People with coeliac disease who order bread online
You want to be able to check that a loaf is labelled gluten-free before ordering. When it arrives, check the packaging, ingredients and allergen information again.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Shoppers comparing grain bases and fibre
As well as a gluten-free label, you’re looking for information about the grains used and the amount of fibre per 100 g. The colour and seeds on the outside don’t tell you the whole story.
Online shoppers who like to keep bread in stock
You want the pack size, shelf life and storage advice to suit how much bread you get through. The available delivery slot and ordering terms also matter.
What should you look for when choosing?
First check the gluten-free label and allergen information. Then compare the ingredients and see whether the bread suits your order and storage arrangements.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free labelling and allergens | Check for the ‘gluten-free’ label and read the latest ingredients and allergen information, including when the bread arrives. | If I need to eat gluten-free because of coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely on a bread’s colour or name. For around 50% of shoppers, this check would be their main concern when buying for the first time. |
| Grain base and fibre | Check which flours and grains are used and compare the stated fibre per 100 g. | I’m looking for gluten-free bread with a grain base and fibre content I can compare, not just a dark crust. This would be the top priority for around 30% of shoppers. |
| Ordering and storage | After selecting your postcode and delivery slot, check availability, pack weight and storage or freezing instructions. | When shopping online, I want to order bread that I can receive in good time and use before its best-before date. For around 20% of shoppers, this would be their main practical concern. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘dark’ or ‘sourdough’ means ‘gluten-free’
The colour or type of bread doesn’t tell you whether it’s suitable for someone with coeliac disease. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, coeliac disease requires a gluten-free diet.
Look for the ‘gluten-free’ label and check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging you receive.
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Judging fibre by the colour or seeds
A dark crust or seeds don’t show how much fibre the bread contains or which types of flour have been used.
Compare the ingredients with the nutritional information per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre defines wholegrain products as those made from the entire grain.
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Choosing bread before checking delivery slots
Whether you can order a product may depend on your postcode, selected shop and delivery slot.
Choose your delivery or collection slot first, then check the available range and ordering terms.
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Buying a large pack without a storage plan
If you don’t use the bread before its best-before date, some of it could go to waste.
Choose a pack weight that suits how much you use and follow the storage advice for the product. For Garbo Dark Wholegrain Sourdough Bread, for example, Jumbo states that the product must not be refrozen once thawed.
Brands to explore
Céréal
Céréal offers a gluten-free bread marketed as wholegrain. Albert Heijn lists ingredients including rice sourdough and wholemeal buckwheat flour for this product.
- The grain ingredients listed give you something specific to look at when assessing the product.
- Check the latest product information and availability at each retailer; this bread’s description doesn’t automatically apply to other Céréal products.
Jumbo Lekker Vrij
Jumbo’s gluten-free bread range includes brown and white varieties, both weighing 500 g.
- Pack weight gives you a clear point of comparison if you eat bread regularly.
- ‘Brown’ doesn’t confirm that the bread is wholegrain. Check the ingredients, nutritional information and allergens for each variety.
AH Glutenvrij
Albert Heijn’s range includes dark and light multiseed bread, as well as gluten-free sourdough bread.
- The different types of bread give you several ingredient lists to compare individually.
- ‘Multiseed’ and ‘sourdough’ don’t in themselves tell you whether the bread contains wholegrain ingredients, how much fibre it has or whether it contains other allergens. Check the latest packaging.
Schär
In its gluten-free bread range, Jumbo lists Schär Meesterbakker Mehrkorn, Vital and Classic, as well as ciabatta.
- You can explore different types of bread if you’re looking for both sliced bread and other options.
- Compare the ingredients, fibre and allergens of the exact variety you’re considering; one product’s ingredients don’t apply to the whole brand.
Related products
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Is dark or brown bread suitable for someone with coeliac disease?
Not based on colour alone. Choose bread labelled ‘gluten-free’ and check the latest ingredients and allergen information; names such as ‘dark’, ‘brown’ and ‘multiseed’ are no substitute for checking.
How do I compare gluten-free bread for wholegrain ingredients and fibre?
Check which grains and flours are listed in the ingredients, and compare the fibre per 100 g in the nutritional information. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a wholegrain product is made from the entire grain; a dark colour or the name ‘multiseed’ doesn’t confirm this.
Does all gluten-free bread contain iodine?
Don’t assume that it does. If iodine is relevant to your choice, check the ingredients and nutritional information for the specific bread; a gluten-free label doesn’t tell you what type of salt has been used.
Where can I check whether gluten-free bread can be delivered?
Start by entering your postcode, choosing a shop and selecting an available delivery slot. Then check the bread range. Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS offer online grocery delivery under their own terms; Dirk states that it doesn’t deliver groceries.