Stocking up to share snacks or take them with you
You want sweet snacks that are ready to hand out, with no preparation needed. Individually wrapped portions may be more convenient than a single pack that needs resealing once opened.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Looking for a sweet snack, not toast
You’re after something crunchy and chocolatey to enjoy with coffee or tea, or as a treat between meals. Biscuits and wafers are the relevant types of product to compare.
Need toast as a base
You want to serve toppings or savoury bites on toast. The chocolate products described here by Jumbo and Albert Heijn are small wafers and biscuits, not Melba toast.
What should you look for when stocking up?
First decide whether you need savoury toast or sweet snacks. Then compare the packaging, best-before date and label for the variety you choose.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Type of product | Check whether the pack says toast, biscuit or wafer. Choose a toast base for savoury toppings. | If I’m serving savoury bites, I need a base for toppings, not a chocolate biscuit. For around 42% of consumers, the product’s purpose is the deciding factor. |
| Packaging and storage | Compare the portion packaging and best-before date. Follow the storage instructions on the label. | If I want to hand out or take snacks with me, I need to be able to split up my supplies without opening a large pack each time. For around 33% of consumers, managing their stock is the priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients list and allergen information for the exact variety; check specifically whether it contains iodised salt. | If I’m buying for several people, I need to be able to check the ingredients and allergens in a product. For around 25% of consumers, checking the label is their main concern. |
Pitfalls when shopping
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Treating a chocolate biscuit or wafer as toast
A sweet snack isn’t the same as a base for savoury toppings. Jumbo lists Van der Meulen Melba Toast as toast, but describes the chocolate-coated Kanjers variety as a small wafer; Albert Heijn calls Bolletje Chonelly a biscuit.
Check the product description before you choose what to stock up on, even if the search terms or images look similar.
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Overlooking the packaging
A shared pack needs to be stored differently after opening from individually wrapped portions. This matters if you’re handing out snacks at different times.
Check how many portions the pack contains, whether they’re individually wrapped and whether the best-before date fits your planned usage.
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Relying on general allergen information
The chocolate products described by Jumbo and Albert Heijn list different allergens and possible traces. The label on one product won’t tell you anything conclusive about another variety.
When buying, check the allergen information and any statements such as ‘may contain’ on the exact product packaging.
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Assuming iodised baker’s salt is always an ingredient
You can’t tell whether a particular variety contains iodised salt just from knowing that it’s toast.
Check the product’s ingredients list rather than relying on a general assumption about bakery products.
Brands to consider
Bolletje
Bolletje makes a range of bakery products and snacks. For this choice, Chonelly is a chocolate biscuit, not toast.
- Albert Heijn lists Chonelly as a 190 g pack containing 12 biscuits, made with Belgian milk chocolate.
- Albert Heijn lists wheat, soya and milk among the allergens; it may also contain egg, nuts and sesame. Check the latest label before buying.
Kanjers
The Kleine Kanjers described by Jumbo are individually wrapped, chocolate-coated mini wafers, ideal if you want to hand out snacks.
- Jumbo describes this variety as a small wafer with caramel and a milk chocolate coating.
- It isn’t toast. Jumbo lists egg, milk, soya and wheat; it may also contain nuts.
Van der Meulen Melba Toast
A brand to consider if you’re actually looking for toast as a base for toppings.
- Jumbo lists Melba Toast Naturel and Melba Volkoren Toast in its toast category.
- Don’t assume a chocolate coating based on the brand name; check the variety you choose.
Joybuy products for a sweet snack stash
These products suit anyone choosing a chocolate biscuit or wafer as a sweet snack. If you’re looking for toast to serve with savoury toppings, these snacks won’t do the same job.
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Kahve Dunyasi Gofrik with pistachio paste and milk chocolate, 10 × 12.5 g
A sweet wafer to consider if you want to portion out a chocolate treat, rather than a base for savoury toppings.
The product name lists 10 × 12.5 g. Before buying to stock up, check the best-before date and allergens on the packaging.
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Lu Scholiertje biscuits with milk chocolate, 150 g
A biscuit for a sweet snack stash, not for anyone who needs toast as a base for toppings.
The pack is labelled 150 g. Check the number of portions, best-before date and allergens on the packaging.
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KitKat Gold chocolate wafer with salted caramel flavour, 9 pieces
A wafer for anyone looking to stock up on a sweet chocolate snack, not for a savoury toast stash.
The product name lists 9 pieces. If you plan to hand them out, check whether they’re individually wrapped, and read the best-before date and allergen information on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Is a chocolate biscuit or wafer the same as toast?
No, they’re different types of product with different purposes. Jumbo sells the Melba toast mentioned here as toast and describes the chocolate-coated Kleine Kanjers as a small wafer; Albert Heijn calls Bolletje Chonelly a biscuit. Choose toast if you need a base for savoury toppings.
How should I store chocolate snacks once the pack is open?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging for the snack you’ve chosen. Albert Heijn says Bolletje Chonelly should be protected from heat and, once opened, kept in a cool, dry, dark place in a sealed container. Voedingscentrum also recommends following the storage instructions on the label.
Does a product have to be thrown away as soon as it’s past its best-before date?
No. A best-before date tells you how long the manufacturer guarantees the product’s quality; it doesn’t automatically mean the product is unusable afterwards. Voedingscentrum recommends checking the product if the packaging is intact and following the storage advice. When stocking up, make sure the date fits your planned usage.
Does all toast contain iodised baker’s salt?
Don’t assume so: check the ingredients list to find out whether a particular variety of toast contains iodised salt. NBC / brood.net describes agreements on the use of iodised baker’s salt, but the type of product alone won’t tell you which ingredients are in the pack.