Breakfast eaters keeping an eye on sugars
You want to know how much sugar the toast contains, so you compare the nutritional values per 100 g rather than just per serving size of your choice.
Who should consider which option?
Savoury breakfast eaters who consider fibre too
You enjoy toast with savoury toppings and, alongside a low sugar figure, are looking for a fibre content that suits you. You also compare the salt content of each variety separately.
Shoppers with ingredient or allergen requirements
You check the exact variety for gluten-containing grains, soya, sesame and possible traces. Toast with a similar sugar content may differ in these respects.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start with ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. Then decide whether fibre, salt, allergens or the type of toast is the deciding factor for your breakfast.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars | Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘low-sugar’ means no more than 5 g per 100 g. | If I’m mainly keeping an eye on sugars, I want to see whether the toast I choose suits my goal. Around 40% of consumers put checking sugar first. |
| Fibre and salt | Compare both values per 100 g; the figures vary between the Van der Meulen varieties listed by Jumbo. | For savoury toppings, I look for toast whose fibre content matters more to me, but I don’t want to overlook the salt. Fibre is the first consideration for around 30% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the current packaging for allergens, and compare the salt content if it matters to your choice. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, the information for that exact variety determines whether I can choose it. Ingredients, allergens or salt come first for around 20% of consumers. |
| Type and taste | Choose between Melba toast and rice toast; a cracker is a different type of product. | With savoury toppings, I mainly want a neutral, crunchy base that works for my breakfast. Around 10% of consumers give the type of product top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Confusing ‘low-sugar’ with ‘sugar-free’ or ‘less sugar’
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre sets the limit for ‘low-sugar’ at 5 g of sugars per 100 g, and the limit for ‘sugar-free’ at 0.5 g per 100 g. ‘Less sugar’ requires a comparison with a suitable alternative product.
Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g, and don’t assume that a low figure on its own means there has been a reduction compared with another product.
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Choosing wholemeal without comparing the salt
According to Jumbo, Van der Meulen Melba Wholemeal Toast contains 9.7 g of fibre and 1.9 g of salt per 100 g; the plain variety contains 3.9 g of fibre and 1.3 g of salt per 100 g.
Compare both values and decide which matters more for your breakfast.
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Relying on a product name to check allergens
Plain, multigrain and wholemeal Melba toast differ in their ingredients and allergen information. Information on an online product page may also be inconsistent.
If you have an allergy or intolerance, check the current packaging of the exact variety and ask the manufacturer or retailer for clarification if in doubt.
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Assuming all toast contains iodised salt
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority outlines the conditions under which iodine may be present in bakery products through baker’s salt. This does not tell you which salt has been used in a particular toast.
If iodine matters to your choice, check the label or ask the manufacturer.
Brands to compare
Van der Meulen
The plain, multigrain and wholemeal varieties listed by Jumbo are separate types of Melba toast, with nutritional values you can compare.
- Jumbo lists 3.2 g of sugars per 100 g for all three; fibre ranges from 3.9 g to 9.7 g per 100 g.
- Salt ranges from 1.3 g to 1.9 g per 100 g across these varieties. Check the allergens for the variety you choose too.
Sun Snacks
ALDI lists Sun Snacks Melba Toast Natural as Melba toast in a 240 g pack.
- An option to consider if you’re looking for plain Melba toast to serve with savoury toppings.
- Compare the nutritional values and allergens on the packaging before comparing this variety with other types of Melba toast.
Bolletje
Bolletje Proteïn & Low Carb Crackers are an alternative if you’d prefer a cracker rather than toast for your savoury breakfast.
- This different type of product gives you another option alongside Melba toast.
- A carbohydrate claim doesn’t prove that these crackers contain less sugar than Melba toast. The listed ingredients include wheat and sesame.
Delverde
Joybuy lists Delverde Classic Melba Toast in a 100 g pack.
- The product information lists 4.1 g of sugars and 1.25 g of salt per 100 g, so you can compare these values separately.
- Joybuy lists wheat and barley as allergens; if you have an allergy or intolerance, check the current packaging.
Toast options on Joybuy
These options include Melba toast and rice toast for anyone looking for a base to serve with savoury toppings. They are different types of product, so compare the nutritional information and ingredients for each variety separately.
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Delverde Classic Melba Toast, 100 g
Melba toast to compare if you’re looking for a base to serve with savoury toppings.
Joybuy lists 4.1 g of sugars and 1.25 g of salt per 100 g. The allergen information lists wheat and barley; check the current packaging if allergens or fibre matter to your choice.
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Van Der Meulen Rice Toast Natural, 65 g
This rice toast is a different type of product from Melba toast, for anyone who wants toast with savoury toppings.
Check the current packaging for the nutritional values per 100 g and the allergens: the available product descriptions don’t provide consistent information on these.
Frequently asked questions
When can toast be labelled ‘low-sugar’?
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘low-sugar’ means no more than 5 g of sugars per 100 g. Check ‘of which sugars’ in the nutrition table for the specific toast.
Is low-sugar toast also sugar-free?
No, that doesn’t follow from the term ‘low-sugar’. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre sets the limit for ‘sugar-free’ at 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g, compared with a maximum of 5 g per 100 g for ‘low-sugar’.
Does wholemeal Melba toast contain less sugar than plain Melba toast?
Not for the Van der Meulen varieties compared here: according to Jumbo, both the wholemeal and plain varieties contain 3.2 g of sugars per 100 g. The wholemeal variety lists more fibre, but also more salt per 100 g.
How do I check allergens in toast?
Read the allergen information on the current packaging for the exact variety you’re buying. The Melba toasts reviewed differ in their grains and other ingredients, including soya and sesame, so don’t rely on terms such as ‘plain’ or ‘wholemeal’ alone.
Does all toast contain iodised baker’s salt?
You can’t tell from the type of product alone. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains when iodine may be present in bakery products through baker’s salt. For a specific toast, check the label or ask the manufacturer.