If your child doesn’t need to eat gluten-free, you can simply choose wholemeal bread for tea time. If they need to avoid gluten because of coeliac disease or diagnosed gluten sensitivity, choose bread specifically labelled ‘gluten-free’ and prevent it coming into contact with regular bread. If your child has a wheat allergy, you’ll also need to check separately whether the product contains wheat: gluten-free doesn’t automatically mean wheat-free.
For a child with coeliac disease or diagnosed gluten sensitivity, choosing a suitable gluten-free option comes first. According to the Voedingscentrum, it’s also important to avoid contact with crumbs from regular bread if your child has coeliac disease. If they have a wheat allergy, check the wheat declaration on the label separately.
If there’s no need to eat gluten-free, parents can consider regular wholemeal bread. According to the Voedingscentrum, wholemeal bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour; wheat-based wholemeal bread is not gluten-free.
As well as the type of bread, any other allergies and the rules at school or childcare matter too. Read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging, and ask what rules apply at the setting to bringing in and sharing food.
When to choose it: if your child doesn’t need gluten-free bread and you’re looking for wholemeal bread for tea time.
Bear in mind: wheat-based wholemeal bread isn’t suitable for a child who needs to follow a strict gluten-free diet.
When to choose it: if your child needs to avoid gluten because of coeliac disease or diagnosed gluten sensitivity.
Bear in mind: the ‘gluten-free’ label doesn’t tell you whether the bread is made with wholemeal flour or contains other allergens.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten and wheat | If gluten must be avoided, look for the explicit ‘gluten-free’ label. If your child has a wheat allergy, also check the ingredients and allergen information separately. | If my child needs to avoid gluten strictly, I don’t want to rely on the name or colour of the bread; this is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Check for the ‘wholemeal’ label and compare the fibre listed per 100 g. Brown or seeded bread isn’t necessarily wholemeal. | When gluten-free isn’t necessary, I want to be able to choose based on the wholemeal label; around 29% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Other allergens and rules at the setting | Read the latest allergen information and ask the school or childcare setting about its rules on bringing in and sharing food. | When I pack bread for school or childcare, I want to take other allergies and the rules there into account; this is the top priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Packaging and availability | Check the pack size, storage instructions and availability of a product that meets the necessary allergy requirements. | For a small tea-time snack, I want to be able to choose a suitable pack size without compromising on essential requirements; around 14% of consumers prioritise this. |
Wholemeal bread made with wheat contains gluten, so it’s not a substitute for gluten-free bread. According to the Voedingscentrum, crumbs from regular bread can also be a concern for people with coeliac disease.
Choose bread specifically labelled ‘gluten-free’ and keep it separate from regular bread when preparing it.
The colour of the bread or visible seeds don’t prove that it’s made with wholemeal flour. A ‘gluten-free’ label doesn’t tell you that either.
Check each label on the packaging separately and compare the fibre per 100 g if that matters to your choice.
Gluten-free bread may contain other allergens as ingredients, or mention them in a warning about possible traces.
Check the latest ingredients and allergen information when you buy it, especially if your child has another allergy too.
According to Brood.net Professionals, there’s no legal requirement to use iodine-containing baker’s salt. So you can’t tell whether it’s included just from the type of bread.
Check the ingredients list if iodised salt is relevant to your choice.
Alongside regular wholemeal bread, Albert Heijn has a separate range of gluten-free bread.
Jumbo has an online category for gluten-free bread, including products from its Lekker Vrij range.
PLUS lists gluten-free bread and rolls online.
ALDI lists both regular wholemeal loaves and gluten-free options in its bread range.
Lidl lists a kids’ bread in its regular wholemeal range and provides information about gluten-free products.
Dirk has an online bread range and a search option for gluten-free bread.
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, people without coeliac disease, a wheat allergy or gluten sensitivity don’t need to eat gluten-free. If your child has a wheat allergy, you’ll also need to check separately whether the product contains wheat; the ‘gluten-free’ label doesn’t answer that question by itself.
Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, the ‘gluten-free’ label can be used in the EU if the product contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten when sold to the final consumer. The label doesn’t mean the bread is wholemeal or free from other allergens.
No. Colour and seeds don’t prove that it’s wholemeal. According to the Voedingscentrum, ‘wholemeal’ bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour, so check the label and ingredients on the packaging.
Make sure crumbs from regular bread don’t get onto the gluten-free bread. Use clean hands when preparing it, and take care with knives, chopping boards and toasters. According to the Voedingscentrum, even a small amount of gluten can be a concern for someone with coeliac disease.
No. According to Brood.net Professionals, there’s no legal requirement to use iodine-containing baker’s salt. If this matters to your choice of bread, check the ingredients list to see whether iodised salt is included.
