To choose toast with less sugar for your weekend breakfast, compare the total sugars in similar products per 100 g; ‘no added sugars’ answers a different question. The fibre and salt values vary between the melba toast varieties listed by Jumbo, while their stated sugar value is the same. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘light’ can refer to less sugar, fat or energy, so check exactly what has been reduced.
You want to compare the sugar content of toast for your weekend breakfast and find out whether ‘no added sugars’ means something different from ‘reduced sugar’. Comparing total sugars per 100 g makes it easier to compare similar products.
You’re looking for melba toast with more fibre than a plain variety. You also want to compare sugars and salt separately, rather than judging by words such as ‘multigrain’ or ‘wholemeal’.
For your choice, the salt content and ingredients matter just as much as the sugars. If you need to avoid certain ingredients, be sure to check the packaging of the exact variety you’re buying.
Start by comparing the nutrition information per 100 g for similar types of toast. Then consider which other feature matters most for your breakfast.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Total and added sugars | Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. Check added sugars separately, and see whether any claim specifically refers to less sugar. | For my weekend breakfast, I want to compare the sugar content of toast without mistaking ‘no added sugars’ for ‘reduced sugar’. Around 40% of consumers put limiting sugar first. |
| Fibre | Compare the fibre values per 100 g for similar types of toast; don’t assume ‘multigrain’ or ‘wholemeal’ means less sugar. | When choosing toast for breakfast, I’m mainly looking for a variety with more fibre. Fibre is the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Salt and allergens | Check the salt value per 100 g, and read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the variety you’ve chosen. | When I buy toast for breakfast, I want to know what’s in it and how much salt the variety I’ve chosen contains. Around 30% of consumers put salt or allergens first. |
Albert Heijn lists 0 g of added sugars for AH plain Melba toast, but it also contains 3.2 g of total sugars per 100 g. A claim about added sugars alone doesn’t show that a product contains less sugar than a similar type of toast.
Compare total sugars per 100 g, and check what a ‘light’ or ‘reduced’ claim refers to. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘light’ means at least 30% less of the stated energy, fat or sugars than in a similar product.
According to Jumbo’s product information, Van der Meulen Melba Multigrain contains 1.5 g of salt per 100 g, while the wholemeal variety contains 1.9 g. Their fibre values differ too: 7.5 g and 9.7 g per 100 g respectively.
Compare fibre and salt as two separate values on the packaging of the exact variety you’re considering.
The word ‘toast’ doesn’t tell you what type of salt a product contains. According to the Dutch Bakery Centre, imported and organic bakery products can have different ingredients.
If the type of salt used matters to you, read the ingredients list on the packaging of the product in question.
These examples can help you compare product information more easily. The values apply to the products listed, not to every type of toast from a particular brand or retailer.
AH plain Melba toast is a straightforward option if you’re specifically checking added sugars at breakfast.
The plain, multigrain and wholemeal varieties of Melba Toast make it possible to compare products within the same range.
Jumbo’s product information for three Van der Meulen varieties gives you a basis for comparing nutrition values per 100 g.
ALDI Netherlands lists several types of toast in its range, including plain, wholemeal and seeded varieties.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘light’ can mean at least 30% less energy, fat or sugars than in a similar product. Check which feature is mentioned on the packaging. ‘No added sugars’ means something different from a comparison of total sugar content.
For similar types of toast, start by comparing ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. Then check any added sugars, fibre and salt separately. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing products per 100 g; serving sizes can vary.
Check the allergen information on the packaging of the exact variety. The Van der Meulen multigrain and wholemeal varieties described by Jumbo contain, among other things, cereals containing gluten, sesame and soya. Don’t assume other varieties contain the same ingredients based on the product name.
No. Don’t assume that all toast uses the same type of salt without checking the label. Read the ingredients list if you want to know whether the variety you’ve chosen lists baker’s salt or iodised salt.
