If you have coeliac disease, don’t choose ordinary rye bread: rye contains gluten. For a meal for one, look for a bread product clearly labelled gluten-free or bearing the Crossed Grain symbol, and choose a pack size that suits how much you’ll use. Also compare the fibre, allergens and ingredients; gluten-free bread doesn’t automatically contain iodised baker’s salt.
If you want to replace rye bread, rule out regular rye bread and check that your chosen alternative is labelled gluten-free or bears the Crossed Grain symbol. Always check the latest allergen information too. The Dutch Coeliac Society lists rye as a gluten-containing grain.
If you only use a little bread at a time, look for half loaves, packs containing two smaller units or individual bread rolls. If you choose a larger pack, check the storage instructions too.
When replacing rye bread, you can look beyond the gluten-free label and compare fibre per 100 g and per portion, other allergens and the ingredients list. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt in bread is not compulsory.
If you have coeliac disease, first check that the product is labelled gluten-free. Then choose a type of bread and pack size that suits a single meal, and compare the nutritional information for the options you’re considering.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Most relevant to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free label | Check the current packaging for the words ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain symbol, and read the ingredients and allergen information. | If I have coeliac disease, I don’t want to mistake regular rye bread for a suitable alternative. Around 50% of consumers put this check first. |
| Fibre and ingredients | Compare fibre per 100 g and per portion; check the ingredients list to see whether iodised salt or baker’s salt is used. | When I replace rye bread, I want to know how the nutritional profile of my chosen bread fits into my diet. Around 30% of consumers give this top priority. |
| Portion size | Check the number of items or portions per pack, along with the storage and use-by instructions. | For one meal, I don’t want to open more bread than I can use or store. Around 20% of consumers put portion size first. |
Rye contains gluten. PLUS also lists rye and wheat as ingredients on its product page for Frisian rye bread.
If you have coeliac disease, don’t choose regular rye bread, even for its fibre content. Instead, check that an alternative is labelled gluten-free or bears the Crossed Grain symbol.
The ingredients and nutritional values can vary between gluten-free bread products. The words ‘gluten-free’ don’t tell you how much fibre a portion contains.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and for the portion you actually eat.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, baker’s salt isn’t a compulsory ingredient in bread. So you can’t tell whether iodised salt has been used just from the type of bread.
Check the ingredients list for your chosen product, especially if you don’t eat much bread and want to understand how it fits into your overall diet.
Ingredients and allergen information can change. So a product page you looked at previously is no substitute for checking the packaging you receive.
Before eating the product, check the gluten-free label, ingredients and allergen information on the physical packaging again.
Albert Heijn’s own-brand range includes AH Gluten-free White Bread Half Loaf 2-pack, a pack size worth considering if you’re buying bread for one.
Jumbo’s Lekker Vrij range includes gluten-free white and brown bread in 500 g packs.
PLUS lists a range of gluten-free bread products online, including loaves and packs of two bread rolls.
No. Ordinary rye bread isn’t suitable if you have coeliac disease, because rye contains gluten. Its fibre content doesn’t change that; look for an alternative that is explicitly labelled gluten-free or bears the Crossed Grain symbol.
Check the current packaging for the words ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain symbol, and read the ingredients and allergen information. If the product contains oats, also choose a version that is clearly labelled gluten-free on the packaging.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt in bread isn’t compulsory. Check the ingredients list of your chosen bread for iodised salt or baker’s salt; the ingredients can vary from one product to another.
A smaller loaf or pack may suit you if you only use a little at a time; for example, look for half loaves or packs of two bread rolls. If you choose a larger loaf, read the storage and use-by instructions to work out how to store the remaining portions.
