First, check which allergen you need to avoid and read the latest ingredient and allergen information. The name of the bread and the thickness of a slice do not tell you whether it is suitable for someone with an allergy. If you have coeliac disease, look for a suitable gluten-free alternative; if you have a wheat allergy, check specifically for wheat. Only then choose a type of bread for your snack, and check the slice itself if thickness matters.
Ordinary white bread is not an obvious choice for you. If you have coeliac disease, look for bread clearly labelled as gluten-free; if you have a wheat allergy, check the ingredients for wheat too. In either case, read the latest product information before choosing based on the type of bread.
If you need to avoid milk, eggs, sesame, soya or nuts, for example, you’ll need information about the specific variety of bread. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority stresses that allergen information must be available before purchase, including for unpackaged bread.
You want white bread for a toastie or a filled snack. Square white bread and toastie bread are types to consider once you’ve checked the allergens, but the name alone doesn’t confirm how thick the slices are.
Start with the ingredients and allergens that matter to you. Then compare the type of bread, and check the slice itself if your recipe calls for a particular thickness.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Avoiding a specific allergen | Compare the latest ingredients list and allergen information with the ingredients you need to avoid. For unpackaged bread, ask for the product information before buying. | If I need to avoid a particular ingredient, I want to assess the specific variety of bread rather than rely on its name. For around 46% of consumers, checking for an allergen other than gluten or wheat comes first. |
| Finding gluten-free or wheat-free bread | If you have coeliac disease, check for a gluten-free claim or the Crossed Grain mark, and read the full label. If you have a wheat allergy, check specifically whether the product contains wheat. | I need to know whether the bread is suitable for avoiding gluten or wheat; its white colour doesn’t provide that assurance. This is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Choosing a slice for snacks | Check whether the product is square white bread or toastie bread, and assess the thickness of the slice separately if it matters for your snack. | Once I’ve checked the allergens, I want to know whether the slice is right for the snack I’m making. For around 18% of consumers, the type of bread then becomes the top priority. |
Square white bread, toastie bread and thick-sliced bread do not tell you which ingredients or allergens a variety contains. The type of bread alone can’t tell you whether a product is suitable for you.
First read the latest ingredients list and allergen information; only then compare the types of bread.
Allergen information about a product does not automatically answer every question about possible contact with other allergens. Jumbo says that cross-contamination with other allergens cannot be ruled out for the products described by the retailer.
Before buying, ask what product information is available and whether the shop can tell you about possible contact with the allergen you need to avoid.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, baker’s salt contains added iodine, but bakers are not required to use it. The type of bread alone won’t tell you which salt has been used.
Check the ingredients on the packaging or ask the baker whether baker’s salt has been used.
These retailers offer ways to look up types of bread and product information. If you have an allergy, always check the latest information for the specific variety.
Albert Heijn lists square white bread among its white bread products online.
Jumbo provides allergen information for packaged, shop-packed and unpackaged products.
For its freshly baked bread, Lidl links to an overview of ingredients and allergens.
ALDI lists sliced white bread in its bakery range and links to allergen information.
PLUS lists both square white bread and white toastie bread in its online range.
Dirk’s online search results for white bread include square white bread.
Ordinary white bread is not a safe default choice. If you have coeliac disease, look for a product clearly labelled as gluten-free and read the latest label. If you have a wheat allergy, check the ingredients specifically for wheat too; don’t rely on the name of the bread alone.
Before buying, ask for the allergen information for the specific bread. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, this information must also be available before purchase for unpackaged food. If possible contact with other allergens matters to you, ask what the shop can tell you about it.
No, you can’t tell from the type of bread. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, baker’s salt contains added iodine, but bakers do not have to use it. Check the packaging or ask the baker which salt was used in the bread.
