For sandwiches served at a workplace canteen, toast or sandwich bread can be a good choice if the slice size and preparation suit your planned service. Sliced sourdough is another option if the fillings, portioning and serving process work well with the specific loaf. For wholemeal or gluten-free options, always check the information on the current packaging.
If you prepare a large number of lunches, you need bread slices that are easy to portion and suit the fillings you plan to use. If you also want to offer wholemeal bread, check the product description as a separate selection criterion.
What matters is an explicit gluten-free label on the specific bread, not the word ‘sourdough’. Schär describes its sliced sourdough breads as gluten-free, but the ingredients and any other allergen information still need to match the product in question.
If you want to use sliced sourdough instead of classic toast, check the slice size, how it handles fillings and whether it suits your planned serving process, using the specific product you intend to buy.
First, decide whether the bread is mainly intended as a wholemeal option, for quick service or as a separately labelled gluten-free choice. You can then check the format and packaging details with these priorities in mind.
| Criterion | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal option | Look for the term ‘wholemeal’; check the slice size and intended preparation on the product. | If I want to choose wholemeal at lunchtime, a dark colour alone isn’t enough to guide me. This is the main priority for around 40% of consumers. |
| Serving and bread format | Check the slice size, how easy it is to portion and whether it is suitable for serving cold or toasted as planned. | When preparing lots of sandwiches, I need to be able to portion them without time-consuming adjustments. Easy serving is the main concern for around 30% of consumers. |
| Gluten-free option | Check the current gluten-free label, ingredients and allergen information; confirm how the bread will be identified when served. | If I need gluten-free bread, I need to be able to rely on the label for the specific product. For around 30% of consumers, a clearly labelled special option is the main priority here. |
The name of the bread doesn’t tell you whether it contains gluten. For example, EDEKA lists wheat flour and wheat gluten in its wheat toast rolls, while Schär explicitly labels certain sliced sourdough breads as gluten-free.
Choose a gluten-free option based on the current product label and check the other ingredient and allergen information too.
The German Nutrition Society points out that the term ‘wholemeal’ is what matters when choosing a wholemeal product.
Make this a clear requirement if your canteen menu is specifically intended to include a wholemeal option.
A listed bread may not be available at the location you need, or work with the fillings and equipment you plan to use. EDEKA itself notes that availability may vary by region.
Check local availability and test the slice size, fillings and condition of the bread after the planned serving time.
For sandwiches served without packaging, the information for the bread and filling needs to be accurate and consistent. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity lists cereals containing gluten among the allergens that must be declared.
Keep up-to-date recipe and allergen information for every option, and update the serving information whenever the bread you use changes.
Schär offers sliced sourdough breads as potential special-diet options; these are not products marketed as classic toast bread.
REWE stocks toast and sandwich bread, as well as some sliced sourdough breads.
GUT&GÜNSTIG wheat toast rolls are an example of a format designed to be prepared in a toaster.
Lidl describes bread specialities made with natural rye sourdough as part of its bakery range.
No. Sourdough can be made with cereals that contain gluten, so for a gluten-free canteen option, check the current label on the specific bread. Schär describes its sliced sourdough breads as gluten-free, but you should still check the other ingredient and allergen information for these products.
Information about allergens that must be declared needs to be available even for sandwiches served without packaging. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity includes cereals containing gluten among these allergens. The canteen should therefore keep the information for the bread and filling currently in use up to date.
Look for the term ‘wholemeal’, not the colour of the bread. Check the specific product to make sure the labelled option also has the slice size you need and is suitable for your planned serving process.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the bread you use. For Pema Rye Sourdough Bread listed by REWE, the instructions say to fold the packaging closed securely after opening. Other breads may have different instructions.