The lunch chooser comparing fibre
You’re looking for a wholemeal base for your toppings and comparing the fibre per 100 g, rather than relying on the product name alone. The salt content can also help you choose between two types of rusk.
Who is this choice relevant to?
The lunch chooser who considers the toppings
You choose rusks as part of a lunch with toppings, vegetables or fruit. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends considering additions like these when putting together a lunch.
The chooser with a specific preference
You want to know what a variety with seeds or an organic certification brings to your choice. Check the ingredients and allergens, especially if sesame, egg or certain cereals matter to you.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide which feature matters most for your lunch; then compare the rusks that fit the bill.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Check the wholemeal label and compare the fibre per 100 g. | If I choose rusks as the base for my lunch, I want to know how much fibre the wholemeal variety actually contains. An estimated 40% of consumers put this comparison first. |
| Toppings and additions | Think about what you’ll put on your rusk and whether you’ll have vegetables or fruit with it. | I don’t want to choose just the rusk; I also want to think about the toppings and what I’ll eat alongside it. An estimated 30% of consumers give this overall combination the highest priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging. | If I need to avoid an ingredient, the information on the packaging matters more than the premium or multiseed label. For an estimated 20% of consumers, this is their first concern. |
| Seeds or organic | Look for the seeds in the ingredients list or check for organic certification; compare the nutritional values separately. | I only choose extra seeds or organic ingredients if that’s specifically what I’m looking for. This is the main reason an estimated 10% of consumers choose between varieties. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘premium’ means a specific nutritional benefit
When it comes to rusks, premium might refer to seeds, organic certification, size or flavour. The term doesn’t tell you how much fibre or salt a product contains.
Decide which feature you’re looking for, then check the ingredients list or nutritional information per 100 g.
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Judging the rusk on its own
Toppings are part of your lunch too. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that some types of topping are high in salt, saturated fat or sugars.
So consider your toppings and any additions, such as vegetables or fruit, at the same time.
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Relying on an allergen label you read before
The wholemeal and multiseed products discussed here list a range of ingredients and allergens, including wheat, egg and sesame. Recipes and packaging can change.
If you need to avoid an ingredient, check the current packaging every time you buy the product.
Brands to consider
Bolletje
A brand to consider if you want to compare standard wholemeal rusks with a variety that highlights its fibre content.
- A Bolletje variety sold by Albert Heijn is labelled 100% wholemeal and lists 10 g of fibre per 100 g.
- Check the ingredients for this variety: wheat, oats, barley and sesame are relevant if you need to avoid them.
Albert Heijn
The range includes standard wholemeal rusks and an organic wholemeal variety with several seeds.
- AH Biologisch Volkoren beschuit meerzaden displays the EU organic logo, NL-BIO-01 and 11 g of fibre per 100 g.
- According to Albert Heijn’s product information, this variety contains 0.73 g of salt per 100 g and lists egg and sesame among its allergens. Organic certification doesn’t replace checking the label.
Jumbo
A supermarket own-brand option to consider if you want to compare the nutritional values of wholemeal rusks with other varieties.
- Jumbo Volkoren Beschuit lists 7.7 g of fibre and 0.53 g of salt per 100 g.
- Check the packaging for the current ingredients and allergen information before choosing this variety.
PLUS
A supermarket own brand offering both wholemeal rusks and a wholemeal variety with seeds.
- PLUS says its wholemeal rusks with seeds contain over 25% seeds.
- For the seed variety, check the current packaging for sesame, egg and cereals containing gluten, among other ingredients.
Goud Gebakken
The ALDI brand offers wholemeal rusks in a pack of 13.
- ALDI describes this variety as made with wholemeal grains.
- Check the nutritional information and allergens on the packaging if you want to compare the rusks for fibre, salt or ingredients.
Rusks on Joybuy
These two Bolletje varieties offer a choice between dark wholemeal rusks and standard wholemeal rusks as a base for lunch toppings. Check the nutritional information on the packaging before choosing based on fibre or salt.
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Bolletje dark wholemeal rusks, 10 pieces
An option if you’re looking for dark wholemeal rusks to add your lunch toppings to.
Compare the fibre and salt per 100 g on the packaging. If you need to avoid wheat, oats, barley or sesame, check the current ingredients and allergen information too.
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Bolletje wholemeal rusks, 13 pieces
A wholemeal option if you want to use rusks as a base for your lunch toppings.
To compare fibre and salt, check the values per 100 g on the packaging. Also check the current allergen information if you need to avoid wheat, egg or sesame.
Frequently asked questions
Are wholemeal rusks enough on their own for a well-balanced lunch?
No, also consider what you eat on and alongside your rusks. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends including suitable toppings and vegetables or fruit when putting together a lunch.
Should I compare fibre per serving or per 100 g?
First use the value per 100 g to compare different rusks on the same basis. Then look at the serving size if you want to know what the nutritional information means for the amount you eat.
Can I choose multiseed rusks if I need to avoid sesame or certain cereals?
If so, don’t choose multiseed rusks based on the product name alone. The PLUS variety discussed here lists sesame and cereals containing gluten, among other ingredients. Always check the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging before choosing.
Do Dutch rusks always contain iodine because they’re made with baker’s salt?
No, don’t assume that all rusks are made with baker’s salt. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that iodine compounds may only be present in bread, bread substitutes and other bakery products through the addition of baker’s salt. This rule doesn’t tell you which type of salt was used in a particular rusk. Check the product information or ask the manufacturer.