Check the pack size, use-by date and any freezing instructions. | If I don’t eat bread every day, I want to choose a pack I can use in line with the storage instructions. Ease of use and pack size are deciding factors for around 20% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Checking only that it’s gluten-free
Gluten-free bread may still contain soya or carry a warning about other allergens. The Jumbo, PLUS and Schär products reviewed show that this information varies from one product to another.
Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the pack you’re buying; don’t rely on the brand or a vegan label alone.
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Letting crumbs get onto the bread at home
The Dutch Coeliac Society says that people with coeliac disease can also become ill through cross-contamination with gluten. Shared knives, chopping boards or butter can transfer crumbs.
Store gluten-free bread separately, and use clean utensils and spreads that are free from gluten-containing crumbs.
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Assuming it contains iodised salt
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre identifies bread made with iodised baker’s salt as an important source of iodine, but bread doesn’t have to be made with baker’s salt.
Check the label on your bread to see whether iodised salt or baker’s salt has been used. If you have questions about your overall diet, speak to a dietitian.
Brands to consider
These examples relate to the specific breads mentioned; always check the current packaging before buying.
AH Glutenvrij
Albert Heijn offers AH Glutenvrij Wit brood half for anyone looking for a smaller pack of white bread.
- For this product, Albert Heijn lists 10 g of fibre per 100 g.
- The product information warns that it may contain, among other things, egg, milk, soya, oats and nuts.
Jumbo Lekker Vrij
The Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten Wit product reviewed comes in a 500 g pack.
- For this product, Jumbo lists the Crossed Grain symbol, iodised salt and 6,2 g of fibre per 100 g.
- The bread contains soya and may contain egg, milk and nuts.
PLUS
PLUS offers gluten-free white bread made with tapioca starch.
- PLUS labels the product reviewed as vegan.
- The bread contains soya; PLUS also warns that it may contain, among other things, oats, egg, milk and nuts.
Schär
Schär Meesterbakker Classic is a gluten-free white bread made with sourdough, millet and quinoa, available from retailers including PLUS.
- The ingredients information reviewed lists iodised salt.
- This product contains soya protein and may contain lupin and mustard.
Bread rolls for a different occasion
If you’d rather buy small rolls than sliced white bread, you could consider the option below. Before buying, check the gluten-free label and preparation instructions on the pack.
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Gv Baguette Mini 7 Pieces
An option to consider if you’re looking for small rolls rather than sliced white bread. Check the pack for the gluten-free label, allergens, preparation instructions and pack contents; the product name alone doesn’t confirm how many pieces are included.
Frequently asked questions
Can I eat ordinary white bread if I have coeliac disease?
No. If you have coeliac disease, choose bread explicitly labelled gluten-free instead of ordinary white bread. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says coeliac disease requires a lifelong gluten-free diet, so check the packaging of the product you buy.
Is gluten-free bread also free from other allergens?
Not necessarily: gluten-free doesn’t mean it’s free from soya, milk, egg or nuts, for example. Read the ingredients list and allergen information for the exact product, even if you’re buying a loaf you’ve had before.
How can I keep gluten-free bread separate at home?
Store the bread separately and use clean knives, chopping boards and other utensils. Look out for crumbs in shared spreads or on a toaster too; the Dutch Coeliac Society warns that cross-contamination with gluten can affect people with coeliac disease.
Does gluten-free bread always contain iodised salt?
No. Check the ingredients list on the bread itself. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that in the Netherlands, bread doesn’t have to be made with baker’s salt, even though bread made with iodised baker’s salt can contribute to your iodine intake.