If you have coeliac disease, choose sliced bread for breakfast and days out only if the current packaging clearly states that it is gluten-free. It’s also important to check the ingredients and information about other allergens. For trips where you can’t rely on having access to a freezer, bread that can be stored at room temperature may be a suitable option. Frozen toast, however, needs to remain frozen throughout transport, and you’ll need to follow the defrosting instructions.
For breakfast, day trips and meals on the go, they need bread that is clearly labelled gluten-free. The German Coeliac Society stresses the importance of following a strict gluten-free diet if you have coeliac disease, so it’s essential to check the information on the current packaging when choosing a product.
If you’re taking bread for several meals, check that the storage instructions fit the facilities available at your accommodation. Schär describes its sliced bread as suitable for storage at room temperature, while Fria Classic Toast, listed by REWE, needs to be kept frozen.
For sweet or savoury toppings and meals to take with you, the slice size, ingredients and preparation instructions all matter. Schär says Meisterbäckers Classic works with a range of toppings, while REWE recommends toasting its “frei von Helles Brot” until it’s browned to your liking.
First, check that the specific pack is labelled gluten-free. Then consider your travel arrangements, the meals you’re planning and any other requirements relating to ingredients or allergens.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free labelling | Check that the current pack clearly says “gluten-free”, and look at the ingredients and allergen information. | If I have coeliac disease, I need to be able to rely on the labelling of the specific bread, even when I’m away from home. This is the top priority for around 30% of consumers when choosing a product. |
| Storage and transport | Check the storage temperature, defrosting instructions and storage guidance after opening against your journey and accommodation. | For long journeys or if there’s no freezer, I don’t want to plan to take bread that I can’t store as required. Around 30% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Breakfasts and sandwiches | Compare the slice size and preparation instructions with the meals you have planned. | If I want to make sandwiches quickly in the morning and pack some for a day out, I need a format that suits those plans. For around 20% of consumers, suitability for everyday holiday meals is the most important criterion. |
| Other ingredients and allergens | Compare the ingredients list, any may-contain warnings and, if relevant, the nutritional information per 100 g. | If I need to avoid ingredients other than gluten or compare fibre content, knowing the product range alone isn’t enough. Around 20% of consumers put this ingredient profile first. |
“Wheat-free” doesn’t tell you whether a processed sliced bread product is labelled gluten-free. This distinction is essential when choosing food for someone with coeliac disease.
Check that the current pack clearly states that the product is gluten-free, and also read the ingredients and allergen information.
According to REWE, Fria Classic Toast needs to be stored at −18 °C. Once defrosted, it should be eaten within two days and must not be refrozen.
Before you leave, check that you’ll be able to keep it frozen during transport and at your accommodation. If not, consider bread that is clearly labelled as suitable for storage at room temperature.
Gluten-free breads can vary in their ingredients and may-contain information. For example, Schär lists possible traces of soya, lupin and mustard for Meisterbäckers Vital.
If you have other allergies, check the information for the exact product variant on the current pack, rather than relying on the brand name alone.
Storage instructions can change after opening or defrosting. Schär recommends resealing the pack of Meisterbäckers Mild after opening, then eating the bread within a few days or freezing it promptly.
Choose a pack size that suits the breakfasts and sandwiches you have planned, and follow the instructions for the variant you’ve chosen.
According to Schär, the Meisterbäckers sliced bread range includes Classic, Mild and Vital. You can compare the variants by their ingredients, nutritional information and intended use.
“Helles Brot” is a packaged sliced bread that REWE describes as gluten-free and lactose-free.
Poensgen Toastbrot is sliced bread in a toast format. REWE lists it as gluten-free and lactose-free.
According to REWE, Fria Classic Toast is frozen gluten-free toast with individually removable slices.
These gluten-free baker’s rolls are an alternative if your holiday accommodation has an oven and you don’t need sliced bread.
No. “Wheat-free” doesn’t mean the same as “gluten-free”. For processed sliced bread, look for a clear gluten-free label on the current pack, and also check the ingredients and allergen information.
Yes, as long as you can keep it frozen during transport and at your accommodation. REWE specifies −18 °C for Fria Classic Toast. Once defrosted, it should be eaten within two days and must not be refrozen.
The information on the specific pack is what matters when choosing the bread you’re taking with you. EDEKA notes that product information shown online may differ from the packaging.
As well as checking that the bread is labelled gluten-free, read the ingredients and allergen information for the specific variant. For example, Schär lists possible traces of soya, lupin and mustard for Meisterbäckers Vital. This information doesn’t necessarily apply to other variants.