If you’re taking rolls for someone with coeliac disease, choose a product whose current packaging explicitly says ‘gluten-free’, and check the ingredients and allergens too. Schär Kaiserbrötchen are similar in shape to a kaiser roll; mini baguettes and ciabatta are alternatives if you can bake them before setting off. Check the preparation and storage instructions for each product individually.
If you want a bread snack for the journey, don’t rely on a roll simply because it looks like an ordinary bakery roll. Check that it is explicitly labelled gluten-free, read the ingredients and allergen information, and keep it separate from regular bread crumbs when packing.
If you have access to an oven before you leave, you could also consider gluten-free bake-at-home products, such as the mini baguettes and ciabatta listed by PLUS. Allow time for baking and cooling before packing them.
If you want to pack a variety of rolls or sandwiches, gluten-free bread rolls and loaves are also worth comparing. Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS list these types of bread; check the packaging of each product you choose.
For someone with coeliac disease, the label on the current packaging matters more than the shape of the roll you want. Then consider whether you can take it with you without any extra preparation, how many portions you need and where you can buy it before setting off.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free label and allergens | Check the packaging for the words ‘gluten-free’, the ingredients, allergens and any warnings about cross-contamination. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that EU requirements apply to the ‘gluten-free’ label. | If I’m packing for someone with coeliac disease, I want to be able to check these details on the roll I’m taking. For around 36% of consumers, checking the label comes first. |
| Portions and storage | Check whether the rolls are individually wrapped and follow the storage instructions, including after opening. | If I’m making several stops, I want to be able to take portions without leaving an opened pack unattended. Around 29% of consumers prioritise planning portions. |
| Shape and preparation | Compare Kaiserbrötchen, mini baguettes and ciabatta for shape and oven instructions. PLUS says its Schär ciabatta needs 8–10 minutes in the oven at 200 °C. | Do I want something that looks like a kaiser roll, or do I have time to bake a different type of bread before setting off? This is the top priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Availability | Check the range at the shop you plan to visit, and look for the specific gluten-free product and packaging there. | If I’m doing my shopping at one shop just before setting off, I want to know whether I can get the type of roll I’ve chosen there. For around 14% of consumers, choosing the shop is their main concern. |
The shape of a roll and an ingredients list that looks suitable at first glance are no substitute for an explicit gluten-free label. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority distinguishes between the labels ‘gluten-free’ and ‘very low gluten’.
For someone with coeliac disease, choose a pack labelled ‘gluten-free’ and check the current ingredients and allergen information for that product.
Even after purchase, a gluten-free roll can come into contact with crumbs from regular bread, for example while you’re making a sandwich. Glutenvrij.nl lists bread crumbs as an example of cross-contamination.
Use clean hands and utensils, and pack gluten-free rolls separately from regular rolls.
The Schär ciabatta listed by PLUS needs 8–10 minutes in the oven at 200 °C. So a bake-at-home product needs to be prepared before you set off.
Follow the instructions on the packaging, let baked rolls cool before packing, and check how to store an opened pack.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bakers in the Netherlands are not required to use bakers’ salt. You can’t tell whether it has been used from the shape of the bread.
For packaged bread, check the ingredients list if you want to know whether bakers’ salt has been used; ask about it if the bread is unpackaged.
Schär offers several types of gluten-free bread that are suitable for a packed lunch.
Albert Heijn’s gluten-free rolls range includes several shapes for anyone who doesn’t need Kaiserbrötchen.
At Jumbo, you can compare gluten-free loaves with smaller types of bread.
PLUS lists own-brand bread and rolls, as well as Schär gluten-free bake-at-home rolls.
Dirk is worth checking if you’re specifically looking for a roll shaped like a Kaiserbrötchen.
ALDI lists gluten-free bread as part of its bakery range.
Lidl shares information about gluten-free products, but distinguishes between special products and its regular range.
No. Don’t rely on the shape of the roll alone: choose a product whose current packaging explicitly says ‘gluten-free’, and check the ingredients and allergens. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority sets out the requirements for this label and for declaring cereals containing gluten.
Bake them before setting off, following the instructions on the packaging. Let them cool, then pack them separately in clean packaging. PLUS says its Schär ciabatta needs 8–10 minutes at 200 °C; check the preparation and storage instructions for any other product.
Check the label again because information about the product you buy may change. PLUS notes, for example, that ingredients, nutritional information and allergen information can be updated.
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bakers in the Netherlands are not required to use bakers’ salt. The Commodities Act Decree on the Addition of Micronutrients to Foodstuffs defines bakers’ salt as iodised table salt for bread and other baked goods; for a specific packaged loaf, check the ingredients list to see whether it has been used.
