If breakfast is for someone with coeliac disease, choose a loaf whose specific packaging states that it is gluten-free; the name ‘tiger bread’ alone does not guarantee this. A specialist gluten-free tiger loaf is a good fit if you want the crust and a whole loaf, while packaged gluten-free rolls or other bread are alternatives if the shape matters less. When serving, keep your chosen product separate from bread containing gluten and its crumbs.
Who is this choice for?
Anyone planning breakfast for someone with coeliac disease
You’re looking for bread labelled gluten-free and want to prevent it coming into contact with ordinary bread crumbs at a shared breakfast. The Dutch Coeliac Society points out that crumbs can get onto gluten-free bread via a shared chopping board.
Anyone who specifically wants to serve tiger bread
You’re thinking not only about bread for someone who needs a gluten-free diet, but also about the distinctive tiger crust and the shape of a whole loaf. A specialist gluten-free tiger loaf fits the bill; Bakker Leo offers one.
Anyone who wants to keep breakfast simple
You want to provide bread or rolls for several people and are happy with a different type of gluten-free bread. For example, Albert Heijn lists gluten-free rolls, seeded rolls and white bread; check the packaging and storage instructions for each product you choose.
What should you consider when choosing?
First, distinguish between bread labelled gluten-free and ordinary tiger bread. Then decide how important the tiger crust, number of portions and weekend preparation are to you.
Specialist gluten-free tiger bread
A good fit if: you want to serve a whole loaf with a tiger crust. Bakker Leo offers a 350 g sliced white gluten-free tiger loaf.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to plan ahead. Bakker Leo says this bread keeps for two days outside the freezer and for at least two months in the freezer.
Other packaged gluten-free bread
A good fit if: a roll or another type of bread is fine for breakfast and a tiger crust isn’t essential.
Bear in mind: your chosen gluten-free bread won’t automatically be tiger bread. Check the specific product and its availability at your shop.
| What to consider |
What to check when buying |
Who this matters to |
| Gluten-free labelling and crumbs |
Read the gluten-free label and allergen information on the packaging. If you’re also serving ordinary bread, plan to use separate, clean chopping and spreading utensils. |
If someone with coeliac disease is eating with us, I want to be sure which bread I’m serving and prevent ordinary bread crumbs getting onto it. This certainty is the top priority for around 46% of consumers. |
| Tiger crust and loaf shape |
Check that it is gluten-free tiger bread and that the loaf shape and number of slices suit breakfast. |
I’m looking for a whole loaf with a distinctive tiger crust, not just any gluten-free roll. For around 36% of consumers, this particular type of bread is the main priority. |
| Portions and preparation |
Check the number of items, storage instructions and, for bake-at-home rolls, the preparation instructions. |
I want to make sure we have enough rolls for the weekend without relying on one specific type of bread. For around 18% of consumers, convenience is the main consideration. |
European rules allow a food to be labelled gluten-free only if it contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten when sold to consumers. Separate preparation is still important when serving: the Dutch Coeliac Society says crumbs from ordinary bread can get onto gluten-free bread via a chopping board.
Common mistakes
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Assuming tiger bread is gluten-free tiger bread
The name of the bread tells you nothing about whether it is labelled gluten-free. For example, Jumbo lists boeren tiger loaves in several varieties; the name of this bread doesn’t confirm that it’s suitable for someone who needs gluten-free bread.
Rely on the labelling and allergen information on the specific packaging, not the type of bread or where it is displayed in the shop.
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Letting ordinary bread crumbs get onto gluten-free bread
The Dutch Coeliac Society says crumbs can get onto gluten-free bread via a shared chopping board. Keeping the two separate matters just as much at a shared weekend breakfast.
Use a clean surface and separate or clean chopping and spreading utensils. Also watch out for crumbs in shared spreads.
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Assuming a gluten-free range includes tiger bread
Albert Heijn lists several types of gluten-free bread, including rolls and white bread. This range alone doesn’t tell you whether gluten-free tiger bread is available too.
Decide whether the tiger crust is essential. If another type of bread will do, compare the specific gluten-free products. If the crust is important, look for a specialist tiger loaf in good time.
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Assuming iodised baker’s salt is a standard feature of bread
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains when iodine may be present in bread and other baked goods through baker’s salt. This doesn’t tell you which salt is used in every individual gluten-free loaf.
Check the product’s ingredients if this distinction matters to you when buying.
Brands and shops to consider
A gluten-free bread category and a range of tiger bread can exist side by side. So always check the specific product you’re planning to buy for breakfast.
Albert Heijn
Supermarket with an online selection of gluten-free bakery products, including its own rolls and white bread.
- The selection includes different types of bread for breakfast, such as rolls and seeded rolls.
- Check the current packaging and availability if you’re looking for a specific tiger bread variety.
Jumbo
Supermarket with a gluten-free bread category, as well as boeren tiger bread in white, brown and wholemeal varieties.
- You can check the labelling of each available type of bread individually.
- Don’t assume that boeren tiger bread or anything in the bread category is gluten-free based on its name.
Lidl
Supermarket that stocks standard tiger rolls and provides information about its gluten-free range.
- The shop shelves and specific packaging give you a way to check what’s currently available.
- Lidl says that additional gluten-free products aren’t always available; a standard tiger roll isn’t automatically gluten-free.
Schär
Brand offering packaged gluten-free bread alternatives. Schär lists Albert Heijn, Jumbo, Dirk and Plus among the retailers that stock its range.
- Schär says its products are certified gluten-free.
- The brand says its range varies by shop. Check the variety and packaging of the product you’re actually buying.
Bakker Leo
Specialist bakery offering white gluten-free tiger bread for anyone looking for this particular type of loaf.
- Bakker Leo lists a 350 g loaf, sliced into approximately 11 slices.
- The seller says the loaf keeps for two days outside the freezer. Bear these storage instructions in mind when planning ahead.
Mini baguettes for breakfast at Joybuy
These mini baguettes are a good fit for a breakfast where a tiger crust isn’t essential. If you’re buying them for someone with coeliac disease, check the gluten-free label and allergen information on the specific packaging.
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Gv Mini baguettes, 7 pieces
An option if you’d like to serve several small rolls instead of a whole tiger loaf. Before breakfast, check the gluten-free label, allergen information and preparation instructions on the packaging.
Pack: 7 mini baguettes.
View at Joybuy
Frequently asked questions
Is ordinary tiger bread suitable if the filling doesn’t contain wheat?
No. The filling alone doesn’t determine whether the bread is suitable for someone with coeliac disease. Wheat, rye and barley contain gluten, as stated in the European rules on gluten-free labelling. Choose bread labelled gluten-free and read the information on the specific packaging.
What does the gluten-free label on bread mean?
Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, a food can only be labelled gluten-free if it contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten when sold to consumers. Words such as ‘tiger bread’ or ‘fresh’ don’t replace that label.
How can I keep gluten-free bread separate at a shared breakfast?
Serve it on a clean, separate surface and use clean chopping and spreading utensils. The Dutch Coeliac Society points out that ordinary bread crumbs can get onto gluten-free bread via a shared chopping board, so watch out for crumbs in shared spreads too.
Does all gluten-free bread contain iodised baker’s salt?
You can’t tell from the gluten-free label. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that iodine compounds may be present in bread and other baked goods through baker’s salt, at a maximum of 65 mg of iodine per kg of salt. Check the ingredients information for the bread you choose.