If you want to keep the familiar crisp base for Dutch rusks with aniseed sprinkles, choose rusks with seeds. A slice or roll with seeds is a better fit if you’d prefer a sturdier base and want to compare wholemeal flour and fibre on the label. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that ‘multigrain’ on its own doesn’t mean a loaf is wholemeal. For either type of product, check the allergens too.
You’re looking for a base with seeds for the traditional Dutch rusk-and-aniseed-sprinkle treat, and want to compare the wholemeal flour content and fibre per 100 g. A dark colour or the word ‘multigrain’ isn’t enough to tell you.
You want to stick with round, crisp rusks, but are considering a version with seeds. A slice of bread doesn’t offer the same way to serve them.
You want to check which allergens are in the specific bread or rusks before serving them. For products with seeds, pay particular attention to sesame, as well as any other allergens and possible traces listed.
First decide whether the crisp rusk shape matters to you. Then compare the ingredients, nutritional information and allergens of the specific product within your chosen category.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal flour and fibre | Look for wholemeal flour in the ingredients list and compare the fibre per 100 g for the specific product. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says ‘multigrain’ doesn’t automatically mean ‘wholemeal’. | If I want to serve bread with seeds, I don’t want to judge it by its colour. I want to see how much wholemeal flour and fibre it contains. Around 42% of consumers put these features first. |
| Texture and how it’s served | Choose between crisp rusks, a bread roll and sliced bread. For rusks, also compare the serving size shown on the pack. | For a visit to meet the new baby, I want a round, crunchy base that’s instantly recognisable as a Dutch rusk with aniseed sprinkles. Around 33% of consumers put this way of serving it first. |
| Allergens and type of salt | Read the latest allergen information, including any possible traces. Check whether it contains baker’s salt or iodised salt if the type of salt matters to you. | When I serve something to guests, I want to be able to check the ingredients and allergens in that specific product. For around 25% of consumers, checking the label is their top priority. |
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that multigrain refers to several types of grain; it doesn’t automatically mean the bread is made with wholemeal flour. A dark loaf doesn’t tell you how much wholemeal flour it contains either.
Check the product name and ingredients list for wholemeal flour. If you want to compare fibre, use the figure per 100 g on the pack.
Product information from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS lists sesame and cereals containing gluten among the allergens in various breads and seeded rusks. Other allergens may also be present, depending on the product.
Before serving, check the allergen information and any warnings about traces on the latest packaging. Check again if you use a replacement product.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre describes bread as an important source of iodine in the Netherlands, but not every baker uses baker’s salt. The type of salt can therefore vary from product to product.
If the type of salt matters to your purchase, look for baker’s salt or iodised salt on the label. Ask about it when buying unpackaged bread.
Bread with seeds and crisp multiseed rusks are different types of product. Using bread changes the texture and presentation of the Dutch rusk-and-aniseed-sprinkle tradition.
Choose how you want to serve it first. Then compare the ingredients and nutritional information of products that fit your choice.
At Albert Heijn, you can compare wholemeal multiseed bread, a multigrain roll and multiseed rusks as different ways to serve them.
Jumbo Stevig Meergranen is a wholemeal multigrain bread with named seeds and kernels.
At PLUS, you can compare multiseed bread with spelt rusks containing seeds and kernels if you’re still deciding between bread and rusks.
ALDI describes Boeren volkoren meergranen as sliced wholemeal bread.
Lidl describes its multigrain bread as a hearty loaf with grains and seeds.
Dirk describes Bakker van der Akker Multikorn multigrain rolls as rolls with seeds and kernels.
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says multigrain bread contains at least three types of grain; this doesn’t mean that all the flour used is wholemeal. Check the product name and ingredients list of the bread you want to buy.
No, you can’t assume that every loaf does. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that not every baker uses baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list on packaged bread, or ask which type of salt is used if buying unpackaged bread.
First check the allergen information for the specific product. The examples from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS list sesame and cereals containing gluten, among other things. Other allergens or possible traces may also be listed, depending on the product.
Follow the storage instructions for your chosen product. Jumbo recommends storing Stevig Meergranen in a cool, dry, dark place; PLUS recommends storing its spelt rusks in a cool, dry, dark place.
