If wholegrain is your starting point
You want to serve a wholegrain option and not judge a cracker by its brown colour. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that ‘wholegrain’ on crackers refers to the flour used.
Who is this choice relevant to?
If you’re hosting guests with different tastes
You want to give guests a choice without assuming a lighter or mixed option will be more popular. Try a second option in advance and keep the packaging handy in case anyone has questions about ingredients or allergens.
If you’re shopping for a group
You’ll need enough crispbread for several guests. Check the pack weight, the number of pieces in each pack and where you can buy your chosen option.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide which options you’d like to offer your guests, then check the ingredients on each pack. A thin or light-looking cracker isn’t necessarily an alternative made with a mix of white and wholemeal flour.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who does this matter to? |
|---|---|---|
| Wholegrain and fibre | Look for the word ‘wholegrain’ on the pack and compare fibre per 100 g. | If I want to offer a wholegrain option, I want to be able to tell from the packaging, not the colour. This wholegrain choice is the deciding factor for roughly 31% of consumers. |
| Taste and texture | Try a second option in advance if you want to offer a choice; don’t use ‘light’ to predict how it will taste. | My guests have different preferences, so I want to give them something to try. Taste and texture come first for around 31% of consumers. |
| Pack size and availability | Check the pack weight, the number of pieces and whether you can buy the product in store or online. | When shopping for a group, I want to be able to get enough packs in good time. For around 23% of consumers, practical considerations like these are the main priority. |
| Labels and allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information; compare salt per 100 g and, if you have questions about iodine, look for a mention of iodised salt or baker’s salt. | If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to be able to show them the right pack. For around 15% of consumers, checking the label is the most important factor. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming brown colour, rye or fibre means wholegrain
On their own, these characteristics don’t mean that a cracker is made entirely from wholemeal flour. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the label ‘wholegrain’ on crackers refers to flour that is entirely wholemeal.
Check the wording on the pack you choose, then use the ingredients list and fibre per 100 g for a more detailed comparison.
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Assuming baker’s salt will provide iodine
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bread doesn’t have to be baked with baker’s salt. You can’t tell whether crispbread contains it from the product name alone, either.
If it matters to your choice, look for baker’s salt or iodised salt in the ingredients list.
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Serving everyone the same pack without checking the label
Crispbread containing wheat or rye may not be suitable for guests with coeliac disease or a relevant allergy. Other ingredients and possible traces also vary by product.
Ask guests about any relevant allergens, keep the packaging handy and serve a suitable alternative separately from crispbread containing gluten.
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Only looking at the front of the pack
Pack weights and places to buy products vary. For example, Lidl lists its wholegrain crispbread as available in store only.
Before your coffee morning, check how many pieces you’ll need and where you can buy your chosen option.
You may need to make an extra trip to the shops if you only discover at the last minute that your preferred option is available in store only.
Brands to consider
Wasabröd (Wasa)
Jumbo lists Wasa Wholegrain in its wholegrain range; there’s also a differently named option, Wasa Lightweight.
- Wasa Wholegrain is a good option to look for if you want a product labelled wholegrain.
- ‘Lightweight’ doesn’t, on its own, tell you whether the pack you choose is wholegrain or what its nutritional value is.
Ryvita
Ryvita Original is a rye option. According to the manufacturer, it contains 88 g of wholegrain rye flour per 100 g.
- The manufacturer also states that Ryvita Original contains 13,4 g of fibre per 100 g, making it easy to compare with other labels.
- Check the label on the pack available when you buy it, especially for ingredients and allergens.
Albert Heijn
AH Knackebrod wholegrain is one example of a supermarket own-brand option labelled wholegrain.
- The product listing states that it comes in a 260 g pack.
- Check which option is available before you buy, and read the information on the current packaging.
Jumbo
Jumbo Wholegrain Crispbread is made with wholemeal wheat and rye flour and comes in a 375 g pack.
- Jumbo states that this product contains 10,9 g of fibre and 0,71 g of salt per 100 g.
- The product contains wheat and rye and may contain traces of other allergens. Read the label before serving it to guests with a relevant allergy.
Lidl
Lidl lists a product called Wholegrain Crispbread in a 250 g pack.
- Knowing the pack weight makes it easier to plan how much you’ll need for a group.
- Lidl lists this option as available in store only; check the pack there for its ingredients and nutritional information.
ALDI
ALDI describes Goud Gebakken Crispbread as wholegrain and also offers a separate robust option with seeds.
- ALDI lists its standard wholegrain crispbread in a 375 g pack.
- Don’t assume the robust option with seeds is the same product; check the name and ingredients on the pack you choose.
Products for your table
These crispbreads and crackers come in a range of pack sizes and varieties for a coffee morning. If you’re specifically looking for a mix of white and wholemeal flour, don’t choose a lighter option based on its name alone; check the ingredients on the pack.
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Wasa Sourdough Rye crackers, 235 g
A rye option to serve alongside a cracker with a different composition. The pack contains 235 g; check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging before serving.
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Bolletje Whole Grain Crispbread, 265 g
An option labelled wholegrain for guests who are looking for that. The pack contains 265 g; ask guests with a relevant allergy to check the packaging.
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Wasa Lightweight crackers, 300 g
A differently named Wasa option to try in advance if you want to offer a choice at the table. The pack contains 300 g; don’t infer its ingredients or taste from ‘Lightweight’—read the label.
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Bolletje Light Whole Grain crackers, 190 g
A cracker option labelled wholegrain in a 190 g pack. ‘Light’ in the name doesn’t confirm that it contains a mix of white and wholemeal flour; check the ingredients if that particular combination matters to you.
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Bolletje Light Crispbread Golden Crisp, 240 g
A different crispbread option to try alongside a wholegrain choice. The pack contains 240 g; check the ingredients before offering this as a mix of white and wholemeal flour.
Frequently asked questions
Does ‘wholegrain’ on crispbread mean the flour is entirely wholemeal?
Yes. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a cracker can only be called ‘wholegrain’ if the flour used is entirely wholemeal. A product made with a mix that includes white flour may state the proportion of wholemeal flour it contains, but that isn’t the same as a cracker labelled wholegrain.
Does all crispbread provide iodine from baker’s salt?
No, don’t assume it does. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bread doesn’t have to be baked with baker’s salt; check the ingredients list on your chosen crispbread for baker’s salt or iodised salt.
Can someone with coeliac disease eat rye or wheat crispbread?
Crispbread made with rye or wheat isn’t suitable for someone with coeliac disease, as these grains contain gluten. Check the pack for an explicit gluten-free label when choosing an alternative, and keep it separate from products containing gluten when serving.
How should I store an opened pack until the coffee morning?
Seal the pack well after opening and follow the storage advice on the packaging. Jumbo recommends storing its Wholegrain Crispbread in a cool, dry place; check the packaging for any other product.
What should I check if I’m also serving savoury toppings?
Compare the salt per 100 g in the crispbread and read the nutritional information for the toppings too. That way, you can assess the combination you’re serving, rather than looking at the cracker alone.