Looking for a ready-made chocolate snack
You want a product that already has chocolate on it. Check the product type carefully: a chocolate-coated wafer, cookie or biscuit isn’t necessarily toast.
Who might this choice be relevant to?
A toast lover who wants to add their own topping
You want toast as a base and to choose your own topping. Van der Meulen Melba Toast’s plain and multigrain varieties are described as suitable for topping or dipping; check the ingredients for the variety you choose.
Comparing food labels
You choose based on ingredients, nutritional information and allergens. If you’re having toast with a separate topping, read both packs: the information for the toast alone doesn’t describe the complete snack.
What should you look for when choosing?
Add your own topping to toast
A good fit if: you want toast and would like to choose the type and amount of chocolate yourself.
Consider: the chocolate is a separate product, so check the ingredients and nutritional information for both parts.
Ready-made coated snack
A good fit if: having a ready-made chocolate coating matters more to you than the toast format.
Consider: a chocolate-coated wafer or biscuit isn’t toast, even if it’s sold as a crunchy snack.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Check whether the product name says toast and whether the chocolate is actually a coating. | I want a snack that already has chocolate on it, but I’m specifically looking for toast, not a wafer or biscuit. For around 45% of consumers, a ready-made coating is the top priority. |
| Nutritional information and ingredients | Compare sugars, saturated fat, fibre and salt per 100 g; if you’re adding your own topping, include that too. | If I eat something late in the evening, I want to know what the full combination contains before choosing a portion. This is the main priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Toast base and topping | Choose a variety of toast you’d like to top, and read the allergen information for both the toast and the topping. | I want to choose what goes on my toast, while taking the ingredients in both products into account. Around 22% of consumers put this freedom of choice first. |
Common mistakes
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Mistaking a coated wafer or biscuit for toast
The Verkade XXL Choco Wafel, as described by Jumbo, is coated in chocolate, but it’s a wafer. The product type determines what you’re buying, even when the coating is what you’re looking for.
If toast is a must for you, check the product name and description. Also check separately whether chocolate is part of the product.
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Looking only at the chocolate on the front of the pack
A toast base and a chocolate-coated snack won’t necessarily have the same nutritional values. If you add your own topping to toast, its nutritional values count too.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g, then consider how much you actually want to eat.
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Assuming all toast contains iodine from iodised baker’s salt
You can’t assume a product contains iodised baker’s salt just because it’s toast.
Check the ingredients list or ask the retailer or manufacturer if this is important to your choice.
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Checking only the allergens in the toast
A separate chocolate topping may contain different allergens from the toast. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information for prepacked products should appear on the label.
Read the allergen information on both packs before combining the products.
Brands compared
Van der Meulen Melba Toast
Plain and multigrain toast to top or dip, as described on Jumbo’s product pages.
- You can choose your topping separately.
- These aren’t chocolate-coated toast varieties. Check the ingredients and allergens for each variety; the plain variety lists wheat and soya, among other ingredients.
Hollandia
An uncoated toast base for anyone who wants to decide whether to add chocolate or another topping.
- Albert Heijn lists wheat flour and water as ingredients in Hollandia 100% Natural Toast.
- The toast isn’t chocolate-coated and contains wheat.
Verkade
An option to compare if you’re looking for a ready-made chocolate-coated snack, rather than toast.
- Jumbo describes the Verkade XXL Choco Wafel as a wafer with hazelnut cream and a milk chocolate coating.
- A wafer isn’t toast; as with any product, check the nutritional information and allergens on the pack.
Joybuy products for two types of snack
These products suit two different choices: a ready-made chocolate-coated biscuit, or Melba toast with a topping of your choice. If you’re specifically looking for chocolate-coated toast, it’s important to keep the distinction in mind.
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Lu Scholiertje Milk Chocolate Biscuits, 150 g
For anyone who wants a ready-made biscuit with milk chocolate and isn’t necessarily looking for toast.
The pack contains 150 g. This is a biscuit, not toast; check the current packaging for ingredients, nutritional information and allergens.
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Delverde Classic Melba Toast, 100 g
For anyone who wants to use Melba toast as a base and choose their own topping.
The pack contains 100 g. To make chocolate toast, choose your topping separately and check the ingredients and allergens for both products.
Frequently asked questions
Is chocolate-coated toast the same as a chocolate-coated wafer?
No. The Verkade XXL Choco Wafel, as described by Jumbo, is a wafer coated in milk chocolate, not toast. Choose a product like this only if the coating matters more to you than the toast format.
Which allergens should I check when having toast with chocolate?
Check the allergen information for both the toast and the chocolate or topping. Ingredients vary between products and varieties; the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergen information for prepacked products should appear on the label.
Does all toast contain iodine from iodised baker’s salt?
No, don’t assume that it does. Check the ingredients list for the toast you’ve chosen, or ask the retailer or manufacturer which salt is used if this is relevant to your choice.
How should I store toast after opening?
Follow the storage instructions on the pack of the toast you’ve chosen. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that a best-before date relates to quality; after opening, check for any separate storage instructions too.