If you want toast with your coffee that is definitely wholemeal, choose a product made entirely with wholemeal flour. If you’re looking for a middle ground for picky eaters, check for a stated proportion of wholemeal flour alongside white flour. Plain Melba toast is a good choice when you want a light base for toppings. Whatever you choose, compare the nutritional information per 100 g and check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging.
You’re looking for crisp toast that really is wholemeal, rather than something that just looks dark or multigrain. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, toast can only be considered wholemeal if it is made with 100% wholemeal flour. Then compare the stated fibre content per 100 g.
You want the option of a blend of wholemeal flour and white flour. For example, Jumbo’s product information for Van der Meulen Melba Multigrain Toast lists 45% wholemeal wheat flour alongside wheat flour. This lets you assess the ingredients without treating the toast as entirely wholemeal.
You’re mainly looking for a crisp base for a range of sweet or savoury toppings. As well as the flavour described, check the ingredients, allergens and salt content of the specific toast you choose.
First decide whether wholemeal flour, a blend or a base for toppings matters most to you. Then compare the products that fit the bill by checking their labels, always using the same 100 g basis.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Check the description and ingredients; compare the stated fibre content per 100 g. | I want genuinely wholemeal toast with my coffee and the ability to compare fibre content. Around 31% of consumers prioritise clearly labelled wholemeal products and fibre. |
| A white and wholemeal blend | Look for a stated percentage of wholemeal flour and check whether white flour is also included. | If not everyone at home wants fully wholemeal toast, I’m looking for a product made with both wholemeal flour and white flour. This kind of blend is a key consideration for around 31% of consumers. |
| Crispness and toppings | Read how the supplier describes the flavour and texture; check the ingredients of the product you choose. | When I’m serving different sweet or savoury toppings, I mainly want crisp toast with a mild flavour. Around 23% of consumers prioritise this kind of base for toppings. |
| Label information | Read the allergen information, compare salt per 100 g and check for baker’s salt if you’re interested in iodine. | If I have allergies, or if salt or baker’s salt matters to me, I want to know exactly what the packaging says. Around 15% of consumers prioritise checking this information on the label. |
Multigrain toast can contain ordinary white flour as well as wholemeal flour. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, toast is only entirely wholemeal if the flour is 100% wholemeal.
If you want wholemeal toast, check the description and ingredients. If you’re looking for a middle ground, see whether the packaging states the proportion of wholemeal flour.
Baker’s salt contains iodine, but according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, its use is not guaranteed. So you can’t tell whether it has been used just from the fact that a product is toast.
If it matters to your choice, check the ingredients of the specific product for baker’s salt.
Toast products can also differ in their salt content and allergens. The Van der Meulen Melba varieties described by Jumbo show why you should compare nutritional values per 100 g, rather than comparing portions of different products.
Before buying, check both the latest allergen information and the nutritional information per 100 g.
Moisture can make opened toast less crisp. This is worth bearing in mind if you want to use the pack over several coffee breaks.
Choose a pack size that suits you and follow the storage advice on the packaging once opened.
Toast that goes soft may end up uneaten.
The Melba range described by Jumbo includes specific products that make it easy to compare a wholemeal option with a multigrain one.
Delverde Classic Melba Toast is plain Melba toast for anyone looking for a base for toppings.
Bolletje Wholemeal Light Crackers are a different type of product for anyone considering crackers to have with their coffee.
ALDI Netherlands lists several types of toast in its range, including plain, wholemeal and varieties with seeds.
This Melba toast suits anyone looking for a crisp base for toppings. If you want a wholemeal option or a blend of white and wholemeal flour, the ingredients of the specific product are what count.
Image unavailable
For anyone who likes thin, crisp Melba toast with toppings alongside their coffee.
The product information lists wheat flour, barley malt flour and soya as ingredients, and warns that traces of sesame may be present. However, the separate allergen information contradicts this. Check the latest packaging before buying, especially if you have allergies.
Once opened, store the toast in a dry, tightly sealed container.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, toast is only wholemeal if it is made entirely with wholemeal flour. A multigrain product containing both wholemeal flour and ordinary white flour can be a deliberate blend, but it isn’t the same as fully wholemeal toast.
No, don’t assume that it does. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, baker’s salt contains iodine, but not every baker uses it. Check whether baker’s salt is listed among the ingredients of the toast you want to buy.
Compare the values per 100 g, rather than per portion if the serving sizes differ. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that salt is listed per 100 g in the nutritional information. Compare fibre on the same basis if it is provided.
Seal the pack tightly after opening and store the toast in a dry place, following the storage advice for the specific product. When choosing a pack size, think about how often you serve toast.
Read the latest ingredients and allergen information for the specific toast product. The product information from Jumbo and Joybuy shows that ingredients vary between varieties, so don’t rely on names such as plain, multigrain or wholemeal alone. If the product information conflicts, it’s especially important to check the packaging.
