If you want a slice of bread you can add a topping to for a late-morning snack, first choose the type of bread and check whether it’s wholemeal; the thickness of the slices tells you nothing about its ingredients. If you’re after a small, crisp toast, compare Melba toast’s fibre, salt and allergens per 100 g, and check how much you’d actually eat in a serving. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre considers a slice of bread a suitable snack; product information from Jumbo shows that more fibre in Melba toast doesn’t automatically mean less salt.
You’re looking for a snack you can add a topping to and are mainly interested in the type of grain and the fibre content. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a slice of bread can make a suitable snack; wholemeal bread in particular is high in fibre.
You want something dry and crisp to add a topping to. In that case, the size of the Melba toast matters just as much as the word ‘toast’ on the packaging.
You’re comparing salt content or need to check which allergens a product contains. For the Melba toast products described by Jumbo and Albert Heijn, it’s worth looking out for cereals containing gluten, soya and sesame, among others.
First decide whether you want a slice of bread or a small, crisp toast. Then compare products intended for the same purpose: the product name, nutritional information and ingredients matter more than slice thickness alone.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Check the product name and compare fibre per 100 g; also consider the portion you eat. | If I regularly have a slice of bread as a snack, I want to know whether I’m choosing wholemeal bread rather than judging by slice thickness. For around 50% of consumers, choosing wholemeal and getting enough fibre come first. |
| Size and toppings | Choose between a slice of bread you can add a topping to and small pieces of Melba toast; for toast, check the stated serving size too. | For a small, crisp snack, I want toast that’s the right size for the topping I plan to use. Around 30% of consumers prioritise size and crispness above all else. |
| Salt and allergens | Compare salt per 100 g and read the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging. | If salt or an allergen affects my choice, I need to be able to check the specific packaging before eating the product. Checking the label is the top priority for around 20% of consumers. |
A small, crisp piece of toast provides a different base for toppings than a slice of bread. The stated serving size may also differ.
Decide which type you want to eat, then compare products of the same kind.
Jumbo lists 9.7 g of fibre and 1.9 g of salt per 100 g for Van der Meulen Melba Wholemeal Toast. The plain version lists 3.9 g of fibre and 1.3 g of salt per 100 g.
Compare fibre and salt separately, using the same 100 g basis.
Ingredients and allergen information can change. This is particularly important if you need to avoid a specific ingredient.
Use the product page to narrow down your options, then read the label on the packaging before eating the product.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that iodised bakers’ salt helps provide iodine through bread, but bakers aren’t required to use it.
For a specific product, check the ingredients list for bakers’ salt or ask your baker.
Jumbo describes Van der Meulen Melba toast in plain and wholemeal versions, both in 120 g packs.
AH Melba Toast Plain comes in a 240 g pack, with a stated serving size of 20 g.
ALDI Netherlands describes Sun Snacks Melba Toast Plain as crisp, toasted Melba toast in a 240 g pack.
Lidl Netherlands describes a 240 g Melba toast product sold in store.
These two products suit anyone looking for a wholemeal loaf they can add a topping to. They’re round loaves, not sold as medium-sliced bread; check the preparation instructions and slice thickness if you’re looking for ready-sliced bread.
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A bread option if you want to slice and add a topping to your own wholemeal bread for a late-morning snack.
The pack contains two round 550 g loaves. Check the preparation instructions and whether you can cut them to your preferred slice thickness.
If you want to compare fibre or salt, use the nutritional information on the packaging and check whether the values are given per 100 g or per serving.
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A bread option if you want a slice of wholemeal bread you can add a topping to and are happy to slice the loaf yourself.
This is the 550 g version. Check the preparation instructions and the slice thickness you can achieve once it’s prepared.
Only compare fibre and salt using nutritional values that are clearly stated per 100 g or per serving.
No. Slice thickness doesn’t tell you whether bread is wholemeal or how much fibre and salt it contains. Check the product name, ingredients and nutritional information; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre highlights wholemeal bread in particular for its fibre.
You can’t assume that for every product. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers’ salt contains iodine, but bakers aren’t required to use it. Check the ingredients list or, for unpackaged bread, ask which salt was used.
Read the allergen information on the current packaging for the specific variety. The Melba toast products described by Jumbo and Albert Heijn list cereals containing gluten and soya, among other allergens; sesame is an ingredient or may be present in some varieties.
Follow the storage instructions on your packaging. Albert Heijn recommends keeping AH Melba Toast Plain in a sealed tin after opening; for the Van der Meulen varieties described, Jumbo advises storing them in a cool, dry place.
