When comparing crispbread for afternoon coffee, check the sugar, salt and fibre per 100 g, and read the ingredients and allergen information too. Of the Dutch products compared here, Wasa Sourdough Rye has the lowest sugar content at 0.3 g per 100 g, but according to Albert Heijn’s product information it also contains 1.2 g of salt per 100 g. Jumbo Wholegrain Crispbread lists 2.4 g of sugar and 0.71 g of salt per 100 g, according to Jumbo. If you have a reduced appetite or follow a medical diet, the sugar content of one snack isn’t enough to determine what’s right for you.
If you’d like crispbread with your coffee instead of a sweet biscuit, check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g rather than relying on words on the front of the pack. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that older people’s nutritional needs can vary, for example due to illness or a reduced appetite.
If you choose crispbread with a savoury topping as a snack, both the nutritional information for the crispbread and the topping are relevant. Compare the fibre as well as the sugar, and consider your coffee break as part of what you eat throughout the day.
Even when the sugar content is low, salt and ingredients may still influence your choice. Albert Heijn and Jumbo’s product information shows differences in salt content; the listed grains, milk and sesame also vary between products.
Start by comparing the nutritional information per 100 g for similar crispbreads. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends this approach when comparing labels. Then decide which feature matters most for your coffee break.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar | Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g for similar products; check the ingredients list too. | If I want to choose a lower-sugar option with my coffee, I want to compare the figures on the label rather than rely on wording on the pack. This is the top priority for around 39% of consumers. |
| Fibre and toppings | Check the fibre per 100 g and include the topping when assessing the snack. | If you have crispbread with a savoury topping as a snack, you may consider fibre more important than simply choosing the lowest sugar content. This is the top priority for around 23% of consumers. |
| Salt | Compare the salt per 100 g with the sugar content of the same product. | I want less sugar, but I don’t want to accept a higher salt content without considering it. Salt is the main consideration for around 23% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the current ingredients and allergen information for the product you’ve chosen. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, a suitable recipe matters more than a low sugar content. This is the most important factor for around 15% of consumers. |
A lower sugar figure doesn’t automatically mean a lower salt figure. Albert Heijn lists 0.3 g of sugar and 1.2 g of salt per 100 g for Wasa Sourdough Rye. Jumbo lists 2.4 g of sugar and 0.71 g of salt per 100 g for its Wholegrain Crispbread.
Compare both figures on the same 100 g basis and decide which trade-off matters to you.
The figure per cracker depends on the size of the cracker, making it less useful as a first point of comparison between different products.
Start with the nutritional information per 100 g, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Then consider what your usual portion means for you.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that older people may need additional dietary advice if they are ill, have limitations or have a reduced appetite. In these situations, one feature of a snack doesn’t tell the whole story.
If you have a reduced appetite or are losing weight unintentionally, ask for personalised dietary advice before choosing snacks mainly on the basis of their lower sugar content.
Different crispbread varieties don’t necessarily have the same ingredients. For example, Albert Heijn’s product pages list milk in Wasa Light and sesame, rye and wheat in AH Wholegrain Crispbread.
Check the allergen information on the current packaging for each product you choose.
Always compare specific varieties: the ingredients in one crispbread don’t automatically tell you anything about another product from the same brand.
The Dutch range includes Wholegrain, Sourdough Rye and Light.
AH Wholegrain Crispbread is a supermarket own-brand product for which Albert Heijn publishes nutritional information.
Jumbo Wholegrain Crispbread is an own-brand product with published nutritional information.
ALDI Netherlands lists Wholegrain, Sesame and Robust crispbreads among the products under this own brand.
Lidl Netherlands has a product page for Wholegrain Crispbread.
On its UK product site, Ryvita describes Original Crispbread as a rye variety.
These products include plain crispbread to top yourself and a filled crispbread snack. First choose which type you’d like with your afternoon coffee, then compare the nutritional information for that particular variety.
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A sourdough rye variety for anyone who wants to choose their own topping.
When making your choice, compare the salt as well as the sugar. If you have allergies, check the current allergen information.
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A wholegrain crispbread for anyone looking for a plain variety to have with coffee.
Compare the sugar, salt and fibre per 100 g with those of other varieties. Check the packaging if you need to avoid certain grains or sesame.
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A plain variety for anyone who wants to use crispbread as a base for toppings.
If sugar, salt or fibre is a deciding factor for you, check the nutritional information per 100 g. Also read the allergen information on the pack.
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A wholegrain variety for anyone who wants to choose their own topping with coffee.
Consider the sugar and salt together, using the current nutritional information. Check the ingredients and allergen list if you need to avoid anything.
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A filled crispbread snack for anyone who doesn’t want to choose a separate topping.
Compare the nutritional information for the complete snack with that of plain crispbread and the topping you’d otherwise choose. Check the salt and allergen information too.
No. The ‘of which sugars’ line on the label also includes sugars that occur naturally in the product. Compare similar crispbreads per 100 g rather than relying only on figures per cracker or wording on the pack.
According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Wasa Sourdough Rye contains 0.3 g of sugar per 100 g. In the same selection, Wasa Wholegrain lists 1.5 g; Jumbo lists 2.4 g for its Wholegrain Crispbread, and Albert Heijn lists 3.4 g per 100 g for AH Wholegrain Crispbread. Sugar content alone doesn’t determine which product to choose: Wasa Sourdough Rye also contains 1.2 g of salt per 100 g.
Not necessarily. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that older people may need additional dietary advice if they are ill, have limitations or have a reduced appetite. If you have a reduced appetite or are losing weight unintentionally, discuss which snacks are suitable for your personal circumstances.
No, this doesn’t follow from the Dutch rules on baker’s salt. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may only be present in bread, bread substitutes and other bakery products through baker’s salt. This doesn’t confirm that a particular crispbread contains baker’s salt. Check the ingredients on the pack you’ve chosen or ask the manufacturer.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging and seal the product well after opening. Albert Heijn recommends keeping AH Wholegrain Crispbread in a closed tin in a cool, dark, dry place; Wasa says to store the variety reviewed in a dry, dark place.
