When choosing a kaiser roll, first check which allergens it contains and any warnings on the packaging. Only then decide between white and wholemeal based on taste and nutritional value. A gluten-free kaiser roll may be suitable if you need to avoid gluten or wheat, but it won’t be free from all allergens: the Schär Kaiserbrötchen we looked at contains soya and may contain mustard.
For you, the allergens present and any warnings take priority over choosing white or wholemeal. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre stresses the importance of checking label information if you have a food allergy.
You’re looking for a kaiser roll without gluten or wheat, but you’ll also need to check for other allergens. The Schär Kaiserbrötchen we looked at, for example, contains soya and may contain mustard.
If the allergen information is suitable for your needs, you can compare a familiar white roll with a wholemeal version, checking the fibre content per 100 g.
If you have a food allergy or a similar dietary restriction, the allergen information determines which kaiser rolls are suitable options. You can then decide whether a white, wholemeal or gluten-free version fits what you want to eat.
When to choose it: An option if the grains listed and any warnings aren’t a concern for you, and you’re looking for a white roll.
Consider: The white AH roll we looked at contains wheat and rye, so it isn’t an alternative if you need to avoid those grains.
When to choose it: An option for comparing fibre if wheat and gluten are suitable for your diet.
Consider: The wholemeal rolls from Albert Heijn and PLUS that we looked at contain wheat and gluten. Wholemeal doesn’t mean gluten-free.
When to choose it: Look for a product clearly labelled gluten-free if you need to avoid gluten.
Consider: Check for other allergens too: according to the product information, Schär Kaiserbrötchen contains soya and may contain mustard.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens to avoid | Check the current packaging to see which allergens are present and which are listed under ‘may contain’. For unpackaged rolls, ask for the allergen information. | If I need to avoid a specific allergen, I want to know whether the roll and any warnings are suitable for me before choosing a type of bread. Around 50% of consumers make this their first check. |
| Gluten-free options | Check that it’s labelled gluten-free, as well as checking for other allergens; the Schär Kaiserbrötchen we looked at contains soya and may contain mustard. | If you need to avoid gluten or wheat, look for a kaiser roll that’s suitable without overlooking any other relevant allergens. For around 30% of consumers, finding a replacement is the main priority. |
| White or wholemeal | Once you’ve checked the allergens, compare the fibre content per 100 g and take the eater’s preference into account. | If both rolls are suitable for me, I want to choose one that suits what I’m eating and the fibre content I’m looking for. Around 20% of consumers make this their top priority. |
The nutritional information shows a clear difference: according to Albert Heijn, the white kaiser roll we looked at contains 2.9 g of fibre per 100 g, while the wholemeal kaiser roll contains 7.1 g per 100 g. PLUS lists 6.9 g of fibre per 100 g for the wholemeal kaiser roll we looked at. These figures don’t change the allergens listed.
The wholemeal kaiser rolls from Albert Heijn and PLUS that we looked at contain wheat and gluten. Their fibre content doesn’t tell you whether they’re suitable if you need to avoid these ingredients.
Check the allergen information first. Only then compare the nutritional value of rolls that are suitable for you.
Gluten-free doesn’t mean free from other allergens. The Schär Kaiserbrötchen we looked at contains soya and may contain mustard.
Check the ingredients, allergens and warnings on the current packaging too.
Ingredients and allergen information can change. Albert Heijn advises customers to check the physical packaging, as product information may be updated.
Use online information to compare options, then read the label on the roll you’ve actually bought before eating it.
According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information must also be available for unpackaged foods. Jumbo also notes that cross-contamination cannot be ruled out for certain products packed in store.
Ask in store for information about the specific roll, and take any relevant warnings into account when choosing.
Albert Heijn provides product information for a white kaiser roll, a wholemeal kaiser roll and gluten-free Schär Kaiserbrötchen.
Jumbo provides product information for products including frozen wholemeal kaiser rolls.
PLUS provides information for white and wholemeal kaiser rolls, as well as Schär Kaiserbrötchen.
The product information we looked at describes Schär Kaiserbrötchen as gluten-free and wheat-free.
Dirk lists its own-brand bake-at-home kaiser rolls, with preparation instructions.
Not just because it’s labelled ‘wholemeal’. The wholemeal kaiser rolls from Albert Heijn and PLUS that we looked at contain wheat and gluten. Check the allergens first, then compare fibre or taste.
No. According to the product information, the Schär Kaiserbrötchen we looked at is gluten-free and wheat-free, but contains soya and may contain mustard. Read the full allergen information on the current packaging.
Yes. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, information about regulated allergens must also be available for unpackaged foods. If it isn’t clearly displayed, ask at the bakery counter for information about the specific roll.
Avoid contact with ordinary bread if you need to follow a strict gluten-free diet. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that even a crumb of bread can cause symptoms if you have coeliac disease, so take care to avoid contact when storing, cutting, toasting and topping your roll too.
