Who is this choice relevant to?

Anyone who needs to avoid a specific allergen

If you’re buying crispbread for someone with a known food allergy, checking the ingredients and relevant ‘may contain’ information comes before choosing a convenient pack size.

Anyone looking for gluten-free options while checking for other allergens

A gluten-free claim doesn’t answer questions about sesame, milk, mustard or soya, for example. Check the full allergy information for the exact variant.

Anyone who wants small, sealed portions to take along

For work, school or when you’re out and about, it can be handy to open only part of the pack. Check whether it contains sticks, individual portion packs or larger multipacks; these aren’t the same as each piece of crispbread being individually wrapped.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, check for the allergen that needs to be avoided and any warnings about possible traces. Then compare the gluten-free claim, if needed, and the packaging format that suits how you’ll use it.

What to check What to check when buying Who is this important for?
Specific allergen and possible traces Read the ingredients and the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ information on the pack you receive. Check it against the allergen that needs to be avoided. If I’m buying for someone with a food allergy, I first want to know whether their specific allergen appears in the product or in a warning. Around 42% of consumers say this is their most important consideration when buying.
Gluten-free claim Look for an explicit gluten-free claim and check the other ingredients and allergy information for the exact variant too. If gluten needs to be avoided, I want to find a suitable option without overlooking other relevant allergens. For around 33% of consumers, choosing gluten-free comes first.
Sealed portions Check whether the product contains individual portions, two sticks per pack or several inner packs. I want to take crispbread with me or avoid opening the whole pack at home, so the size of each sealed unit matters. Around 25% of consumers say portion packs are their main preference.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming portion packs are allergen-free

    According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Wasa Sesame & sea salt gluten-free contains sesame and comes in portion packs. The packaging doesn’t change the ingredients or warnings about possible traces.

    Only use the packaging format as a selection criterion after checking the current label for the allergen that needs to be avoided.

  • Relying on ‘gluten-free’ alone

    Gluten-free says nothing about the absence of other allergens. For Wasa Sesame & sea salt gluten-free, Albert Heijn lists sesame as an ingredient and says the product may contain milk, mustard and soya.

    As well as checking the gluten-free claim, read the ingredients and ‘may contain’ information for the variant you’ve chosen.

  • Assuming all crispbread contains iodised salt

    Voedingscentrum says bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So, if one product lists ‘iodised salt’, that doesn’t mean other crispbread does too.

    Check the label of the specific product if the type of salt used is important to your choice.

  • Treating the online description as the definitive label

    Ingredients and allergy information can change. If you have a food allergy, the information on the pack you receive is what matters for your final check.

    Check the product you receive against your requirements and don’t use it if the current information doesn’t meet them.

Brands to compare

Compare specific products and packaging, not just brand names: ingredients and portion formats can vary within the same brand.

Wasa

Worth comparing if you’re looking at a gluten-free variant described as coming in portion packs alongside filled sandwich sticks for on-the-go.

  • Albert Heijn describes Wasa Sesame & sea salt gluten-free as portion-packed, and Wasa Sandwich tomato & basil as containing two sticks per pack.
  • The Sesame & sea salt variant contains sesame and may contain milk, mustard and soya. The sandwich variant reviewed contains wheat and milk; check the allergy information for each variant.

Albert Heijn

Worth comparing if you’re looking at gluten-free crispbread alongside organic crispbread in three inner packs.

  • Albert Heijn says AH Glutenvrij Vezelrijk is produced in a completely gluten-free environment, while AH Biologisch Knäckebröd vezelrijk met tarwebloem comes in a pack of 3x5.
  • AH Glutenvrij Vezelrijk contains oats and may contain sesame. The organic product mentioned contains wheat, rye, gluten and sesame, so multipacks are no substitute for checking allergens.

Ryvita

A reference point for rye crispbread if you want to compare the ingredients of a specific variant.

  • Ryvita lists wholemeal rye flour, rye flour and salt as ingredients in its Original Crispbread.
  • For this variant, Ryvita lists rye and gluten, and says it may contain other sources of gluten and sesame. The product information reviewed relates to a UK variant; check the packaging of the product you actually buy.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is portion-packed crispbread suitable for someone with a food allergy?

Not just because of the packaging. According to the European Union, allergens present in prepacked foods must be highlighted in the ingredients list; also check any relevant ‘may contain’ information on the current product label. A sealed portion doesn’t, by itself, tell you anything about the allergens in the product.

Is gluten-free crispbread also free from sesame or milk?

Not necessarily. Albert Heijn says Wasa Sesame & sea salt gluten-free contains sesame and may contain milk; AH Glutenvrij Vezelrijk may contain sesame. If you have an allergy, always check the full information on the exact pack.

How should I store an opened pack of crispbread?

Follow the storage instructions on the pack you’ve chosen. For the standard and organic crispbread variants reviewed, Albert Heijn advises storing the product in a sealed tin after opening. This storage method doesn’t change the allergen information.

Does Dutch crispbread always contain iodised salt?

No, don’t assume it does. Voedingscentrum says using baker’s salt when baking bread isn’t compulsory. Albert Heijn lists iodised salt as an ingredient in AH Glutenvrij Vezelrijk, but for other crispbread you’ll need to check its own label.