A 240 g pack can work well for a school holiday lunch if several family members eat the same melba toast and you can store the opened pack according to the storage instructions. If fibre content matters more to you than pack size, compare the wholemeal and plain varieties per 100 g: Van der Meulen Wholemeal Melba Toast, listed by Jumbo, contains 9.7 g of fibre per 100 g, compared with 3.8 g in the Crispy Melba Toast Plain variety reviewed. Check the packaging for allergens for each variety, and consider the toast as part of the whole lunch.
If several people eat the same toast during the school holidays, a larger pack can be practical. ALDI Netherlands and Lidl Netherlands both list 240 g packs of melba toast. Just consider whether you’ll use the pack within the storage period you prefer once it’s opened.
If fibre content matters to you, the nutritional information per 100 g is more useful than pack size alone. Jumbo lists 9.7 g of fibre per 100 g for its 120 g pack of Van der Meulen Wholemeal Melba Toast, and 3.8 g per 100 g for the 240 g pack of Crispy Melba Toast Plain reviewed. This comparison applies to these two products.
If someone has a relevant allergy, whether a product is suitable depends on the ingredients and allergen information for the variety you choose. The plain and wholemeal products listed by Jumbo include cereals containing gluten and soya; the sesame information differs. So even if you recognise the product name, check the label on the pack you’re buying.
If you need to take allergens into account, start by checking the label for the exact variety. Then compare how much toast your household uses, the nutritional information and how the toast fits into the rest of the lunch.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size and storage | Compare the net weight and check how the toast should be stored once opened. ALDI Netherlands and Lidl Netherlands list 240 g packs. | If several family members eat the same toast, I want to have enough at home without leaving an opened pack unused for too long. Around 27% of consumers prioritise having enough in the pack and the convenience of keeping it in stock. |
| Fibre and wholemeal | Compare the fibre content per 100 g and check whether the variety you’ve chosen is wholemeal. Jumbo lists 9.7 g of fibre per 100 g for the 120 g wholemeal variety reviewed, compared with 3.8 g for the 240 g plain variety reviewed. | I’d rather choose a smaller pack if the toast better suits my preference for wholemeal and its fibre content. For around 20% of consumers, this product choice is the deciding factor. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack, including if you’re choosing a different flavour or the packaging has changed. | If someone at home needs to avoid an allergen, I can’t rely on the general term ‘melba toast’. That’s why checking the variety you’ve chosen is a priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| The whole lunch | Think about what you’ll serve with the toast. Don’t assume it provides iodine just because it contains ‘salt’; check whether the ingredients list mentions baker’s salt or iodised salt. | For a child’s lunch, I don’t want choosing toast to distract from considering the rest of the meal. Around 26% of consumers give this consideration priority. |
A 240 g pack is one possible larger size, not a standard size available from every shop or for every variety of toast. A larger pack can also be impractical if it sits around for too long once opened.
Compare the net weight of the packs available and choose based on how much toast your household actually uses.
Nutritional information can vary between products. Jumbo lists 9.7 g of fibre per 100 g for the Van der Meulen Wholemeal Melba Toast reviewed, and 3.8 g per 100 g for Crispy Melba Toast Plain. This difference doesn’t apply to every other variety.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g for the products you’re considering, and read the ingredients for the exact variety.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So the word ‘salt’ on the label doesn’t tell you whether the toast you’ve chosen contains baker’s salt or iodised salt.
Check the ingredients list if this distinction matters to you.
Plain and wholemeal melba toast can have different ingredients and allergen information. And with a larger pack, it’s frustrating to find out only after buying it that you can’t use that variety.
Check the label on the exact pack before buying, especially if cereals containing gluten, soya, sesame or possible traces are relevant to you.
A product range to consider if you want to compare a smaller pack of wholemeal melba toast with a larger pack of plain toast.
A plain variety to consider if you’re looking at a 240 g pack in an ALDI shop.
A supermarket option to consider if you’re looking for a 240 g pack.
A supermarket range where you can compare different types of toast and pack sizes.
A supermarket range with product information that helps you distinguish between plain, wholemeal and flavoured varieties.
If your household wants to share a 240 g pack of melba toast during the school holidays, this is a product to assess by pack size and label. To choose between plain, wholemeal or another flavour, compare the individual packs.
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A 240 g pack to consider if several family members eat the same melba toast. Before buying, read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack, especially if someone at home needs to avoid certain ingredients.
A 240 g pack is particularly handy if several people eat the same toast and you can store it according to the instructions once opened. Also consider fibre, allergens and what else you’ll serve with lunch; pack size alone won’t decide that for you.
You can’t assume this applies to every variety. Of two products listed by Jumbo, Van der Meulen Wholemeal Melba Toast contains 9.7 g of fibre per 100 g, while Crispy Melba Toast Plain contains 3.8 g per 100 g. Compare the nutritional information on the packs you’re actually considering.
No, you can’t tell from the product name. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check whether the ingredients list for your chosen toast includes baker’s salt or iodised salt; the word ‘salt’ alone doesn’t tell you.
Check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact variety. The Crispy plain variety listed by Jumbo contains wheat, barley and soya, and warns that it may contain traces of sesame; the Van der Meulen wholemeal variety reviewed contains wheat, barley, rye, soya and sesame. If you have an allergy, use the label on the pack as your final check.
Follow the storage instructions on the pack you’ve chosen and seal it well after opening. Jumbo advises storing the Crispy plain melba toast reviewed in a cool, dry place; Albert Heijn recommends keeping a reviewed melba toast in a sealed tin after opening.
