If you have coeliac disease, only choose toast or crackers for your holiday if the current packaging clearly states that they are gluten-free; the shape or brand name alone isn’t enough. Small pieces of toast are ideal with drinks, while crackers or gluten-free bread products can also work for breakfast or lunch. Check the allergen information too, and keep crumbs from ordinary bread away from your food in a shared kitchen.
You’re looking for toast to enjoy with drinks, at breakfast or on the go, and need a product clearly labelled as gluten-free. Serving it in a shared holiday kitchen also takes care: keep crumbs from ordinary bread away from your food.
You’re looking for gluten-free toast or crackers for several guests, but you’ll also need to check each pack for ingredients such as egg, soya, nuts or sesame that may be relevant to them.
You want to buy suitable products before you set off, choosing between small packs of toast for drinks and crackers or bread-style alternatives for other mealtimes.
Start by checking the gluten-free label on the packaging. Then choose a product to suit the occasion, and check the other allergens, portion sizes and flavour of the exact product you’re buying.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free labelling | Look for ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain symbol on the current packaging. If you’ll be using a shared kitchen, plan to use clean utensils too. | With coeliac disease, I want to be sure which toast I can take with me and avoid crumbs from ordinary bread getting into it. For around 36% of consumers, choosing a gluten-free option comes first. |
| Other allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information, including any ‘may contain’ statement, for the flavour you’ve chosen. | If, for example, some of my guests need to avoid egg or soya, I need to check more than just the gluten-free label. Around 29% of consumers prioritise checking for additional allergens. |
| Portions and supplies | Compare the pack weight and product type with the number of people eating and the planned mealtimes. | For a trip with several mealtimes, I want to bring enough suitable products with me, rather than relying on finding a shop at my destination. For around 21% of consumers, planning supplies is the biggest consideration. |
| Flavour and shape | Think about whether you’d prefer seasoned toast, a neutral base or crackers to go with the toppings you’re bringing. | For a sharing platter, I look for a shape and flavour to suit the snacks, after checking the packaging for gluten-free labelling and relevant allergens. This is the main consideration for around 14% of consumers. |
The shape tells you nothing about the ingredients. According to Melba Toast, Melba Toast Naturel contains wheat and barley.
If you have coeliac disease, choose a product clearly labelled gluten-free on its current packaging rather than relying on the word ‘toast’ in the name.
Gluten-free doesn’t mean a product is also free from egg, oats, soya, nuts or sesame. For example, Jumbo lists egg and oats in Gluten Free Bakery Holland Toastjes Italiaans Gekruid, with possible traces of nuts and sesame.
Read the full allergen information for the flavour and pack you’re actually buying, especially if you’re shopping for other people.
In shared holiday accommodation, crumbs from ordinary bread can end up on a board, knife or serving plate.
Use clean utensils and put gluten-free toast on a separate, clean plate before serving ordinary bread products.
Product ranges and recipes can change, so a shop listing you looked at earlier doesn’t necessarily tell you everything about the pack you buy later.
Before you set off, check the gluten-free labelling, ingredients, allergens and best-before date on your supplies again.
Jumbo lists this brand’s Toastjes Italiaans Gekruid 100 g as a gluten-free option for a savoury snack with drinks.
Jumbo lists Schär Crackers Glutenvrij in its gluten-free range.
Albert Heijn’s gluten-free range includes crackers, crispbread and bread products.
Albert Heijn describes Laurieri Scrocchi zeezout as a gluten-free cracker made with soya and chickpea flour.
This selection includes rice toast and lentil wafers as savoury snacks for on the go or to serve with drinks. If you have coeliac disease, check the gluten-free labelling on the current packaging of both products before choosing them.
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A rice toast option for anyone looking for small pieces of toast to serve with drinks. If you have coeliac disease, check the gluten-free labelling on the current packaging and read the allergen information carefully, including details about sesame and soya.
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Rosemary lentil wafers for anyone looking for a savoury snack as well as toast; these aren’t toast. If you have coeliac disease, check the gluten-free labelling on the current packaging and read the allergen information too.
Melba Toast Naturel isn’t a gluten-free option: Melba Toast lists wheat and barley among its allergens. If you have coeliac disease, choose toast whose current packaging clearly states that it’s gluten-free.
Look for ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain symbol on the current packaging, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Then read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact variety, especially if you need to avoid other substances too.
Keep gluten-free toast separate from ordinary bread products, and use a clean board, a clean knife and a separate serving plate. Watch out for crumbs when other people are using the same kitchen too.
No, it depends on the product. Jumbo lists egg and oats, and possible traces of nuts and sesame, in Gluten Free Bakery Holland Toastjes Italiaans Gekruid; Albert Heijn lists soya in Laurieri Scrocchi zeezout glutenvrij. Check the packaging of the variety you’re buying.
No, don’t assume this is true of every type of toast. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may be present in bakery products through the use of baker’s salt. Check the packaging or ask the manufacturer about a specific product.
