Choose multigrain Melba toast if you want a thin toast with grains and seeds to top for a quick breakfast. A wholemeal seed cracker or crispbread is a better fit if you’re looking for a sturdier texture. Compare fibre and salt per 100 g, and check the wholegrain content, seeds and allergens on the label. Don’t assume from the product name that baker’s salt has been used.
Want a thin, crisp base for toppings without having to toast it? Van der Meulen describes Melba Toast Multigrain as toast with grains and seeds. Compare the nutritional information too, as the shape alone tells you nothing about its fibre or salt content.
A seed cracker could be an option if you’re specifically looking for a wholegrain product. Check the ingredients list and compare fibre per 100 g, as the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises. The presence of seeds alone tells you nothing about the amount of fibre.
If you have an allergy, the ingredients and any warnings about possible traces are crucial. If you want to know whether a product contains baker’s salt, check the current label or ask the manufacturer.
First decide whether you want a thin toast or a sturdier cracker. Then compare the ingredients of the options that suit your preference.
Choose this: if you specifically want thin toast with grains and seeds that’s ready to top.
Bear in mind: Van der Meulen’s description confirms that it contains grains and seeds, but doesn’t say how many seeds this variety contains.
Choose this: if a clearly stated seed content and wholegrain status matter more to you than a thin toast shape.
Bear in mind: Bolletje lists wheat, barley and sesame, among other ingredients, for its 45% Sunflower Seed Crackers. Check the allergens for each variety.
Choose this: if you’re looking for a sturdier, crisp base with seeds and can compare the packs in store.
Bear in mind: check the ingredients, nutritional information and allergens for the specific variety before choosing it for these qualities.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Ready to top | Choose the thickness and firmness you prefer, and check the storage instructions for after opening. | If I want to take breakfast with me without toasting anything, I look for a base that suits my toppings. For around 30% of consumers, being able to top it straight away could be the main priority. |
| Wholegrain content and fibre | Check for a wholegrain claim and compare fibre per 100 g on the same basis. | I want to be able to see whether my crisp breakfast product is wholegrain and how much fibre it contains. Around 30% of consumers could put wholegrain content and fibre first. |
| Seed content and texture | Check which seeds are listed in the ingredients and whether a seed percentage is given. | If I want a pronounced seed texture, I need more information than what I can see in a picture on the pack. For around 20% of consumers, that texture could be the most important factor. |
| Label and suitability | Check allergens and salt per 100 g, and separately check whether baker’s salt is listed in the ingredients. | If I need to be mindful of allergens or salt, I want to check the current packaging before choosing a variety. For around 20% of consumers, checking the label could be the main concern. |
A visible layer of seeds doesn’t tell you which flour has been used or how much fibre the product contains. Bolletje lists its 45% Sunflower Seed Crackers as 100% wholegrain, while Jumbo states that this variety contains 18 g of fibre per 100 g. These figures don’t automatically apply to other crackers.
Check the wholegrain claim, ingredients and fibre per 100 g separately.
A seed cracker may also contain gluten-containing cereals and sesame. The Bolletje variety reviewed lists wheat, barley and sesame; warnings about possible traces may also be important.
Check the current ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ information every time you buy.
Thin Melba toast and sturdier crispbread aren’t the same shape for adding toppings or taking with you. The ingredients can also vary between products in the same category.
First choose the shape that suits your breakfast, then compare the labels of the specific varieties.
According to the Dutch Commodities Act Decree, baker’s salt is iodised table salt used in bread-making. The name of a toast or cracker doesn’t confirm that it contains this ingredient.
Check the ingredients list for baker’s salt or iodised salt, or ask the manufacturer if this is relevant to your diet.
The 45% Sunflower Seed Crackers are seed crackers, not Melba toast.
Melba Toast Multigrain is the toast option for anyone looking for a thin base with grains and seeds.
The toast and cracker category includes both seed crackers and Melba toast, so you can choose the product type that suits you.
ALDI describes thin crackers with seeds and robust wholegrain crispbread with seeds in this product range.
These products offer different cracker styles for a quick breakfast: multiseed crackers, a rye cracker and a thin wholegrain cracker. Choose according to the texture you prefer, and check the current nutritional information and ingredients for the variety you want to order.
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An option if you’re looking for a cracker with several types of seed for breakfast. If fibre is important to you, compare the amount per 100 g on the packaging.
Pack size: 200 g. Check the current allergen information before buying.
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An option if you’re looking for a variety with poppy seeds. Check the ingredients and seed content if the composition is what matters most to you.
Pack size: 8 pieces, 200 g. Check the current allergen information, paying particular attention to sesame and gluten-containing cereals.
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An option if you’re looking for a cracker with sunflower seeds to top individually or take with you. If fibre or salt matters to you, compare the label with those of other seed crackers.
Pack size: 8 pieces. Also check the current allergen information and warnings about possible traces.
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Choose this rye sourdough cracker if its flavour and style suit your breakfast. If you’re looking for several types of seed, compare its ingredients with those of a multiseed cracker.
Pack size: 235 g. Check the current allergen information on the packaging.
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An option if you’re looking for a thin wholegrain cracker to top. Check the seed content of this variety separately; don’t assume it’s the same as Bolletje 45% Seed Crackers.
Pack size: 190 g. Check the ingredients and allergens before buying.
No. Van der Meulen Melba Toast Multigrain is a thin toast with grains and seeds, while Bolletje 45% Sunflower Seed Crackers are wholemeal seed crackers. First choose the shape that suits your toppings, then compare the labels of the specific products.
Compare the figures per 100 g so you’re using the same quantity as a basis. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends this approach when comparing products. Also check the ingredients and the portion you actually use.
Check the current ingredients list and any warnings about possible traces for the exact variety you’re buying. The Bolletje seed cracker reviewed lists wheat, barley and sesame, among other ingredients. Don’t assume other toast or crackers have the same ingredients.
No, you can’t tell from the product name. Under the Dutch Commodities Act Decree, baker’s salt is iodised table salt used in bread-making. For a specific product, check whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed in the ingredients, or ask the manufacturer.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging to keep the texture as crisp as you like. Albert Heijn recommends storing AH Melba toast natural in a sealed tin after opening; don’t assume the same advice applies to every other variety.
