If you have coeliac disease, choose bread whose current packaging clearly states that it is gluten-free, and keep it separate from gluten-containing food while transporting, filling and serving it. A small roll is practical as an individual portion; sliced white bread lets you prepare several sandwiches in advance. For both types, check the allergens, storage instructions and ingredients, especially if iodised salt is important to you.
You want to take gluten-free bread with you without it coming into contact with crumbs or shared utensils in transit or when serving it. The Voedingscentrum points out that even a stray breadcrumb can cause symptoms in people with coeliac disease.
You’re making filled sandwiches in advance and want sliced bread with clear ingredient and storage information. Albert Heijn and Jumbo list Schär Meesterbakker Classic as sliced gluten-free bread.
You’d rather carry a compact portion than separate slices and fillings. Jumbo and Dirk list a gluten-free Schär mini baguette; check the packaging before preparing it for the festival.
Start by checking that it’s labelled gluten-free and thinking about how you can carry and serve the bread without it coming into contact with crumbs. Then choose between sliced bread for making several sandwiches and a smaller loaf for an individual portion.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free and kept separate | Check the current packaging for a gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain symbol. Think about how you’ll carry the bread in a sealed container and serve it using clean, separate utensils. | If I have coeliac disease, I want to prevent my bread coming into contact with ordinary bread crumbs when it’s being filled or served. For around 50% of consumers, avoiding gluten is the top priority. |
| Portion size and transport | Compare rolls with sliced bread in terms of portion size, packaging and storage instructions. Jumbo lists mini baguettes at 2 × 75 g and sliced bread at 300 g. | For an individual portion, I want a roll that’s easy to take with me; if I’m making several sandwiches, sliced bread works better for preparing them in advance. For around 30% of consumers, this practical choice is the main consideration. |
| Label and nutritional information | Compare fibre and salt per 100 g, and check the ingredients and allergens, including any information about soya or iodised salt. | If I need to check ingredients other than gluten too, I want to be able to compare the nutritional information and allergens for the specific bread. This is the most important consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
According to the Voedingscentrum, even a small amount of gluten, such as a breadcrumb, can cause symptoms in people with coeliac disease. A shared pair of tongs, chopping board or jar of filling could therefore be a problem.
Keep the bread sealed and use separate, clean utensils and fillings. Ask a festival food stall how its gluten-free option is prepared and served.
Ingredients, allergens and nutritional information can change. A product description you viewed earlier is no substitute for checking the packaging of the product you actually buy.
Read the packaging again before using the bread, especially if you also need to avoid other allergens or check for iodised salt.
The Voedingscentrum says that bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So don’t assume a bread contains iodine based on the type of bread alone.
Check the ingredients of your chosen product for baker’s salt or iodised salt.
A shop may list gluten-free types of bread without having the product you want in stock when you go to buy it.
Check the specific product in advance and buy it in good time if you don’t want to rely on what’s available at the festival.
Albert Heijn lists Schär Meesterbakker Classic gluten-free bread, a 300 g sliced loaf.
Jumbo lists several gluten-free types of bread from Schär, including Meesterbakker Classic and Mini Baguette.
PLUS lists PLUS Wit gluten-free bread alongside other gluten-free varieties.
Dirk lists 300 g of Schär sliced gluten-free bread and a 150 g gluten-free mini baguette.
ALDI lists gluten-free bread and rolls among its bake-at-home rolls and snacks.
Lidl promotes a gluten-free range alongside its regular shop range.
Ordinary white wheat bread isn’t suitable for people with coeliac disease because wheat contains gluten. Choose bread whose current packaging clearly states that it is gluten-free or carries the Crossed Grain symbol.
Yes, for example through bread crumbs or shared serving utensils. The Voedingscentrum highlights the risk of even a stray crumb for people with coeliac disease, so keep the bread sealed and use separate, clean utensils when preparing and serving it.
No. Gluten-free doesn’t mean a product is also free from soya, milk, eggs or nuts, for example. PLUS lists soya and warnings about the possible presence of other allergens for PLUS Wit gluten-free bread. If you have additional allergies, always check the current packaging.
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check the ingredients of the specific bread: Albert Heijn, for example, lists iodised salt in Schär Meesterbakker Classic.
