Who is this choice relevant to?

Families avoiding a specific allergen

If a family member needs to avoid wheat, soya, egg, sesame or nuts, for example, both the ingredients and any warnings about possible allergen traces on the current packaging will affect your choice.

Families looking for gluten-free toast

An explicit gluten-free label can help you choose a gluten-free option. Also check the other ingredients and allergens listed on the product, such as egg, oats, soya or sesame. The Voedingscentrum also advises checking the label on gluten-free products.

Households that keep toast in stock

Several individual packs can be handy if your family does not get through a whole pack at once. However, the quantity of toast says nothing about whether it is suitable for someone with a food allergy.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, work out which allergens and warnings are relevant to your household. Then compare the packaging and, if toast regularly replaces bread, the other nutritional information.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Specific allergens Check both the ingredients and any warnings about possible traces of the allergen you need to avoid on the current packaging. If a family member needs to avoid wheat or soya, for example, I want to know whether a warning about possible traces is compatible with our allergy plan. Around 36% of consumers prioritise avoiding a specific allergen.
Gluten-free option Check for an explicit gluten-free label, then read the other ingredients and allergen information. I’m looking for gluten-free toast, but also need to take other allergens in our household into account. For around 29% of consumers, choosing a gluten-free option comes first.
Individual packs and storage Compare the number of individual packs and slices with how much you use, and follow the storage instructions after opening. We don’t get through all the toast at once and want to use packs in portions that suit us. Packaging convenience is the first consideration for around 21% of consumers.
Toast as a bread substitute Check the nutritional information and look for a product-specific statement about baker’s salt with added iodine if this is relevant to your choice. If toast regularly replaces bread, I don’t want to assume from the word ‘salt’ that it contains iodised baker’s salt. For around 14% of consumers, this nutritional question comes first.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ordinary melba toast contains few allergens

    According to Albert Heijn, AH Melba toast naturel contains wheat, barley and soya, and may contain sesame, among other things. The pack size does not change this allergen information.

    First rule out products whose ingredients or warnings do not fit your allergy plan. Only then compare the quantity of toast.

  • Stopping at the gluten-free label

    Jumbo states that Van der Meulen Rice Toast Original may contain sesame and soya. According to Jumbo, Gluten Free Bakery Holland’s gluten-free toast contains egg and oats, and may contain nuts and sesame, among other things.

    For every gluten-free option, read the full ingredients list and allergen information too.

  • Treating the online description as the definitive label

    Ingredients and allergen information can change. A pack you bought previously is no substitute for checking the pack you are buying now.

    Use the product page to compare options, then check the current packaging when you buy or receive the product.

  • Assuming the salt in toast is always iodised baker’s salt

    The Voedingscentrum says that bread does not have to be baked with baker’s salt. The ingredient listing ‘salt’ alone does not tell you what type of salt was used in a particular toast.

    If the type of salt used matters to your choice, check the product-specific information or ask the manufacturer.

Brands and product ranges to consider

Albert Heijn

According to Albert Heijn, AH Melba toast naturel is a 240 g multipack containing 12 packs of 6 slices.

  • The individual packs are practical when you don’t use all the toast at once.
  • This variety contains wheat, barley and soya, and may contain sesame, oats, spelt and rye. Check the current packaging for the allergens your household needs to avoid.

Van der Meulen

Within this brand, the rice toast and wholemeal melba toast reviewed differ considerably in their allergen information.

  • Jumbo labels Rice Toast Original as gluten-free; the pack contains two individual packs of 15 slices.
  • According to Jumbo, the rice toast may contain sesame and soya. According to Albert Heijn, the wholemeal melba toast lists wheat, barley, rye, sesame and soya, among other things. So make sure you check the exact variety.

Gluten Free Bakery Holland

The Italian-seasoned toast reviewed is a gluten-free option, not a suitable choice for every food allergy.

  • According to Jumbo’s product information, these toast slices are made with gluten-free oat flour.
  • They contain egg and oats, and may contain almonds, hazelnuts, other nuts, sesame and walnuts.

Bolletje

Albert Heijn describes Bolletje Geroosterd Brood as individually packed in portions of four.

  • Individual packs may suit a household that uses toast over several occasions.
  • Don’t let the packaging decide whether a product is suitable for an allergy: check the ingredients and allergens on the specific pack.

Toast products at Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Should I check the label again every time I buy the product?

Yes, check the current packaging of the exact toast you are buying. Ingredients and allergen information can change, even if you have bought the same product before.

Is gluten-free toast suitable for every food allergy?

No. Gluten-free does not mean that a product is free from all other allergens. Jumbo states that Van der Meulen Rice Toast Original may contain sesame and soya; the Gluten Free Bakery Holland toast reviewed contains egg and oats, and may contain nuts and sesame, among other things.

Which allergens must be listed on packaging in the Netherlands?

The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that mandatory allergen labelling applies to 14 allergens. For pre-packed foods, any allergens present must be clearly distinguished in the ingredients list. Also read warnings about possible cross-contamination if they are relevant to your allergy plan.

Does salt in the ingredients list mean the toast contains iodine from baker’s salt?

No, you cannot tell what type of salt was used from the word ‘salt’ alone. Iodine is added to baker’s salt, but according to the Voedingscentrum, its use when baking bread is not compulsory. If this matters to your choice, ask the manufacturer to confirm which salt is used in the specific toast.

How should I store toast from an opened family pack?

Follow the instructions on the specific packaging. For AH Melba toast naturel, Albert Heijn recommends storing the toast in a sealed tin after opening. If your household uses different varieties because of allergens, keep the packs clearly separate from one another.