When choosing crispbread for an older person, don’t rely on the words ‘lower sugar’ alone. Compare similar products per 100 g for sugars, fibre and salt, as the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises when reading food labels. Wholemeal crispbread can be a good choice if fibre is important, but if someone has difficulty swallowing or has a persistently poor appetite, consider how easy the food is to eat and their overall diet before focusing on nutrition figures.
Wants to compare crispbread without being swayed by a claim on the front of the pack or a small serving size. To do this, compare total sugars per 100 g and check the ingredients list too, as the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises.
Is looking for a wholegrain cereal product and checks the fibre content as well as the sugars. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre identifies wholegrain cereal products as a source of fibre; what else someone eats is also part of the picture.
Is buying for someone who has difficulty swallowing, has a poor appetite or is losing weight unintentionally. If someone has swallowing difficulties, the suitability of crunchy food needs to be considered first; Thuisarts describes soft, puréed or liquid food as possible adjustments.
If you’re choosing crispbread for yourself or an older person, decide which need matters most. Then compare similar products per 100 g and consider whether they’re pleasant and safe to eat.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars | Compare total sugars per 100 g; also check the ingredients and whether added sugars are listed separately. | If I want less sugar, I don’t want different serving sizes to skew my comparison. For around 30% of consumers, lower sugar is the main priority. |
| Wholegrains and fibre | Check which grains are used and compare fibre per 100 g. | I’m looking for a wholegrain option and want to know how much fibre the product contains. Wholegrains and fibre are the main consideration for around 30% of consumers. |
| Salt | Compare salt per 100 g, and also consider how much you eat and what you put on it. | When I’m watching my salt intake, it’s not just the crispbread that counts but also what I put on it. Around 20% of consumers give reducing salt their highest priority. |
| Ease of eating and overall diet | Look out for difficulty chewing or swallowing, a reduced appetite and unintended weight loss. | If crunchy food is difficult to eat or someone is eating less and less, I want to find out what’s suitable first. For around 20% of consumers, safe, easy-to-eat food or getting enough nourishment comes first. |
Serving sizes can vary. What’s more, a lower sugar figure tells you nothing about the amount of salt or fibre. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing the nutrition information for similar products per 100 g.
Compare sugars, fibre and salt per 100 g, then read the ingredients and allergen information.
If someone has difficulty swallowing or regularly chokes on food, texture matters more than a difference in sugars or fibre. Thuisarts discusses changes to food for people with swallowing difficulties.
If someone has swallowing problems, ask a doctor to assess them and discuss which food texture is suitable before offering crispbread.
If someone has a reduced appetite or is losing weight unintentionally, their overall intake matters, not just one product. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that older people who are ill, have limitations or have a reduced appetite may need additional dietary advice.
If someone is losing weight unintentionally or has a persistently poor appetite, contact their GP to have the situation assessed.
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may be present in bread substitutes through baker’s salt, subject to certain conditions. This doesn’t tell you how much iodine an individual product contains.
If the amount of iodine matters to you, check the product information or ask the manufacturer about that specific crispbread.
Nutrition values vary between products. These brand names are a starting point for comparing specific packs, not a judgement on every product from each brand.
Jumbo lists nutrition information for Wasa Wholemeal 260 g and Wasa Protein Wheat 200 g.
AH Wholemeal Crispbread, from its own-brand range, is a specific product you can compare for sugars, fibre and salt.
Jumbo Wholemeal Crispbread is an own-brand option with nutrition information listed per 100 g.
ALDI Netherlands offers, among other products under this own-brand label, wholemeal crispbread and a rustic seed variant.
These crispbread products come in different pack sizes and varieties to consider if sugars, wholegrains and ease of eating matter to you. Compare the current labels per 100 g before choosing; the product name alone won’t tell you how much sugar, fibre or salt a variant contains.
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A wholemeal option to consider if you want to weigh up sugars and fibre side by side. The pack contains 375 g; check the nutrition information per 100 g and the allergens listed on the pack.
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A wholegrain option for anyone who wants to compare fibre as well as sugars. The pack contains 265 g; check the current nutrition information per 100 g and the allergen information.
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A wholemeal option to compare if sugars and fibre are your priorities. The pack contains 260 g; check the current salt content on the label and make sure the ingredients are suitable.
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A crispbread option to compare with wholemeal varieties. The pack contains 240 g; check the type of grain and the nutrition information on the pack if wholegrains and fibre are important to you.
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A rye option to include when comparing sugars, fibre and salt. The pack contains 215 g; check the current label for these values and the allergen information.
Compare similar crispbreads per 100 g, as the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises for nutrition information on food labels. Check total sugars, read the ingredients list and look for a separate listing of added sugars if available; serving sizes can vary between products.
Not necessarily: fibre, salt, allergens and ease of eating can all affect your choice. Jumbo lists 1.5 g of sugars, 20 g of fibre and 1.2 g of salt per 100 g for Wasa Wholemeal 260 g; compare these figures with the current labels of the varieties you’re considering.
First check whether crunchy crispbread is suitable if someone chokes on food or has difficulty swallowing. For swallowing difficulties, Thuisarts describes adjustments such as soft, puréed or liquid food; discuss a suitable food texture with a healthcare professional.
Contact their GP to assess their overall diet and possible causes. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, older people with a reduced appetite may need additional dietary advice; choosing crispbread based on its sugar content is no substitute for that assessment.
That isn’t guaranteed by Dutch regulations: the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may be present in bread substitutes through baker’s salt, up to a maximum of 65 mg of iodine per kg of salt. This permitted use doesn’t tell you how much iodine is in a specific pack of crispbread; ask the manufacturer about the product if this matters to you.
