A guest with coeliac disease
Needs bread labelled gluten-free on the packaging, which is kept away from crumbs from ordinary bread when it is cut and served. The Dutch Coeliac Society also warns about cross-contamination from used chopping boards.
Who is this choice relevant to?
A host who wants to keep rye bread’s place at the table
Is looking for a dark or seeded bread to serve with dinner, perhaps alongside soup or as part of a bread board. Brown and seeded breads can look the part, but they are not the same as rye bread; the gluten-free label remains essential.
A family who wants to serve bread separately
Wants to keep the gluten-free portion easy to identify and separate from the other bread. Individual rolls can be practical; the current label and clean serving utensils are still important.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start by checking the gluten-free label and planning to serve the bread separately. Then compare bread styles, nutritional information and the preparation needed for your dinner.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free and served separately | Look for a gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain symbol on the pack. Set aside a clean chopping board, a separate knife and separate spreads. | If someone with coeliac disease is joining us, I want to make sure their bread doesn’t come into contact with crumbs from rye or wheat bread. For around 36% of consumers, choosing gluten-free and serving it separately come first. |
| Bread style | Compare brown and seeded bread for a bread board; consider individual rolls if you want to serve separate portions. | I want a bread that looks at home alongside the other dishes and is similar in appearance to rye bread, without expecting it to taste or feel the same. Around 29% of consumers give bread style top priority. |
| Ingredients and nutritional information | Read the allergen information and compare fibre per 100 g. If you’ll be serving it regularly, check whether iodised salt is listed in the ingredients. | If this bread will be served regularly, I want to know which ingredients and nutritional values I’m choosing. For around 21% of consumers, this product information matters most. |
| Portions and preparation | Check the pack size, preparation method and storage instructions for the product you choose. | For dinner, I want to know whether I can serve the bread straight away or need to bake it, and how to keep a portion separate. Around 14% of consumers put practical considerations first. |
Common mistakes
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Mistaking dark bread for gluten-free bread
The colour, seeds or name of a grain don’t tell you whether bread is suitable for someone with coeliac disease. According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, rye naturally contains gluten.
Base your choice on the gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging, and check the ingredients and allergen information too.
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Cutting gluten-free bread with the same knife
According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, crumbs on a used chopping board can contaminate gluten-free bread. A shared bread basket or butter dish needs the same care.
Cut and serve gluten-free bread with clean, separate utensils. Keep the bread and spreads away from products containing gluten.
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Assuming all gluten-free breads are the same
Gluten-free breads can vary in ingredients, fibre and allergens. For example, a seeded name doesn’t tell you which allergens might be relevant to a particular guest.
Ask about any other allergies in advance and compare the current packaging for ingredients and nutritional information per 100 g.
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Relying only on an online product listing
A product listing can help you plan, but it doesn’t tell you what’s in stock at a particular shop or what the packaging says.
Check the product information shortly before you shop, then read the label on the pack you actually buy before serving it.
Brands and shops to consider
These examples can help you compare types of bread; check the packaging of the specific product for each guest.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists AH Gluten-Free Light Seeded Half Loaf as a packaged bread option for anyone looking to serve a seeded variety.
- The product information lists a 480 g pack, 9.9 g of fibre per 100 g and iodised salt.
- Albert Heijn notes that the product may contain, among other things, egg, milk, soya, oats and nuts. Check the current label if your guest has other allergies.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists white and brown bread under its Lekker Vrij van Gluten own-brand range.
- For its 500 g brown variety, Jumbo lists the Crossed Grain symbol, 6.4 g of fibre per 100 g and iodised salt.
- The product information for the white and brown varieties reviewed lists soya and possible traces of other allergens.
PLUS
PLUS lists a range of options, including gluten-free brown bread, seeded bread and small bread rolls.
- A whole loaf and individual rolls offer different ways to serve bread at dinner.
- PLUS warns that product information, including ingredients and allergens, can change; check the pack.
Schär
The supermarkets mentioned list Schär products including multigrain bread, classic bread and mini baguettes.
- PLUS describes Schär Meesterbakker Mehrkorn as gluten-free multigrain bread; Dirk lists Schär Mini Baguette gluten-free.
- Check the label, ingredients and preparation instructions for each Schär product; the different bread types are not interchangeable.
Dirk
Dirk lists Schär loaves and mini baguettes in its gluten-free bread range.
- Mini baguettes are an option to consider if you want to serve individual portions.
- Check the packaging of the product you choose rather than relying on a search result alone.
Lidl en ALDI
Lidl and ALDI mention gluten-free options in their range information; ALDI also lists gluten-free rolls.
- Rolls are one option if you want to serve individual portions at the table.
- Before choosing a product for your guest, check the specific pack for a gluten-free label, allergen information and preparation instructions.
Joybuy products to consider
This selection includes a product listed as mini baguettes and a gluten-free bread mix. If you want to serve bread without baking it yourself, confirm the form of the first product before buying; the mix needs to be prepared.
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Gv Baguette Mini, 7 pieces
The name suggests a good option for serving small, separate portions at dinner. Before buying, check whether this pack contains mini baguettes or a baking mix: the product descriptions contradict each other on this point.
Also check the pack for a gluten-free label, allergen information and preparation instructions. Keep preparation and serving separate from ordinary bread.
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Schär Bread Mix-Mix B Gluten Free, 1 kg
This gluten-free bread mix is suitable for a dinner where you want to bake the bread yourself in advance; it is not a ready-made loaf.
The pack is labelled 1 kg. Check the allergen information before use, and prepare the bread with clean utensils, separately from ordinary bread.
Frequently asked questions
Is ordinary rye bread gluten-free?
No. According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, rye naturally contains gluten. Ordinary rye bread is therefore not a gluten-free option for a guest with coeliac disease, whatever its colour or whether it is labelled wholemeal.
What label should I look for when catering for a guest with coeliac disease?
Look for a gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging of the bread you choose. The Dutch Coeliac Society explains that a product labelled gluten-free contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. You should also prevent cross-contamination during preparation and serving.
How should I serve gluten-free bread alongside rye bread?
Cut the gluten-free bread on a clean, separate board with a separate knife, and serve it in its own dish or basket. Don’t use spreads or toppings that may have come into contact with crumbs from ordinary bread, as the Dutch Coeliac Society advises.
What should I look for if gluten-free bread will regularly replace ordinary bread?
Compare the ingredients and nutritional information of the products you’re considering, including fibre per 100 g, allergens and whether iodised salt is listed. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists bread made with baker’s salt as a source of iodine; check the packaging to see whether a specific gluten-free bread contains iodised salt.
Does everyone at the table need to eat gluten-free bread?
No, you don’t need to serve gluten-free bread to everyone just because one guest needs it. You can serve ordinary bread separately at a mixed table, as long as the gluten-free bread and its accompanying spreads are protected from cross-contamination.