Travellers with coeliac disease
For your journey and days out, you need bread that is explicitly labelled gluten-free. Plan how you’ll store it after opening, and how you’ll prepare it separately from gluten-containing foods at your accommodation.
Who this choice matters to
Families stocking up at a holiday home
If you need enough bread for several breakfasts and packed snacks, consider the pack size and storage instructions after opening. Having access to a freezer can help you portion out slices as needed.
People with additional allergies
‘Gluten-free’ doesn’t tell you whether a product contains other ingredients or may contain traces of allergens. Check the information for the specific variety, especially for any allergens that are relevant to you.
What to consider when buying
First, check the gluten-free label and any other allergens that are relevant to you. Then choose between packaged sliced bread and fresh bread for toast, based on your travel plans, storage options and how you intend to use it.
Packaged sliced bread
A good choice if: You want to take unopened packs with you for the journey and to stock up your holiday home.
Keep in mind: The Schär varieties mentioned should be eaten within a few days of opening or frozen straight away.
Fresh bread for toast
A good choice if: You’re planning to eat the toast slices soon or have space to freeze them.
Keep in mind: According to the supplier, Hammermühle’s fresh bread for toast keeps for only a few days.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten and other allergens | Check the current packaging for a ‘gluten-free’ label, ingredients and relevant allergen information. For this label, the European Union sets a limit of no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten in the finished product. | If I have coeliac disease and other allergies, I need to check both for the exact variety I’m taking with me. Around 36% of consumers put this check first. |
| Supplies and storage | Check the instructions for before and after opening, as well as the pack size. If you plan to freeze the bread, follow the product instructions. | At a holiday home, I want to have enough for several breakfasts without keeping an opened bag for too long. For around 29% of consumers, this is their top priority. |
| Toast and sandwiches | Check whether the bread is pre-sliced and whether the instructions suit the way you want to use it. | For days out, I need slices that work for the breakfasts and snacks I’ve planned. This is the main consideration for around 21% of consumers. |
| Recipe and nutritional information | Compare fibre per 100 g and the ingredients in the specific variety; check any additional allergen information too. | If I’m choosing between white bread and a seeded variety, I want to compare the recipe and nutritional information. Around 14% of consumers consider this their main concern. |
Common buying mistakes
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Assuming ‘wheat-free’ means ‘gluten-free’
For people with coeliac disease, wheat-free alone doesn’t rule out other gluten-containing cereals. The ‘gluten-free’ label is regulated in the European Union.
Look for an explicit gluten-free label on the current packaging rather than assuming a product is suitable just because it says ‘wheat-free’.
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Planning to make one opened bag last the whole holiday week
The instructions for the Schär packaged sliced breads mentioned here say to eat them within a few days of opening or freeze them straight away. Hammermühle’s fresh bread for toast also keeps for only a few days, according to the supplier.
Choose a pack size that suits the number of people eating it. Only plan to freeze the bread if the product instructions allow it and you can do so at your holiday destination.
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Assuming gluten-free means free from other allergens
The varieties mentioned differ in their ingredients and potential traces. For example, butter is an ingredient in Hammermühle’s fresh bread for toast.
If you have additional allergies, compare the ingredients list and allergen information on the current packaging for the exact variety.
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Ordering fresh bread for toast without a plan for using it
Hammermühle’s fresh bread for toast has a short shelf life, so the delivery date and how you store it afterwards are important when planning your trip.
Time the delivery to arrive before you leave, and check the product instructions if you want to freeze the slices once they arrive.
Brands to consider
Schär
The Meisterbäckers range includes the sliced bread varieties covered here: Classic, Mehrkorn and Vital.
- The varieties described by REWE are labelled gluten-free and differ in their recipes and nutritional information.
- Ingredients and potential traces vary by variety; always check the current packaging.
Hammermühle
The manufacturer offers fresh, pre-sliced gluten-free bread for toast, which it says can be frozen.
- Being suitable for freezing gives you the option to portion out slices as needed.
- According to Hammermühle, the bread for toast described here keeps for only a few days. It contains butter and may contain traces of soya and mustard seed.
Maisterei
The online bakery describes its range as entirely gluten-free and offers bread and rolls.
- A place to look if you’d like to explore the range from a bakery specialising in gluten-free baked goods.
- If you specifically need sliced bread for toast for your trip, check the exact product.
Poensgen
The manufacturer offers gluten-free baked goods and long-life breads.
- For some long-life breads, Poensgen gives a shelf life of around four months when stored correctly. This doesn’t apply to every product.
- According to the manufacturer, the production site handles ingredients including egg, soya, nuts, milk and sesame. Check the information for the specific bread; the shelf-life information for long-life breads doesn’t refer to a particular bread for toast.
Products to suit you at Joybuy
For packaged sliced bread, consider Schär Meisterbäckers Classic, Mehrkorn or Vital; check the current packaging for ingredients and allergen information. If you’d prefer fresh bread for toast that can be frozen, consider Hammermühle’s fresh, pre-sliced gluten-free bread. Its shelf life is only a few days, so plan when you’ll use it and follow the storage instructions.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if bread for toast is labelled gluten-free?
Look for an explicit ‘gluten-free’ statement on the current packaging. Under European Union Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, products using this description must contain no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten in the finished product. Check for any additional allergens separately.
Is ‘wheat-free’ enough if I have coeliac disease?
No. You shouldn’t assume that ‘wheat-free’ means gluten-free. The EU regulation also lists rye and barley, as well as wheat, as gluten-containing cereals, so check for an explicit gluten-free label on the product.
How should I store packaged sliced bread at a holiday home?
The storage instructions for the Schär sliced breads mentioned here recommend keeping them in a dry place at room temperature. After opening, reseal the pack and eat the bread within a few days or freeze it straight away. Follow the instructions for the variety you actually buy.
Can I freeze gluten-free bread for toast and toast it from frozen?
The manufacturer says Hammermühle’s fresh bread for toast can be frozen. For this product, Hammermühle says frozen slices can be defrosted in a toaster in 2–3 minutes. Follow the instructions supplied with other products.
Is gluten-free bread for toast automatically free from milk or soya?
No. The gluten-free label doesn’t tell you this. The Schär Meisterbäckers Classic described here contains soya protein, while Hammermühle’s fresh bread for toast contains butter and may contain traces of soya. Check the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging.