If you have coeliac disease, don’t choose rusks with chocolate sprinkles based on the product name: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, rusks may contain gluten. Look for rusks explicitly labelled gluten-free, and check the chocolate sprinkles and any other toppings separately on the current packaging. If by ‘medium sliced’ you mean sliced bread, choose a gluten-free bread option rather than rusks. Whichever you choose, avoid contact with crumbs from products containing gluten.
You want to check that every item is labelled gluten-free and avoid the meal coming into contact with crumbs or shared kitchen utensils. The Dutch Coeliac Society highlights the importance of preventing cross-contamination.
You’re looking for a gluten-free rusk to use as a base, and choosing the chocolate sprinkles separately. A gluten-free label on the rusk says nothing about the topping you put on it.
You’re looking for a gluten-free bread base for breakfast or lunch, rather than crunchy rusks. With sliced bread, too, check the topping and the conditions in which you prepare it.
Start by checking that both the base and the topping are labelled gluten-free. Then choose between crunchy rusks and sliced bread. If you regularly replace ordinary bread, check the nutritional information for your chosen alternative too.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free base and topping | Check the current packaging of both the rusks or bread and the chocolate sprinkles for an explicit gluten-free label. Don’t rely solely on ‘wheat-free’ or the product name. | If I’m making rusks with chocolate sprinkles for someone with coeliac disease, I want to assess both items before combining them. For around 46% of consumers, checking gluten-free status comes first. |
| Rusks or sliced bread | Decide which type of base you mean and check that your chosen product is currently available. A page marked ‘discontinued’ isn’t a current option to order. | Anyone who wants to keep the crunch of rusks or is looking for sliced bread to eat every day will need a different base. For around 27% of consumers, the product type and availability take priority. |
| Nutritional information when choosing a replacement | Compare the nutritional values of specific products using their current packaging. For baker’s salt, check the label or ask the baker; its use isn’t compulsory. | If I often replace ordinary bread, I want to know what’s in my new base rather than make assumptions based on the category. Around 27% of consumers prioritise this nutritional consideration. |
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists rusks as a product that may contain gluten. And even if the rusks are suitable, that doesn’t automatically mean the chocolate sprinkles are too.
Check the current packaging of each item separately, and don’t base your decision on the product name or a search filter.
Jumbo’s product pages for Lekker Vrij van Gluten Beschuit and Beschuit met Hagelslag Melk say these products are no longer in its online range.
Choose a product you can actually get hold of, and check the packaging again before use.
According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, crumbs can cause cross-contamination when they get onto surfaces such as worktops or kitchen utensils.
Use clean hands, utensils and work surfaces. Make sure crumbs don’t get into shared packs of toppings.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So you can’t tell whether it’s present just from the type of bread.
Read the label or ask the baker which salt was used in that particular bread.
A brand to consider if you’re looking for crunchy gluten-free rusks.
The name appears on a 125 g gluten-free rusk variety.
A retailer with product pages for specific gluten-free rusks.
A retailer with listings for both chocolate sprinkles and rusks.
A brand to consider if you mean sliced bread rather than rusks.
Not without checking each product separately. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists rusks as a product that may contain gluten. Look for an explicit gluten-free label on the current packaging of both the base and the chocolate sprinkles.
No. Gluten can also come from grains other than wheat, including barley and rye. For this choice, look for an explicit gluten-free label rather than relying only on the words ‘wheat-free’.
Clean your hands, work surface and kitchen utensils before preparing a gluten-free meal. Keep packs closed when you’re not using them, and make sure crumbs from bread containing gluten don’t get into shared toppings, as advised by the Dutch Coeliac Society.
No, you can’t tell from the ‘gluten-free’ label. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check the label or ask the baker which salt was used in that particular bread.
Check the current gluten-free labels, ingredients and allergen information for both the rusks and the chocolate sprinkles. Also check that the product you’ve chosen is available: Albert Heijn says product information may change, and an older product page may not be a current option to order.
