People working from home with coeliac disease
When you’re having lunch in a shared kitchen, it’s not enough for the packaging to say ‘gluten-free’. Keep the bread separate from ordinary bread, too, and watch out for crumbs on worktops and utensils.
Who should think carefully about this choice?
Shoppers comparing gluten-free labels
If you’re looking for gluten-free bread but also want to check what’s in it, compare the fibre content per 100 g, the ingredients and any other allergens. A dark colour or the words ‘multigrain’ don’t tell you whether a loaf is wholemeal.
Lunch planners checking for iodised salt
If you don’t eat much ordinary bread, check the ingredients list to see whether your chosen loaf contains baker’s salt or iodised salt. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt.
What should you look for when choosing?
Packaged gluten-free bread
Choose this when: You need to avoid gluten and want a bread-based option for lunch.
Bear in mind: The gluten-free label alone tells you nothing about wholemeal flour or fibre, so check for other allergens, too.
Ordinary wholemeal bread
Choose this when: You don’t need to avoid gluten and want wholemeal bread as the basis for your lunch.
Bear in mind: Ordinary wholemeal bread made with wheat or rye contains gluten and isn’t suitable for people with coeliac disease.
Making your own gluten-free bread
Choose this when: You want to select the ingredients yourself and can prevent cross-contamination during preparation.
Bear in mind: Check every ingredient and use clean equipment; don’t assume the baker’s salt is iodised.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten and cross-contamination | Look for a clear gluten-free label and read the ingredients and allergen information. At home, keep the bread away from ordinary bread crumbs. | If I have coeliac disease and share a kitchen, I want to keep ordinary bread crumbs away from my lunch. Avoiding gluten is the top priority for around 36% of shoppers. |
| Fibre and ingredients | Compare the fibre content per 100 g and read the ingredients list; don’t judge by colour, seeds or the word ‘multigrain’ alone. | If I regularly have gluten-free bread for lunch, I want to compare what’s in it without assuming it’s wholemeal. Fibre is the main consideration for around 29% of shoppers. |
| Iodised salt | Check the ingredients list for baker’s salt, iodised salt or potassium iodide. | If I don’t eat much ordinary bread, I want to know whether my lunch bread contains iodised salt. This is the main concern for around 21% of shoppers. |
| Packaging and storage | Check the pack weight and storage instructions once opened; see what your local shop has in stock. | If I only have lunch at home on a few days, I want to choose a pack I can finish in time or store as directed on the label. This practical consideration matters most to around 14% of shoppers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming gluten-free or dark bread is wholemeal
‘Gluten-free’ refers to gluten, not to whether the bread is made with wholemeal flour. Colour and seeds don’t tell you that either.
Read the ingredients list and compare the fibre content per 100 g if it matters to your choice.
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Only checking the front of the pack if you have coeliac disease
A shared breadboard, toaster or spreading knife can transfer ordinary bread crumbs to gluten-free bread.
Read the full ingredients and allergen information, and use clean, separate utensils wherever there’s a risk of cross-contamination.
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Assuming all bread contains baker’s salt
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, baker’s salt contains iodine, but bakers aren’t required to use it. So its presence varies from one loaf to another.
Check the ingredients list on packaged bread; if it’s unpackaged, ask which salt was used.
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Opening a pack without a storage plan
For the Schär Mehrkorn and Vital breads described by PLUS, the advice is to use the bread within a few days of opening or freeze it straight away. Follow the packaging instructions for other breads.
Choose a pack size that suits how often you have bread for lunch, and check the storage instructions before opening it.
Bread that isn’t used in time after opening may go to waste.
Brands and shops to explore
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn’s online range includes gluten-free bread from its own brand and Schär.
- The range includes, among other options, dark and light multiseed bread and white bread from AH.
- Check the ingredients, nutritional information and availability at your shop for the variety you choose.
Jumbo
Jumbo’s online range includes gluten-free bread from Lekker Vrij van Gluten and other brands, including Yam, Céréal and Schär.
- The online range includes different types of bread and pack sizes.
- Words such as ‘brown’ or ‘multigrain’ don’t replace comparing the fibre content and ingredients of each product.
PLUS
PLUS lists gluten-free bread from its own brand and Schär online.
- For the Schär Mehrkorn and Vital products described, details such as fibre, ingredients and storage instructions are provided.
- This product information applies to those particular varieties; check the label on any other bread.
Joybuy products for your working-from-home lunch
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Can I eat ordinary wholemeal bread if I have coeliac disease?
No. Ordinary wholemeal bread made with grains containing gluten, such as wheat or rye, isn’t suitable for people with coeliac disease. Choose bread clearly labelled gluten-free and avoid contact with ordinary bread crumbs at home.
Is gluten-free bread automatically wholemeal or high in fibre?
No. ‘Gluten-free’ alone tells you nothing about whether the bread is made with wholemeal flour or how much fibre it contains. Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and read the ingredients and product description.
Does bread always contain iodised baker’s salt?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list on packaged bread, and ask which salt was used if the bread is unpackaged.
How should I store gluten-free bread for several days working from home?
Follow the storage instructions for the bread you buy. For the Schär Mehrkorn and Vital breads described, PLUS recommends resealing the pack after opening and using the bread within a few days or freezing it straight away. This advice doesn’t automatically apply to other products.