People with a sesame or seed allergy
Check which seeds have been deliberately added, and read any cross-contamination warnings too. According to Bolletje, Vezelrijk Meerzaden contains sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and linseeds.
Who is this choice relevant to?
People with another food allergy
A name like ‘multiseed’ won’t tell you whether the rusks contain another allergen you need to avoid. Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the packaging; Albert Heijn notes that online product information can change.
People looking for seeds and fibre
The seed mix, nutritional information and texture may influence your choice. A fibre or wholegrain claim doesn’t, by itself, tell you whether allergens are present or whether there’s a cross-contamination warning.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start with the allergen you need to avoid, then check any warnings on the current packaging. Only then compare the seed mix and nutritional information of products that may be suitable for you.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Added allergens | Read the ingredients list and clearly highlighted allergens on the packaging. If you have a seed allergy, check which seeds are in the mix. | If I need to avoid sesame or another ingredient, I want to make sure it hasn’t been deliberately added to my rusks. For around 40% of consumers, avoiding a particular ingredient comes first. |
| Cross-contamination and changes | Read any warnings, such as ‘may contain’, on the pack you buy, and check the label again next time you make a purchase. | Even if it’s a variety I know and trust, I don’t want to miss a change to the ingredients or a warning. Around 40% of consumers give this check top priority. |
| Seeds, fibre and texture | Once you’ve checked the allergens that matter to you, compare the seed mix and nutritional information. If you follow a gluten-free diet, look for an explicit gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain symbol. | Once I’ve checked the allergens, I want to choose the seeds and texture I like without mistaking a fibre claim for allergen information. For around 20% of consumers, this product preference is their top priority when shopping. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘multiseed’ means ‘free from my allergen’
The name doesn’t tell you which seeds have been used. For example, Bolletje lists sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and linseeds in Vezelrijk Meerzaden.
Check the ingredients on the specific pack for every allergen you need to avoid.
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Relying only on an online product description
Albert Heijn says that information about ingredients, nutritional values and allergens can change. So the details you read online before may not match the pack you buy.
Read the packaging before use, even if you’ve bought the same product before.
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Skipping a cross-contamination warning
A warning such as ‘may contain’ refers to the possible unintentional presence of an allergen, not an ingredient that has been deliberately added.
Read both the ingredients list and any warnings. If you’re unsure what they mean for your allergy, speak to your doctor or dietitian.
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Assuming spelt or wholemeal means gluten-free
These product descriptions don’t mean that a product is gluten-free. The Voedingscentrum says that the words ‘gluten-free’ and the Crossed Grain symbol are ways to identify gluten-free products.
If you follow a gluten-free diet, check the current packaging for a gluten-free label instead of relying on ‘spelt’, ‘wholemeal’ or ‘multiseed’.
Brands and retailers to consider
These examples show what product information may help you make a choice; a brand or retailer name doesn’t confirm that a rusk is suitable for a specific allergy.
Bolletje
Worth considering if you want to compare a clearly described seed mix.
- According to Bolletje, Vezelrijk Meerzaden contains sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and linseeds.
- If you need to avoid sesame, you can’t choose this variety. Check the current packaging for other allergens and warnings.
Albert Heijn
A retailer offering several types of rusk, including multiseed varieties.
- Online product information can help you compare different types of rusk.
- Albert Heijn says that ingredients, nutritional and allergy information can change, so check the packaging.
Jumbo
A retailer offering products including Bolletje Vezelrijk Beschuit Meerzaden.
- Jumbo describes this Bolletje variety as containing a mix of sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and linseeds.
- Don’t use the product description as a substitute for checking the ingredients and warnings on the pack you buy.
PLUS
Worth considering if you want to compare wholemeal rusks with seeds and kernels.
- According to PLUS, PLUS Beschuit volkoren met zaden contains more than 25% seeds and kernels.
- That proportion doesn’t tell you which allergens or warnings are listed on the current label.
Related products on Joybuy
Related products will be available soon.
Frequently asked questions
How can I identify allergens in prepacked rusks?
Under European food labelling rules, allergens must be clearly emphasised in the ingredients list of prepacked foods, as Your Europe explains. Check the label on the rusks you’re actually buying.
Can I choose multiseed rusks if I need to avoid sesame?
Not if sesame seeds have been added as an ingredient. Bolletje lists sesame seeds in Vezelrijk Beschuit Meerzaden; for another variety, check the ingredients and any warnings on the current packaging.
What does ‘may contain’ mean on the packaging?
This warning indicates the possible unintentional presence of the allergen named. The Voedingscentrum recommends reading both the ingredients list and any warnings; if you’re unsure how they apply to you, speak to your doctor or dietitian.
Are spelt or multiseed rusks gluten-free too?
The words ‘spelt’ and ‘multiseed’ don’t mean that a rusk is gluten-free. If you follow a gluten-free diet, look for the words ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging, as described by the Voedingscentrum.