Shoppers looking to combine organic and wholemeal
You want to check that the rusks meet both criteria before comparing the topping. An organic label doesn’t tell you whether a grain product is wholemeal.
Choose rusks labelled as both organic and wholemeal, and check the chocolate sprinkles separately if you want both products to be organic. Albert Heijn’s product information for AH Biologisch Wholemeal Multiseed Rusks lists the EU organic logo, NL-BIO-01 and a wholemeal description. When choosing, also check the allergens in the rusks and the sugar content of the topping.
You want to check that the rusks meet both criteria before comparing the topping. An organic label doesn’t tell you whether a grain product is wholemeal.
You’re looking for a wholemeal base, but also want to consider the nutritional information and the amount of chocolate sprinkles you use.
If you need to avoid certain ingredients, check the latest allergen information for both the rusks and the chocolate sprinkles. Organic and wholemeal labels don’t mean a product is allergen-free.
Start by checking the organic and wholemeal labels on the rusks. Then assess the nutritional information and ingredients of the topping as a separate product.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is it important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Organic and wholemeal | Check for an organic label or the EU organic logo, and make sure the rusks are explicitly described as wholemeal. | If I eat organic, I also want to be sure my rusks are wholemeal. For around 36% of shoppers, this combination is the top priority. |
| Fibre and ingredients | Compare the fibre per 100 g and read the ingredients list, including for varieties with seeds. | I compare what’s actually in the rusks, because the wholemeal description alone doesn’t determine my choice. Around 29% of shoppers give fibre and ingredients top priority. |
| Sugars in chocolate sprinkles | Check the sugars per 100 g or per serving and decide how much chocolate sprinkles you want to use. | I want to use chocolate sprinkles, but also be able to judge how much sweet topping I’m adding to my rusk. This is the main consideration for around 21% of shoppers. |
| Allergens | Check the latest allergen information on both packs for ingredients such as wheat, egg, sesame, milk and soya. | If I need to avoid an allergen, I need to know whether it’s in the rusks or chocolate sprinkles I’ve chosen. Allergens are the first selection criterion for around 14% of shoppers. |
An organic certification doesn’t tell you about a product’s nutritional value. Albert Heijn lists 72 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Biologisch Bio Dark Chocolate Sprinkles.
Read the nutrition table for the chocolate sprinkles and consider how much you use on each rusk.
Rusks and chocolate sprinkles are separate products. Organic rusks don’t automatically make the topping organic.
If both products need to be organic, check the organic label on both packs.
According to their product information, the organic wholemeal rusks discussed contain wheat and egg. The AH multiseed variety also contains sesame; Jumbo’s product information lists soya.
Check the latest allergen information for your chosen variety and the chocolate sprinkles before combining them.
Jumbo says its organic wholemeal rusks are no longer in its online range. A product description alone therefore doesn’t confirm that you can buy that variety.
Check availability and, if you find a pack, read the ingredients again.
Worth considering if you’re looking for rusks labelled as both organic and wholemeal.
A product to compare if you’re looking at organic wholemeal rusks and want to check availability yourself.
A reference for dark chocolate sprinkles if an organic certification isn’t required for the topping.
Another option to consider for dark chocolate sprinkles when the organic requirement doesn’t apply to the topping.
Check both labels on the pack: the EU organic logo or organic description, and the wholemeal description. The Dutch government describes organic as a protected term; according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal products are made from the whole grain. So one label doesn’t replace the other.
An organic label alone doesn’t tell you how much sugar or saturated fat chocolate sprinkles contain. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre describes chocolate sprinkles as a sweet bread topping, so compare the nutritional value of your chosen variety and consider how much you use.
No. According to their product information, the organic varieties from AH and Jumbo discussed here contain wheat and gluten. Also check the latest pack for other allergens: the AH multiseed variety contains egg and sesame, while Jumbo lists egg and soya and says the product may contain sesame.
You can’t tell from the wholemeal label. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, iodine compounds may be present in bakery products through baker’s salt. Check the ingredients of your chosen rusks or ask the manufacturer which salt they use if this matters to your choice.