Who might find this choice relevant?

People avoiding gluten or wheat

You’re looking for a roll explicitly labelled gluten-free, then checking the packaging for any other allergens. The regular varieties from Albert Heijn and PLUS that we checked contain wheat.

People with multiple food allergies

A gluten-free label doesn’t tell you whether a roll is suitable for other allergens you need to avoid. The Schär varieties we checked contain soya and carry warnings about the possible presence of other allergens; the warnings vary by variety.

People buying freshly baked loose rolls

When you’re buying a roll from the bakery section, you’ll want to check the allergen information for that exact product before you buy it. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the information requirements for non-prepacked foods.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start with the allergens you need to avoid. Then check whether the product format and storage instructions suit your plans.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Gluten and wheat Look for a current gluten-free label and read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging. If I need to avoid gluten or wheat, I first want to know whether this particular roll is suitable. For around 33% of consumers, this restriction is the main consideration.
Other allergens Compare the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements with the allergens you need to avoid. If I have a soya or mustard allergy, I want to know what else a gluten-free variety contains or may contain. Other allergens are the deciding factor for around 27% of consumers.
Loose sales and contact with other products Ask for the allergen information for the loose roll you’ve chosen and, if it matters to your decision, whether it may have come into contact with other products. When buying a loose roll, I want clear allergen information before I buy it. Contact with other products may also matter to me. Around 27% of consumers put this information first.
Preparation and storage Check whether the roll is ambient or frozen, and read the instructions for preparing, opening and defrosting it. Once I know the allergens are suitable, I want to know how to store the rolls and when to prepare them. For around 13% of consumers, practical considerations like these determine their choice.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘gluten-free’ means ‘free from other allergens’

    The gluten-free Schär varieties we checked contain soya. The ambient Kaiserbrötchen may contain mustard; Jumbo also lists the possible presence of eggs, hazelnuts and milk for its frozen Kaisersemmel.

    Check the current packaging for both what the roll contains and what it may contain.

  • Assuming a wholemeal or speciality roll is allergen-free

    The wholemeal kaiser roll from PLUS that we checked contains wholemeal wheat flour and wheat gluten. The regular white varieties from Albert Heijn and PLUS that we checked also contain wheat.

    Don’t rely on terms such as ‘wholemeal’ or ‘premium’ instead of checking the ingredients and allergens.

  • Choosing a loose roll without checking the allergen information

    A non-prepacked roll doesn’t come in the same packaging as a prepacked product. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that information about the specified allergens must still be available before purchase.

    Ask at the bakery counter for the information for the exact roll you want to buy. If you can’t check the allergens that matter to you, don’t choose based on the name of the roll alone.

  • Assuming every kaiser roll contains iodised baker’s salt

    The product information we checked lists iodised salt or baker’s salt for some rolls. That doesn’t confirm the ingredients of a different roll.

    If the type of salt used matters to your choice, check the current ingredients list for the specific product.

Brands and shops to consider

Schär

The Kaiserbrötchen we checked is a gluten-free ambient variety; the Kaisersemmel we checked is a gluten-free frozen variety.

  • The product information for both varieties we checked says they are gluten-free and wheat-free.
  • Both varieties contain soya. The ambient variety may contain mustard; according to Jumbo, the frozen variety may contain eggs, hazelnuts, milk and mustard.

Albert Heijn

The product pages we checked show both regular AH Kaiser rolls and gluten-free Schär Kaiserbrötchen.

  • The product information clearly distinguishes between the regular roll and the gluten-free variety.
  • The regular AH Kaiser rolls contain wheat flour and rye sourdough powder. Albert Heijn recommends checking the packaging, as product information can change.

Jumbo

Jumbo provides product information for the ambient and frozen Schär varieties we checked, as well as allergen information for non-prepacked products.

  • The ingredients and allergens are listed for the Schär varieties we checked.
  • Jumbo says it cannot rule out cross-contamination with other allergens in products packaged in store. If it matters to your choice, ask for more information about loose or in-store-packaged rolls.

PLUS

The product information we checked covers Schär Kaiserbrötchen and regular white and wholemeal PLUS kaiser rolls.

  • The product pages list ingredients and allergens, so you can compare these specific varieties.
  • The Schär variety contains soya and may contain mustard. The regular white and wholemeal rolls we checked contain wheat; check their individual warnings for other allergens too.

Lidl

Lidl sells freshly baked kaiser rolls and publishes an ingredients and allergen guide for its freshly baked bread range.

  • The guide gives you a place to check information about the freshly baked range.
  • The fresh bread range may vary by store. Check the current information for the roll at the store where you’re shopping.

Kaiser rolls on Joybuy

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Can I choose regular kaiser rolls if I need to avoid gluten or wheat?

The regular kaiser rolls from Albert Heijn and PLUS that we checked aren’t suitable alternatives: their product information lists wheat. Look for an explicit gluten-free label, then check the current packaging for all the allergens you need to avoid.

Is a gluten-free kaiser roll also suitable for other food allergies?

Not necessarily: the Schär Kaiserbrötchen we checked contain soya and may contain mustard. According to Jumbo, the frozen Schär Kaisersemmel also contains soya and may contain eggs, hazelnuts, milk and mustard. Check the information for the variety you’re buying.

How can I check allergens in loose kaiser rolls?

Before buying, ask for the allergen information for the specific roll. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, sellers must make information about the specified allergens available for non-prepacked foods. If it matters to your choice, also ask whether the roll may have come into contact with other products.

Does every kaiser roll contain iodised baker’s salt?

Don’t assume so: check the ingredients list for the roll you want to buy. The product information we checked lists iodised salt or baker’s salt for some varieties, but that doesn’t tell you what another variety contains.