Shoppers with a specific food allergy
You need to be able to check whether your allergen is present in the exact loaf. For packaged bread, check the label. If the bread is sold loose, ask for allergen information before buying.
Who needs to make this choice?
People who need to follow a strict gluten-free diet
If you have coeliac disease, standard bread made with wheat, rye or barley is not suitable, even if it is made with sourdough. The Dutch Coeliac Society explains that a gluten-free diet is essential for people with coeliac disease.
Shoppers choosing for both flavour and ingredients
You might be looking for a tiger-crust loaf or the flavour of sourdough, while also wanting to know which grains and type of salt it contains. Labels such as white, brown, wholemeal or sourdough are no substitute for the ingredients list.
What should you check when buying?
If a food sensitivity affects your choice of bread, first check whether the exact product fits your list of foods to avoid. Only then consider other features, such as flavour and the type of salt used.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Specific allergens | Read the current ingredients and allergen information, including any relevant warnings. If the bread is sold loose, ask about the exact variety. | I want to rule out my specific allergen before choosing bread. For around 46% of consumers, this check comes first. |
| Choosing strictly gluten-free | Choose a bread alternative labelled gluten-free and check the ingredients for wheat, rye and barley; don’t rely on the word sourdough. | If I need to follow a strict gluten-free diet, standard wheat-based tiger bread is out. Around 36% of consumers put this first. |
| Flavour and ingredients | Check that the bread is actually made with sourdough. Look at the ingredients list for baker’s salt or iodised salt if this is relevant to your choice. | Once the bread passes my allergen check, I also want to choose based on sourdough flavour and ingredients. This is the biggest factor for around 18% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming sourdough means gluten-free
Sourdough describes the leavening method, not the absence of gluten or other allergens. Bread made with wheat, rye or barley is therefore still unsuitable if you need to avoid those grains.
Check the grains used and the allergen information for the specific loaf. If you follow a strict gluten-free diet, don’t choose bread based on how it is leavened.
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Relying on an old product page as if it were a current label
Albert Heijn and PLUS state in their product information that ingredients and allergen details can change. So a previous check doesn’t tell you enough about the loaf you’re buying now.
Read the packaging again each time you buy. If the bread is sold unpackaged, ask for information about that exact variety.
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Assuming every loaf contains baker’s salt
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt is not compulsory. So the name tiger bread or sourdough won’t tell you which salt has been used.
Check the label for baker’s salt or iodised salt, or ask the baker. Never let this question take priority over avoiding an allergen.
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Treating all tiger breads as the same product
Product listings from Albert Heijn and PLUS show different allergens. The name of the bread alone therefore won’t tell you whether it contains milk, soya, sesame or other ingredients.
Compare the current information for the exact loaf with the ingredients you need to avoid. Don’t rely just on the shop name or type of bread.
Brands and shops to help you compare
Product names and online information can help you search more effectively, but you still need to check allergens for each loaf every time you buy.
Albert Heijn
The product page for AH Extra lang lekker tijger bruin heel lists the allergens present and those that may be present.
- Albert Heijn lists wheat and barley as present in this bread, with milk, sesame seeds and soya as possible allergens.
- Check the packaging of the loaf you’re buying; this information does not apply to every AH tiger bread.
Jumbo
Jumbo provides an ingredients list for Boeren Tijgerbrood Bruin.
- The product listing includes wholemeal wheat flour and wheat flour.
- This wheat bread is not suitable if you need to avoid wheat or follow a strict gluten-free diet; check the exact product for other allergens.
Lidl
Lidl provides an ingredients and allergen overview for its freshly baked bread range.
- This overview can help you check the ingredients and allergens in freshly baked bread.
- Check which bread you’re actually buying and consult the packaging; for product-specific questions, Lidl also refers customers to the barcode.
ALDI
ALDI lists Boeren tijger volkoren as pre-sliced bread.
- The product name makes it clear which variety of bread you’re looking for.
- Don’t assume a bread is suitable for your allergies because it is wholemeal or tiger bread; check the packaging for this variety.
PLUS
PLUS provides allergen information for Korenlanders Boeren tijger wit.
- For this product, PLUS lists wheat, soya, milk and lactose, among other ingredients.
- The information can change and does not automatically apply to other PLUS breads; check the current packaging.
Dirk
Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker Boeren tijger wit heel as a bread product.
- The full product name makes it easier to ask for the right variety in store.
- For an allergen-related decision, ask for information about that exact loaf or check the packaging.
A bread mix as an alternative
If you’re avoiding standard wheat-based tiger bread, you could consider a gluten-free bread mix and bake your own. The mix below is not tiger bread and is not sold as sourdough; check the current allergen information for this product too.
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Schär Bread Mix-Mix B gluten-free, 1 kg
A bread mix for baking your own loaf if you’re looking for a gluten-free alternative to standard tiger bread; this is not a ready-made loaf or a sourdough product.
The mix is described as gluten-free and wheat-free, and contains soya. Before buying, check the current packaging for ingredients, allergens and any warnings relevant to you.
Frequently asked questions
Is tiger bread made with sourdough automatically suitable if you have a food allergy?
No. Sourdough tells you something about the leavening method, not about all the grains or other ingredients in the bread. Check the current allergen information and any relevant warnings for the exact variety.
Can I choose standard wheat-based tiger bread if I have coeliac disease?
No, standard tiger bread made with wheat is not gluten-free. The Dutch Coeliac Society explains that a gluten-free diet is essential for people with coeliac disease. Choose a suitable gluten-free bread alternative and check the label of the specific product.
How do I check allergens in bread sold loose?
Before buying, ask which allergens are present in the exact loaf. For packaged bread, allergen information appears on the label, according to the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority. For bread sold loose, it’s important to ask specifically, as you can’t rely on an old product page or the name of the bread alone.
Does all Dutch tiger bread contain iodised baker’s salt?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt when baking bread is not compulsory. Check the ingredients list for the exact loaf or ask the baker which salt has been used.