Anyone taking a topped lunch with them
You’re looking for a slice that suits the amount and type of topping you want for your office lunch. If you prepare your crispbread in advance, how you transport it matters too.
Who is this for?
Anyone comparing nutritional values
You’d rather choose based on the nutritional information on the packaging, perhaps because protein or fibre is important to your lunch choice.
Anyone who needs to avoid gluten
You can’t rely on the word ‘wholegrain’ or on the brand name. You’ll need a clearly suitable label and up-to-date allergen information to decide which variety is right for you.
What should you look for?
First, decide what matters most for your lunch: a slice to hold your toppings, the nutritional profile, an allergen requirement or a practical pack size. Then assess the specific variety. A product name doesn’t tell you how thick or sturdy a slice is.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Toppings and transport | Look at the shape of the slice and consider whether it would be better to take your toppings separately. ‘Robust’ isn’t a standard measure of thickness. | If I prepare my lunch in advance, I want the slice to stay intact while I’m carrying it. For around 33% of consumers, a practical base for toppings is the most important factor. |
| Nutritional information | Compare protein, fibre and salt per 100 g and, where stated, per serving. Jumbo lists 20.0 g of protein, 9.5 g of fibre and 1.0 g of salt per 100 g for Wasa Protein Wheat Knäckebrod. | For my lunch, I’d rather compare nutritional values than look only at the shape of the slice. For around 25% of consumers, nutritional profile is the top priority. |
| Gluten and allergens | Read the current label for the variety you’ve chosen, including the ingredients and allergen information. Standard wheat or rye crispbread is not a substitute for crispbread explicitly labelled gluten-free. | If I need to avoid gluten, I need to be able to confirm before buying that this particular variety is suitable. For around 17% of consumers, checking the label comes first. |
| Packaging and availability | Check the pack weight and whether your chosen variety is available at the shop where you’re buying it. Lidl lists its sunflower seed and pumpkin seed variety in a 264 g pack, available in store. | I regularly take crispbread to the office and want to choose a pack that suits my needs and where I shop. For around 25% of consumers, that practical choice comes first. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘robust’ or ‘thick cut’ means a set thickness
A name that sounds sturdy doesn’t, by itself, tell you whether a slice is suitable for your amount of topping or for carrying in a lunch bag.
Use the name to find varieties, but check the slice and packaging before choosing one for substantial toppings.
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Looking only at protein
Jumbo lists 20.0 g of protein and 1.0 g of salt per 100 g for Wasa Protein Wheat Knäckebrod. The ingredients list also includes wheat and wheat gluten; the protein value doesn’t tell you how sturdy the slice is.
Compare the full nutritional information and ingredients for the variety with what matters to you for lunch.
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Assuming all crispbread contains baker’s salt
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So you can’t tell from the product category alone what kind of salt a specific variety contains.
If the presence of baker’s salt matters to your choice, check the label or ask the manufacturer.
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Confusing wholegrain or multigrain with gluten-free
Jumbo lists wheat and wheat gluten in Wasa Protein Wheat Knäckebrod. Ryvita says in its own FAQ that all its products contain gluten.
If you need to avoid gluten, choose a product with a clearly suitable label and check the allergen information on the pack you buy.
Brands to consider
Ingredients, nutritional values and allergens can vary between varieties from the same brand. Use a brand to narrow down your search, not as proof that every slice is equally sturdy.
Wasa
Jumbo lists wholegrain and high-fibre varieties, as well as a separate Wasa variety labelled gluten-free and lactose-free. The range also includes Wasa Protein Wheat Knäckebrod.
- The range of products makes it possible to compare labels and suitability for your lunch.
- Check the ingredients and allergens for each variety; the names don’t indicate a set slice thickness.
Bolletje
Albert Heijn lists Bolletje Oerknäck robust wholegrain and a protein variety among its crispbread range.
- The product names can help you find a wholegrain variety or one with a particular nutritional profile in mind.
- ‘Robust’ doesn’t confirm a specific slice thickness or resistance to breaking; check the information for the individual product.
Albert Heijn
The AH range includes own-brand crispbread in varieties such as wholegrain, sesame and pumpkin seed.
- You can compare different varieties within the own-brand range.
- The range listing doesn’t tell you which variety is suitable for substantial toppings; check the specific product.
Lidl
Lidl lists crispbread with sunflower or pumpkin seeds in a 264 g pack.
- The two seed varieties offer a focused choice of flavour and ingredients.
- Lidl lists this product as available in store; check the packaging for ingredients and slice shape.
Ryvita
Ryvita says in its own FAQ that all its products contain gluten.
- The brand’s FAQ gives you a clear starting point for checking gluten content.
- That means Ryvita isn’t suitable for anyone who needs to avoid gluten. For other lunch requirements, always check the specific packaging.
Crispbread for a topped lunch
These Joybuy products are wholegrain and other crispbread varieties to consider for a topped office lunch. Their names and pack weights help you identify each variety, but don’t tell you how thick or sturdy the slices are in transit.
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Wasa Rustic crispbread, 215 g
Consider this variety if you’re looking for a slice to assess for a topped lunch. ‘Rustic’ doesn’t indicate a set thickness or level of sturdiness; check the slice before carrying substantial toppings on it.
Pack size: 215 g. If you have allergies, check the current ingredients and allergen information.
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Wasa Sourdough Rye crispbread, 235 g
A variety to consider if you’re looking for rye crispbread for a topped lunch. Assess the slice on its own if you plan to carry the topping and crispbread together.
Pack size: 235 g. If you need to avoid gluten or other allergens, always check the current label.
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Wasa Wholegrain crispbread, 260 g
Consider this wholegrain variety if you want to take crispbread with toppings for lunch. ‘Wholegrain’ doesn’t tell you how thick the slice is, so choose based on your toppings and how you plan to pack it.
Pack size: 260 g. Check the current label for ingredients and allergens.
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g'woon wholemeal crispbread, 375 g
A wholemeal variety to compare if you’re looking for crispbread as the base for an office lunch. Check the slice itself if you plan to prepare your lunch before setting off.
Pack size: 375 g. Check the current packaging for ingredients and allergens.
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Bolletje wholegrain crispbread, 265 g
Consider this wholegrain variety for a lunch with toppings. The product name doesn’t confirm a particular thickness or resistance to breaking, so look at the shape of the slice and how you’ll carry your lunch.
Pack size: 265 g. Check the current label if ingredients or allergens will affect your choice.
Frequently asked questions
Is ‘thick cut’ or ‘robust’ a reliable measure of slice thickness?
No. On their own, these words don’t give you a comparable measurement in millimetres or guarantee that the slice will stay sturdy in transit. Check the individual slice and packaging, especially if you want to carry plenty of toppings.
Can I simply choose wholegrain or rye crispbread if I need to avoid gluten?
Not without checking the specific product: Jumbo lists wheat and wheat gluten in Wasa Protein Wheat Knäckebrod, and according to Ryvita’s own FAQ, all its products contain gluten. Choose a product with a clearly suitable label and read the current allergen information.
How can I take crispbread with me without putting moist toppings on it?
Take the toppings separately and add them when you’re ready to eat if you want to keep the crispbread crunchy. Protect the slices from breaking in transit too; a product name such as ‘robust’ is no guarantee they’ll travel safely.
Does crispbread always contain iodised baker’s salt?
No, don’t assume that it does. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check the label for your chosen variety or ask the manufacturer which salt was used.