Shoppers with confirmed coeliac disease
You’re looking for bread suitable for a gluten-free diet. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, rye contains gluten, so rule out regular rye bread before comparing alternatives.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Budget-conscious gluten-free bread shoppers
You want to compare the cost of everyday bread without looking beyond the gluten-free selection. For suitable loaves, check the price per kilo and how much of the pack you’ll actually use.
Shoppers looking for iodised salt
You’re replacing regular bread with gluten-free bread and want to know whether it contains bakers’ salt. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says its use isn’t compulsory, so check the label.
What should you look for when choosing?
If you have coeliac disease, first rule out regular rye bread, then check that an alternative is labelled gluten-free and read its packaging. Only after that should you compare the cost and other features that matter to your household.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free suitability | Look for ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain symbol, and read the current ingredients and allergen information. | When I’m buying bread for someone with coeliac disease, I want to rule out regular rye bread straight away and check the packaging of any alternative. For around 50% of consumers, suitability comes first. |
| Everyday bread costs | For suitable gluten-free bread, compare the price per kilo, net weight and storage instructions. | I want to avoid paying more per kilo just because a smaller pack has a lower till price. Around 30% of consumers say affordability is their top priority when choosing gluten-free options. |
| Iodised salt | Check the ingredients list for iodised salt or bakers’ salt; ask about it if the bread is unwrapped. | When I switch from my usual bread, I want to know whether the new loaf contains bakers’ salt. For around 20% of consumers, this is the most important additional consideration. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming regular rye bread is gluten-free
Its dark colour or low price per kilo doesn’t change the fact that rye contains gluten, as the Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains.
If you have coeliac disease, rule out regular rye bread and start your comparison with loaves clearly labelled gluten-free on their current packaging.
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Comparing only the till price
Pack sizes can vary, so a lower till price doesn’t necessarily mean a lower cost per kilo.
Compare the price per kilo and net weight of loaves that first meet your gluten-free requirements.
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Assuming all bread contains bakers’ salt
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using bakers’ salt when baking isn’t compulsory. This applies to gluten-free bread too.
Check the ingredients list for iodised salt or bakers’ salt, or ask which type of salt has been used if the bread is unwrapped.
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Relying only on older product information online
Albert Heijn notes that product ingredients and allergen information can change.
Check the current packaging when you buy, even if you’ve bought the same bread before.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn / AH Glutenvrij
Albert Heijn offers AH Glutenvrij dark multiseed bread in a 480 g pack, among other options. It’s an alternative to rye bread, not a type of rye bread.
- Albert Heijn’s product information lists this bread as gluten-free and says it contains iodised salt.
- Albert Heijn warns that product information can change, so check the packaging of the loaf you’re buying.
Jumbo / Lekker Vrij van Gluten
Jumbo lists its own-brand gluten-free brown and white bread in 500 g packs as everyday options.
- The stated pack weight makes it easy to compare the different loaves on an equal-weight basis.
- A category listing is no substitute for checking the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the loaf you choose.
Schär
Jumbo’s gluten-free bread range includes several types of Schär bread, including multigrain bread and ciabatta.
- These different types give you a choice of bread to suit how you plan to use it.
- Check the current packaging for each individual product. The category listing doesn’t mean every product has the same ingredients or is suitable for the same uses.
Related Joybuy products
Consider gluten-free dark multiseed bread, brown bread or white bread as alternatives to rye bread. Check each product’s current packaging for its gluten-free status, ingredients and allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
Can I eat regular rye bread if I have coeliac disease?
No. Regular rye bread isn’t suitable for a gluten-free diet if you have coeliac disease: rye contains gluten, according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Look for a bread alternative labelled ‘gluten-free’ or bearing the Crossed Grain symbol on its current packaging, and read the ingredients and allergen information too.
Is cheap rye bread a budget option if I have coeliac disease?
No. A low price doesn’t make regular rye bread suitable if you have coeliac disease. Compare the price per kilo only after you’ve selected bread that’s suitable for a gluten-free diet.
How can I check whether bread from a bakery contains gluten?
If the bread is unwrapped, ask for allergen information and check whether the specific product is labelled gluten-free. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says customers must also be given information about cereals containing gluten for unpackaged foods. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends looking for ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain symbol when choosing gluten-free products.
Does gluten-free bread automatically contain iodised salt?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread doesn’t have to be baked with bakers’ salt. For packaged bread, check the ingredients list for iodised salt or bakers’ salt; if the bread is unwrapped, ask about it.