Student with limited storage space
Looking for a convenient breakfast or lunch option for the first few days in a new room. Check the pack size and best-before date if you want to buy enough for several days.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Student looking for sourdough
Wants sourdough as a product feature, so needs to distinguish between crackers or crispbread and fresh sourdough bread. None of these products is automatically the same as traditional round rusks.
Student who checks labels
Wants to know which allergens and ingredients a product contains, or what type of salt has been used. Check the current packaging, and ask for product information when buying loose bread.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want round rusks, a sourdough base or fresh bread. Then compare the packaging and labels of products in your chosen category.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Rusks or sourdough | Check whether the packaging says rusks, crackers or crispbread, and whether it specifically mentions sourdough. | If I specifically want sourdough, I don’t want to accidentally choose ordinary round rusks. For around 31% of these consumers, getting the right type of product comes first. |
| Supplies and shopping trips | Check the best-before date and whether you can order the product with your other groceries or need to buy it in store. | While moving, I don’t want to shop again before every breakfast. That’s why around 31% of these consumers prioritise having a useful supply on hand. |
| Pack size | Check the net weight or number of pieces, and consider how much space you have for your bread base and chocolate sprinkles. | In a small room, I don’t want a pack that’s difficult to store or finish. A suitable quantity is the main concern for around 23% of these consumers. |
| Allergens and salt | Read the current ingredient and allergen information; if necessary, check whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients or want to know what type of salt has been used, the product name alone isn’t enough. For around 15% of these consumers, checking the label is the top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Mistaking a sourdough cracker for a round rusk
Albert Heijn lists rusks as a separate product category, while the Wasa and Leksands products mentioned are crackers or crispbread. If you’re expecting a round rusk, you’ll be choosing a different type of product.
Check the product category on the packaging before choosing a base for your chocolate sprinkles.
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Assuming sourdough tells you what type of salt is used
The term sourdough doesn’t tell you whether iodised salt has been used in a loaf or cracker. According to brood.net, using iodine-enriched baker’s salt is not compulsory.
Check the ingredients list if the type of salt matters to you, or ask when buying loose bread.
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Relying on a familiar brand name for allergen information
A brand or product name is no substitute for the current allergen information. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority sets out information requirements for both packaged and loose foods.
Read the label every time you buy, and ask which allergens are present when buying loose bakery products.
Brands worth considering
Wasa
An option if you’re looking for sourdough in the form of rye crackers or crispbread.
- Jumbo lists Wasa Sourdough Rye in a 235 g pack.
- A sourdough cracker isn’t the same as a traditional round rusk, so check the name of the variant you choose.
Leksands
Another product range to consider if you’re looking for rye crispbread made with sourdough.
- Albert Heijn lists a Leksands variant made with rye and sourdough.
- Crispbread is a different type of product from rusks; compare the ingredients on the specific pack.
De Ruijter
A chocolate sprinkles brand to consider once you’ve chosen your bread base.
- Albert Heijn lists De Ruijter chocolate sprinkles, including an extra-dark variety.
- Your choice of chocolate sprinkles doesn’t determine whether your base is rusks, crispbread or sourdough bread.
Venz
An alternative for chocolate sprinkles if you also want to choose a flavour and pack type once you’ve picked your base.
- Albert Heijn lists Venz Dark Chocolate Sprinkles and a 2-pack of this variety.
- Choose a pack size that suits your storage space; the variants don’t affect your choice of bread base.
ALDI Kiekeboe
A supermarket own-brand option for chocolate sprinkles if you also want to compare pack sizes.
- ALDI Netherlands lists Kiekeboe dark chocolate sprinkles in a 600 g pack.
- Check your local store’s current range; these chocolate sprinkles aren’t a sourdough or rusk product.
Products for two different bases
These two products represent different options to go with chocolate sprinkles: Wasa is a sourdough rye cracker, while Bolletje offers wholemeal rusks if you’d prefer the shape of a rusk. Choose your base before picking your chocolate sprinkles.
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Wasa sourdough rye crackers, 235 g
For anyone who wants sourdough as a base for toppings, rather than traditional round rusks.
Sourdough rye crackers in a 235 g pack. Check the current ingredients, allergens and best-before date on the packaging.
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Bolletje wholemeal rusks, 13 pieces
For anyone who prefers rusks with their chocolate sprinkles rather than sourdough crackers.
Wholemeal rusks in a pack of 13. Check the current ingredients, allergens and best-before date on the packaging if these affect your choice.
Frequently asked questions
Is a sourdough cracker the same as a rusk?
No. A sourdough cracker or crispbread is a different type of product from a traditional round rusk. Albert Heijn lists rusks as a separate category and also lists Leksands rye crispbread with sourdough, so check which type is shown on the packaging.
Can I add Jumbo sourdough bread to my online order when I’m moving?
Not the sourdough loaves described on Jumbo’s information page: according to Jumbo, they’re baked fresh in store and can’t be ordered online. If you choose one, you’ll need to visit a shop.
Do sourdough products always contain iodised salt?
No, the term sourdough doesn’t confirm what type of salt has been used. For packaged products, check the ingredients list for baker’s salt or iodised salt. If you’re buying loose bread, ask about the salt if it matters to your choice.
How do I check for allergens in rusks, crackers or bread?
Read the current allergen information for the specific product rather than relying on its category or brand. When buying loose bread, you can ask the seller for information about any allergens present; the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority also sets out an information requirement for loose foods.