Check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact roll you’re buying, rather than relying on its name or the seeds you can see. If you need to avoid gluten, look for products explicitly labelled gluten-free, but check for other allergens too: according to PLUS, its gluten-free multiseed rolls contain sesame seeds.
Even a gluten-free multiseed roll may contain sesame. Check whether sesame is listed as an ingredient and read any warnings about cross-contamination. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority lists sesame seeds as an allergen consumers must be informed about.
A standard multigrain roll is not the same as one explicitly labelled gluten-free. PLUS sells both types; even with its gluten-free multiseed option, you’ll still need to check for other allergens, including sesame.
If you also need to avoid ingredients such as milk or soya, check the information for the exact product rather than relying on the name of the roll. PLUS states that its standard multigrain rolls may contain soya, milk and sesame.
Start with the allergens you need to avoid: check the ingredients first, then read any warnings about possible cross-contamination. Separately, decide whether you need a roll explicitly labelled gluten-free.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this most relevant to? |
|---|---|---|
| Added allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact roll; don’t rely on its name or picture. | I want to choose a roll that doesn’t contain my allergen as an ingredient. This would be the first concern for around 50% of shoppers asking this question. |
| Possible cross-contamination | Also read warnings such as ‘may contain sesame’ on the current packaging. | Even if an allergen isn’t listed as an ingredient, I still want to know whether it could have got into the roll accidentally. This would be the main concern for around 30% of these shoppers. |
| Gluten-free option | Look for an explicit gluten-free label, then check for other allergens. | If I need to avoid gluten, I’ll first look for a roll explicitly labelled gluten-free. This would be the top priority for around 20% of shoppers. |
The name doesn’t tell you which seeds have been used. According to the ingredients information, PLUS’s gluten-free multiseed rolls contain sesame seeds.
Check the ingredients and allergen information for sesame on the packaging you’ve chosen.
A warning such as ‘may contain sesame’ refers to possible accidental presence. That’s different from sesame being an added ingredient.
Also read any warnings about possible cross-contamination on the packaging.
Albert Heijn advises customers to check the packaging, as product information may change.
Check the current packaging. If the roll isn’t packaged, ask for the allergen information for that exact product.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the use of baker’s salt varies between breads. Its presence also tells you nothing about the allergens in a roll.
If you want to know whether a suitable roll contains iodised baker’s salt, check the label or ask about unpackaged bread.
Albert Heijn lists both an organic sourdough multiseed roll and gluten-free multiseed rolls online.
Jumbo lists multiseed rolls online and provides separate allergen information for unpackaged products, including fresh rolls.
PLUS sells standard multigrain rolls as well as separate gluten-free multiseed rolls.
Dirk lists a rustic roll in a pack of four.
Lidl sells rolls and other freshly baked bread in the Netherlands.
You can’t tell from the name. According to PLUS, its gluten-free multiseed rolls contain sesame seeds. For any other roll, check its own ingredients and allergen information, as well as any warnings.
No. A gluten-free label tells you nothing about whether the product contains sesame. PLUS’s gluten-free multiseed rolls contain sesame seeds, so read the full allergen information even when choosing a gluten-free option.
Before you buy, ask for the allergen information for that exact roll. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information for unpackaged products must be available in a way other than on a packaging label.
This warning indicates that sesame may be present accidentally, rather than being deliberately added as an ingredient. So read both the ingredients list and the warnings on the current packaging.
Don’t assume so: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the use of baker’s salt varies between breads. Check the label on packaged bread or ask about unpackaged rolls, and check for allergens separately.
