For a currywurst get-together with a guest who has coeliac disease, only serve bread whose current packaging is explicitly labelled gluten-free; ordinary sliced bread is not suitable. Pre-sliced bread can be served without an oven, while a gluten-free baguette needs to be baked before serving. Check the sausage and sauce separately too, and avoid cross-contamination during preparation.
If you’re serving bread with currywurst, you need to check not only that it’s labelled gluten-free, but also the ingredients in the rest of the meal and the risk of cross-contamination in the kitchen. The German Coeliac Society highlights the importance of a strictly gluten-free diet for people with coeliac disease.
Pre-sliced bread can be served without baking it first. If you open a pack, factor in the storage instructions when planning the evening and what to do with any leftover slices.
Gluten-free seeded bread slices could be a good option. Check the specific product to make sure its ingredients are suitable for any other allergies too.
First, check that the whole meal is labelled gluten-free, then decide whether pre-sliced bread or an accompaniment that needs baking is the better fit for serving. If you’re catering for several guests, pack size and other allergens matter too.
| Criterion | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free labelling | Look for the words “gluten-free” on the current bread packaging; check the sausage and sauce separately. | If I have coeliac disease, the whole meal needs to meet my requirements, not just the bread. For around 50% of consumers, this reassurance is their top priority when buying. |
| Type of bread and preparation | Check whether it’s pre-sliced bread or a baguette that needs baking, and read the preparation instructions. | I want the accompaniment either to be ready to serve straight away or deliberately served as freshly baked bread. This is the main consideration for around 30% of consumers. |
| Pack size and other ingredients | Check the pack weight, storage instructions after opening, ingredients and any precautionary allergen information. | If several guests are eating, I want to open only as much bread as needed and take any other allergies into account. Around 20% of consumers focus on this. |
The term “sliced bread” tells you nothing about whether a product is gluten-free. According to its ingredients list, REWE’s Beste Wahl rye bread contains, among other things, wheat flour, rye flour and wheat gluten.
Check the current packaging for an explicit gluten-free label and read the ingredients list.
Gluten-free doesn’t mean a bread is free from all other allergens. For example, the Schär bread slices mentioned here differ in their information about soya and possible traces of lupin, mustard and sesame.
Ask your guests about any other allergies and check the relevant product packaging against their requirements.
Gluten-free bread can come into contact with bread containing gluten when it’s toasted, sliced or plated. The German Coeliac Society highlights these risks in the home.
Use a separate or thoroughly cleaned toaster, as well as clean knives and plates. Keep the gluten-free accompaniment separate when serving.
Schär advises that once a pack of Meisterbäckers Classic has been opened, it should be resealed and used within a few days or frozen straight away.
Work out how many slices you need before opening the pack, and follow the instructions on the product you’ve bought when storing any leftovers.
Schär sells gluten-free bread slices in its Meisterbäckers range, as well as a baguette that needs baking. For a currywurst get-together, the main differences between these options are their ingredients and preparation.
Poensgen offers gluten-free baked goods as a possible alternative to sliced toast bread.
EDEKA is relevant here as a place to shop: EDEKA24 lists Schär Meisterbäckers Vital as gluten-free bread.
Look for the explicit words “gluten-free” on the current packaging and check the ingredients list. According to the EU information on EUR-Lex, this claim is limited to foods containing no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten in the finished product; “wheat-free” doesn’t mean the same thing.
No. Bread is only one part of the meal. Check the labelling on the sausage, sauce and any other ingredients individually, and avoid cross-contamination when toasting, slicing and serving.
Schär Meisterbäckers Classic is an option if you’d like a light-coloured sliced bread; Vital and Mehrkorn are seeded alternatives. Choose based on the ingredients, the type of bread you want and the allergen information on the current packaging, not just the name of the variety.
Reseal the pack and follow its storage instructions. For Schär Meisterbäckers Classic, Schär advises using the bread within a few days or freezing it straight away; always follow the information on the product you’ve bought.