Traditional rye bread is not a gluten-free choice for a guest with coeliac disease. For an Italian evening, choose bread whose current packaging clearly states that it is gluten-free, then check the ingredients and any other relevant allergens. Bake-at-home ciabatta is a good choice if you want warm bread on the table; a darker seeded loaf is another option if it’s the texture of rye bread you miss most.
If a guest needs to avoid gluten, start by checking the gluten-free statement on the exact packaging. Under Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, rye is one of the cereals that contain gluten, so check the ingredients and allergen information too.
Gluten-free ciabatta can take the place of warm bread alongside antipasti, soup or pasta. Check the cooking instructions and make sure you have enough oven space just before serving.
Darker gluten-free breads and seeded varieties are worth considering if texture is what matters most. Compare the ingredients and nutritional information for the specific products rather than judging by colour.
Start with the gluten-free statement and any allergens that are relevant to your guests. Then choose a type of bread that suits the menu and your preparations.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten and allergens | Read the gluten-free statement, ingredients list and allergen information on the exact packaging. | If someone with coeliac disease is joining us, I don’t want to rely on the bread’s name or colour. For around 50% of consumers, checking for gluten comes first. |
| Type of bread and preparation | Choose between bread that’s ready to serve and bake-at-home bread; if you’re buying the latter, check the cooking time. | If I’m serving warm bread with antipasti or soup, I want to know whether the oven will be free when it’s time to eat. For around 30% of consumers, this serving requirement takes priority. |
| Texture and nutritional information | Compare seeds and fibre per 100 g; if the type of salt matters to you, check the ingredients list too. | If I miss the bite of rye bread, I’m more likely to look for a darker seeded variety than a light ciabatta. For around 20% of consumers, texture is the main consideration. |
A dark colour or the name ‘rye bread’ doesn’t tell you whether a product is suitable for a gluten-free diet. Rye itself is a cereal that contains gluten.
Check the gluten-free statement, ingredients and allergen information on the exact packaging.
According to Jumbo’s product information, Schär Ciabatta contains soya and may contain lupin, mustard and sesame. So a gluten-free statement doesn’t answer every question about allergens.
Ask which allergies are relevant to your guests, and check the ‘may contain’ information on the packaging too.
According to Schär, both the classic Ciabatta and Ciabatta Rustica need another ten minutes in the oven. You’ll need to allow for the space and timing if you want to serve the bread warm.
Choose bake-at-home bread if you can use the oven just before the meal; otherwise, consider a gluten-free bread that’s ready to serve.
The ingredients for PLUS Bruin glutenvrij list iodised salt. That doesn’t tell you which type of salt is used in another bread.
If iodine matters when you’re comparing products, check the salt information for the specific variety.
These brands offer different types of bread that may be worth considering when choosing gluten-free options for an Italian evening. Always check the packaging of the product you’re actually buying.
Schär offers gluten-free ciabatta, among other products, for anyone who wants to serve warm bread with a meal.
Albert Heijn has its own product range under the AH Glutenvrij name. Compare the types of bread in the range with how you plan to serve it.
PLUS offers several types of gluten-free bread, including brown bread, multiseed bread and rolls.
These mini baguettes are one bread option to serve with an Italian meal. If you’re serving a guest with coeliac disease, the gluten-free statement and ingredients information on the current packaging are what matter.
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Mini baguettes can be served as bread alongside an Italian meal. Before serving them to someone with coeliac disease, check the gluten-free statement, ingredients and allergens on the exact packaging; also check the pack size and preparation instructions.
No, not if it contains rye. Under Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, rye is one of the cereals that contain gluten. If you’re serving a guest with coeliac disease, don’t rely on the product name: check the gluten-free statement and ingredients on the exact packaging.
Gluten-free ciabatta is an option if you want to serve warm bread with the meal and have an oven available. According to Schär, both the classic Ciabatta and Ciabatta Rustica need another ten minutes in the oven. If that won’t work for you, choose a type of bread that’s ready to serve and check its packaging.
Not necessarily. Jumbo’s product information lists soya in Schär Ciabatta and says it may contain lupin, mustard and sesame. Check the packaging of the bread you plan to buy for other allergens as well.
You can’t tell from the gluten-free category alone. PLUS lists iodised salt in PLUS Bruin glutenvrij; for another product, check its ingredients list if the type of salt matters to you.
