Choose crispbread that is explicitly individually wrapped or portion-packed if you’re dividing lunches between several bags or occasions in advance. If you’re preparing lunch at home, a standard pack of wholemeal crispbread may be enough, provided you keep the crispbreads dry after opening. Check the ingredients and allergen information for each variety; don’t assume it contains iodised baker’s salt.
Parents and carers who pack several lunches in advance for days out or holiday activities. They’ll mainly want to check whether the crispbreads are genuinely individually wrapped or portion-packed, so they don’t have to open a whole pack for every lunch.
People who use crispbread as the basis for lunch and want to compare its wholegrain content and nutritional value. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre includes wholemeal crispbread on its school lunch list; individual packets aren’t essential for this choice.
Families who need to consider allergens such as gluten, milk or sesame when choosing. Ingredients vary between crispbread varieties, so they check the allergen information on the exact pack.
First decide whether you need to hand out individual portions. Then compare the ingredients and check the allergen information for the variety you actually plan to take with you.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Packaging for each lunch occasion | Look specifically for ‘individually wrapped’ or ‘portion pack’ and check how many portions you get. | If I’m dividing crispbreads between different bags in advance, I don’t want to open a whole pack each time. For around 50% of consumers, this convenience is the top priority. |
| Wholemeal lunch base | Check for the ‘wholemeal’ label and, if you like, compare fibre and salt per 100 g. | If I’m making lunch at home, the ingredients matter more to me than individual packets. A wholemeal lunch base is the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Check the ingredients, listed allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the exact pack. | If someone in my group needs to avoid an allergen, I need to choose a variety that’s suitable. For around 20% of consumers, checking this is the top priority. |
A box containing several crispbreads doesn’t mean that each one is individually wrapped. Albert Heijn does state that Bolletje Knackebrod sesam is ‘individually wrapped’; Bidfood Nederland describes individually wrapped Wasa Sesam in a box of 120.
Check the packaging description and make sure the number of pieces suits the lunches you want to use them for.
Individual wrapping means more packaging; a large box can be impractical if you only pack a lunch now and then.
Wasa varieties have different ingredients. For example, the gluten-free Sesame & sea salt variety described contains sesame and may contain milk, mustard and soya.
Check the allergen information for the exact variety every time you buy it, including any ‘may contain’ statements.
Colour or a mention of fibre doesn’t confirm that a crispbread is wholemeal. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the term ‘wholemeal’ can only be used for crispbreads if all the flour used is wholemeal.
Look for the ‘wholemeal’ label on the pack, then compare the nutritional information per 100 g if that matters to your choice.
Not all crispbread is made with iodised baker’s salt. The product category alone won’t tell you which salt has been used.
Check the ingredients list for the product you’ve chosen rather than trying to work it out from the name ‘crispbread’.
The Wasa varieties described range from standard crispbread to a gluten-free portion pack.
The Bolletje Knackebrod sesam described is worth considering if you need to hand out individual portions.
Leksands Knäcke original is a wholegrain rye variety for anyone who doesn’t need individual wrapping.
Look for an explicit label such as ‘individually wrapped’ or ‘portion pack’. A box containing several crispbreads doesn’t, by itself, tell you how the individual pieces are packaged; also check how many portions the pack contains.
Choose a variety labelled ‘wholemeal’ if you’re looking for a wholemeal lunch base and don’t need individual portions. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre includes wholemeal crispbread on its school lunch list; also compare the nutritional information and toppings before making your final choice.
Not necessarily: the Wasa Sesame & sea salt gluten-free variety described contains sesame. Check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack, even if another feature of the product suits your needs.
No, don’t assume this is the case for every product. Check the ingredients list for your chosen variety to see which salt is listed.
