Who is this relevant for?

Small households that take a while to finish a pack

If you don’t eat crispbread often, you may want to look for individually wrapped portions. Check the packaging to see how many inner packs there are and how many crackers each one contains.

People who regularly eat crispbread instead of bread

Compare the fibre, salt and ingredients in the variant you’re considering. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread made with baker’s salt is an important source of iodine in the Netherlands; if you don’t eat much bread, you should also consider other sources of iodine.

People who need to avoid rye or gluten

Crispbread isn’t automatically gluten-free. For example, Ryvita lists rye as an ingredient on its UK product page for Dark Rye. Before buying, read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact Dutch pack.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, check whether the inner packaging suits the portions you want to use. Then compare the nutritional information and ingredients for the exact variant.

What to consider What to look for Who it matters to
Portions and packaging Look for a clear statement that there are individual inner bags or portions, and check how many crackers are in each bag. Don’t assume you know what the inner packaging is like from a photo of the box. If I take a while to finish a pack or want to take crackers with me, I don’t want to have to open every portion at once. For around 50% of consumers, portion size is the main consideration.
Nutritional value and replacing bread Compare the fibre and salt in the nutritional information, per 100 g and, where shown, per portion. If you’re replacing a lot of bread, also consider your other sources of iodine. If you often eat crispbread instead of bread, you’ll want to know how the variant you choose fits into your diet. For around 30% of consumers, nutritional value is the most important factor when replacing bread.
Ingredients and allergens Read the ingredients, allergen information and any warnings on the exact Dutch pack; don’t rely on the product name alone. If I need to avoid a particular grain, I need to be able to check the ingredients of the specific variant. Around 20% of consumers give checking ingredients and allergens top priority.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming every bread substitute contains iodine

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread made with baker’s salt is an important source of iodine in the Netherlands, but using baker’s salt isn’t compulsory. So the term crispbread doesn’t tell you whether the product you’ve chosen contains iodine.

    Check the ingredients for the exact variant, and consider your other sources of iodine if you’re replacing a lot of ordinary bread.

  • Mistaking rye crispbread for gluten-free crispbread

    Rye contains gluten. Ryvita lists rye as an ingredient in its UK Dark Rye variant; this product information doesn’t apply to every Dutch variant.

    If you need to avoid gluten, check the explicit gluten-free label, ingredients and allergen information on the pack you’re buying.

Brands to consider

Wasabröd / Wasa

Wasa’s US website features a range of crispbread options, including wholegrain, rye, sourdough and gluten-free varieties.

  • The range includes different grains and flavours to look out for.
  • Before buying in the Netherlands, check the recipe and inner packaging for the exact variant.

Ryvita

Ryvita’s UK website features Dark Rye, Original and Multigrain, among other varieties.

  • For its UK Dark Rye variant, Ryvita lists wholemeal rye flour and rye flour as ingredients.
  • Don’t use this UK product information as a specification for the ingredients or packaging of a Dutch variant.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn has a Dutch crispbread category featuring products such as AH Knäckebröd sesam and Leksands Knäcke original.

  • The category can help you find product names to compare further.
  • Check the inner packaging, ingredients and nutritional information for each product before choosing.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Can I assume that crispbread contains iodine?

No, the product category doesn’t tell you whether iodine has been added. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that using baker’s salt in bread isn’t compulsory. So check the ingredients for the exact variant, and consider your other sources of iodine if you’re replacing a lot of bread.

Can I simply eat crispbread instead of bread?

If you regularly replace bread, consider your overall diet, not just the crispbread. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread made with baker’s salt is an important source of iodine in the Netherlands; if you eat little bread, other sources of iodine, such as dairy products, eggs and oily fish, also matter.

Is rye crispbread suitable if I need to avoid gluten?

Rye crispbread isn’t suitable if you need to avoid gluten, because rye contains gluten. For example, the UK Ryvita Dark Rye variant lists rye as an ingredient. For any other variant, always check the gluten-free label and allergen information on the exact pack.