Tea-time snackers keeping an eye on fibre
You’re looking for a crunchy toast to serve with toppings or a dip, and want to know whether it’s made with wholegrains. Check the first ingredients listed and the fibre content per 100 g on the pack.
For tea time, choose wholegrain Melba toast if you’re mainly interested in the ingredients and fibre. A multigrain option may combine wholemeal flour and wheat flour, while plain Melba toast is a good choice if you want a neutral base for toppings. Check the salt content and allergens on each pack, too.
You’re looking for a crunchy toast to serve with toppings or a dip, and want to know whether it’s made with wholegrains. Check the first ingredients listed and the fibre content per 100 g on the pack.
You don’t want wheat flour to be the only grain base, but you’re not necessarily looking for a fully wholegrain product either. For multigrain Melba toast, the ingredients list shows which flour and wholemeal flour have been used.
If you need to avoid certain grains or other ingredients, choosing between wholegrain, multigrain and plain isn’t enough. Check the allergens and any precautionary warnings on the current packaging.
First decide whether you want a wholegrain base, a blend or a plain toast. Then use the ingredients list and nutritional information to compare products per 100 g.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Grain base and fibre | Check whether wholemeal flour is the main ingredient and whether wheat flour has also been added. Compare fibre per 100 g. | I want to know whether I’m choosing a wholegrain base for my tea-time toast, rather than relying on the name alone. For around 40% of consumers, the grain base and fibre information would be the top priority when buying. |
| White and wholegrain flour blend | Check the proportions shown on the label: according to Jumbo, Van der Meulen’s multigrain Melba toast contains 45% wholemeal wheat flour as well as wheat flour. | A blend appeals to me if I don’t want a white flour base alone, but I’m not looking for a fully wholegrain option either. This kind of compromise would be the main consideration for around 30% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Check the ingredients, allergens and any warnings about traces on the pack you choose. | I need to be able to see which grains and other allergens are in my toast; the words wholegrain or plain don’t tell me that. For around 20% of consumers, checking the ingredients would be the main concern. |
| Salt and portion size | Compare salt per 100 g and consider how many pieces of toast you’ll serve, especially if you’re adding toppings or a dip. | When serving a platter of toast, I want to be able to assess the salt content alongside the portion size. This would be the biggest consideration for around 10% of consumers. |
Multigrain Melba toast may also contain wheat flour. According to Jumbo, Van der Meulen’s option contains 45% wholemeal wheat flour as well as wheat flour.
If you’re looking for a wholegrain base, check the first ingredients listed. Don’t rely on the word multigrain instead of checking.
Not every bakery product is made with baker’s salt. Voedingscentrum says that using it is not compulsory.
If you want to know whether a particular toast contains baker’s salt, check the ingredients on the pack.
The wholegrain, multigrain and plain Melba toasts examined all contain allergens. A wholegrain base or a neutral flavour doesn’t tell you whether a product meets specific ingredient requirements.
Check the current allergen information and any warnings about traces. If you need a gluten-free product, look for an explicit gluten-free label.
A small piece of toast doesn’t automatically tell you how much salt is in the whole portion. According to Albert Heijn and Jumbo, the options examined have different salt levels per 100 g.
Compare the nutritional information on the same basis, and take into account the number of pieces and the toppings you’re serving.
Worth considering if you want to choose between a wholegrain base and a multigrain blend in Melba toast.
The AH Melba toast plain option examined is a good choice if you’re looking for a neutral base for toppings.
The Delverde Classic Melba Toast examined is a classic wheat-flour-based option.
No. Multigrain doesn’t mean the entire grain base is wholegrain. According to Jumbo, Van der Meulen’s multigrain Melba toast contains 45% wholemeal wheat flour as well as wheat flour. Check the ingredients of the option you’re planning to buy.
No, you can’t assume that for every toast product. Voedingscentrum says that using baker’s salt is not compulsory. If this matters to you, check the ingredients list on the pack.
Calling it wholegrain doesn’t make Melba toast gluten-free. According to Albert Heijn, the wholegrain option examined contains wheat. Voedingscentrum says that an explicit gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain symbol can help you identify gluten-free products.
Seal the pack tightly after opening and follow the storage instructions for the option you’ve chosen. Joybuy’s product information for Delverde Classic Melba Toast recommends storing it in a cool, dry place in a tightly closed pack.