Traveller looking to keep crumbs to a minimum
You want to keep your rusks whole and dry during a train journey, and make it easy to clear away the packaging after eating. NS asks passengers to put their rubbish in the bin.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Fussy eater who wants to try wholemeal
You want to be able to alternate between plain and wholemeal rusks without relying on an unfamiliar taste or texture just before setting off. Albert Heijn’s product information shows that the fibre content differs between the two varieties.
Chocolate sprinkles label checker
You check the cocoa percentage, what a sugar claim means or the allergens in the exact variety, rather than relying on the brand name alone.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide which rusks the person eating them would like to take and how you’ll protect them. Then compare the chocolate sprinkles on the points that matter to you.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Taking them along in one piece and without a mess | Choose a resealable pack that protects the rusks in transit. Keep the chocolate sprinkles separate until you’re ready to eat. | I don’t want broken rusks or loose chocolate sprinkles on the journey, and I want to be able to clear away my rubbish afterwards; around 40% of consumers put practical transport first. |
| Plain or wholemeal | Compare the fibre per 100 g for the exact rusk varieties, and try an unfamiliar texture before the journey. | If wholemeal is new to the person eating them, I want to know whether they’ll actually eat those rusks. Around 30% of consumers make acceptability their top priority. |
| Chocolate sprinkles label | Check the cocoa percentage, sugars per 100 g, the reference product used for any sugar claim and the allergens in the variety you’ve chosen. | When choosing chocolate sprinkles, I want to weigh up which taste and ingredients are right for me; for around 30% of consumers, the label is the deciding factor. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming plain and wholemeal are combined in one rusk
The plain and wholemeal rusks in this comparison are separate varieties. Choosing one doesn’t automatically give you a mix.
If you’d like to offer both textures, compare two packs and try them at different mealtimes.
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Assuming rusks contain iodine
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt in bread is not compulsory. So don’t assume you know what type of salt a particular variety contains just from the word ‘rusks’.
Check the ingredients on the pack if the type of salt used matters to your choice.
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Reading a reduced-sugar claim as meaning sugar-free
Albert Heijn compares AH Hagelslag melk minder suiker with AH Melk hagelslag. The former variety itself lists 43 g of sugars per 100 g.
When you see a claim like this, check both the stated comparison product and the nutritional information for the variety you’re buying.
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Checking only the rusk label
Chocolate sprinkles have their own ingredients and allergen information, too. The dark varieties from De Ruijter and Venz described by Albert Heijn list milk and soya.
Before setting off, check the current packaging for both the rusks and the chocolate sprinkles.
Brands compared
Albert Heijn
A useful option if you want to compare separate plain and wholemeal rusks, or chocolate sprinkles, by looking at the labels.
- According to Albert Heijn’s product information, AH Beschuit volkoren contains 9 g of fibre per 100 g, while AH Beschuit naturel contains 4.2 g per 100 g.
- The 30% less sugar claim on AH Hagelslag melk minder suiker compares it only with AH Melk hagelslag; the variety lists 43 g of sugars per 100 g.
De Ruijter
The Specials Intens Puur variety is a specific example to consider when comparing dark chocolate sprinkles.
- The product information published by Albert Heijn lists at least 52% cocoa solids for De Ruijter Specials Intens Puur.
- The product information also lists milk and soya as allergens. Check the packaging of the exact variety.
Venz
Venz Hagelslag Puur offers another dark variety to compare by ingredients and nutritional value.
- The product information published by Albert Heijn lists at least 32% cocoa solids for Venz Hagelslag Puur.
- The product information lists 65 g of sugars per 100 g and names milk and soya as allergens. These values apply to the variety mentioned.
Rusks and chocolate sprinkles at Joybuy
These products are separate items for anyone wanting to take rusks with chocolate sprinkles: dark chocolate sprinkles, wholemeal rusks and plain rusks. To put a combination together, choose your base and topping separately, and check how you’ll seal and protect them during the journey.
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De Ruijter Intense Dark Chocolate Sprinkles – 200 g
A separate chocolate sprinkle option if you’re considering dark chocolate sprinkles as a topping; choose your rusks separately.
200 g pack. Check the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging.
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Bolletje wholemeal rusks – 13 pieces
A wholemeal base if the person eating them would like to try the taste and texture; choose your chocolate sprinkles separately.
The pack contains 13 pieces. Protect the rusks from breaking when you take them with you.
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g'woon plain rusks – 125 g
A separate plain base to try alongside wholemeal rusks; choose your chocolate sprinkles separately.
125 g pack. Check the current allergen information and protect the rusks when you take them with you.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do with packaging after eating on an NS train?
Put packaging and other rubbish in the bin, as NS asks passengers to do in its house rules. Take the rusks protected and the topping in a separate sealed container to help keep crumbs under control during the journey.
Should I choose wholemeal rusks for a fussy eater?
Not without taking the person’s taste preferences into account. According to Albert Heijn, AH Beschuit volkoren contains 9 g of fibre per 100 g, compared with 4.2 g for AH Beschuit naturel. If wholemeal has an unfamiliar texture, let them try both types before the journey.
Does 30% less sugar mean the chocolate sprinkles are low in sugar?
No. Albert Heijn compares AH Hagelslag melk minder suiker specifically with AH Melk hagelslag; the former variety lists 43 g of sugars per 100 g. So check both the product used as the reference for the claim and the nutritional information.
Can I assume that rusks contain iodised baker’s salt?
No, don’t assume that without checking the label. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that baker’s salt is not compulsory in bread; check the ingredients for the rusks you choose or ask the manufacturer what type of salt is used.
Which allergens should I check before setting off?
Check the current packaging for each product separately. The rusk examples described list, among other things, cereals containing gluten and egg; the dark chocolate sprinkle varieties from De Ruijter and Venz described by Albert Heijn list milk and soya.