If you have coeliac disease and want to buy organic toast, first choose a product labelled ‘gluten-free’ or bearing the Crossed Grain symbol; an organic certification is no substitute. Then check the organic label and the ingredients separately. An organic, gluten-free cracker could be an alternative if having both qualities matters more to you than the shape of melba toast.
Check the gluten-free label first. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, you can identify gluten-free products by the words ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging. Only then should you assess the organic label.
If you mainly want melba toast for toppings or appetisers, you can choose based on the organic label and the product shape you want. Bear in mind who you’re serving it to: according to their product information, the organic melba toast from Albert Heijn and Van der Meulen mentioned in this article contains wheat.
Alongside the two labels, allergens and salt per 100 g may influence your choice. If you eat little ordinary bread, you may also want to consider the role of baker’s salt in your overall diet. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bakers are not required to use baker’s salt.
Gluten-free and organic are separate product qualities. Choose the type of toast you want only after checking which of these qualities your purchase needs to have.
When: You’re looking for a toast bite with an explicit gluten-free label.
Trade-off: The toast bite isn’t automatically organic, so check the organic label separately.
When: Both qualities matter more to you than the classic shape of melba toast.
Trade-off: A cracker isn’t melba toast, so check that its shape suits how you want to use it.
When: You want organic melba toast and don’t need to avoid gluten.
Trade-off: According to the product information, the organic melba toast from Albert Heijn and Van der Meulen discussed here contains wheat.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free label | Look for ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging. Under EU Implementing Regulation 828/2014, ‘gluten-free’ may only be stated if the product contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. | If I have coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely only on the organic label or the main ingredient. Around 36% of consumers prioritise an explicit gluten-free label. |
| Organic status | Check for the EU organic logo and its associated control code; assess the gluten-free label separately. | I don’t want to assume that a gluten-free toast bite is organic too. For around 29% of consumers, organic status is the main priority when making this choice. |
| Ingredients and nutritional information | Read the allergen information and, if necessary, compare salt per 100 g. If you have questions about baker’s salt, check the ingredients or ask the manufacturer. | As well as gluten, I may need to consider other allergens or what else I eat. Around 21% of consumers give these additional checks the highest priority. |
| Product shape and availability | Check whether you’re looking for toast bites, crackers or bread, and confirm the current packaging and availability of your chosen product. | It makes a difference to my toppings or appetisers whether I buy a toast bite or a cracker. For around 14% of consumers, this practical consideration matters most. |
The EU organic logo relates to organic production, not the absence of gluten. Albert Heijn lists wheat and barley in AH Biologisch Melba toast met sesamzaadjes; the product information for Van der Meulen Melba Biologische Toast Sesam lists wheat.
If you need a gluten-free product, check for an explicit gluten-free label first, then assess the organic label.
A named main ingredient is no substitute for a gluten-free label on the finished product. Under EU Implementing Regulation 828/2014, oats in a gluten-free product must also meet conditions designed to prevent contamination with cereals containing gluten.
Read the label on the packaging and check the other ingredients and allergens too.
Le Pain des Fleurs’ product page on bol warns that online information may differ from the packaging. This matters if a dietary claim or allergen determines your choice.
When you buy the product, check the current label on the item you actually receive.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt, and organic bread is often baked without it. What’s more, the ingredients in a single toast product don’t tell you about your overall iodine intake.
If you have questions about baker’s salt, check the label or ask the manufacturer. If you regularly restrict your diet, speak to a dietitian if needed.
A brand to consider if you’re specifically looking for gluten-free toast bites.
A cracker option if a toast alternative will do.
A retailer where you should assess the qualities of each toast product separately.
A retailer with product information for both organic melba toast and gluten-free toast bites.
A relevant option if you’re looking for organic melba toast and don’t need it to be gluten-free.
This rice toast is an option if you’re looking for something in a toast shape. If you need it to be gluten-free or organic, check both labels on the current packaging before choosing.
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Rice toast for anyone looking for something in a toast shape. If you need a gluten-free or organic product, check the relevant labels on the current packaging. If you have an allergy, also check the information about sesame and soya.
No. An organic certification says nothing about whether a product contains gluten. According to Albert Heijn, AH Biologisch Melba toast met sesamzaadjes contains wheat and barley; if you need a gluten-free option, check for a separate label on the packaging.
Under EU Implementing Regulation 828/2014, the term ‘gluten-free’ may only be used when the food contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten for the final consumer. If you need to consider other dietary restrictions, also read the ingredients and allergen information.
No. EU rules set conditions for oats used in gluten-free products, including measures to prevent contamination with wheat, rye and barley. Don’t choose a product based on the word ‘oats’ alone; check that the finished product is labelled gluten-free.
That depends on your overall diet, not on a single toast product. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt, and organic bread is often baked without it. Check the ingredients if you want to know whether your chosen product contains baker’s salt.
