Who might find this choice useful?

If you’re looking for wholemeal and fibre

You’re looking for rusks as a lunch staple and compare the wholemeal labelling and fibre per 100 g, rather than judging by colour or size alone.

If you manage the office food supplies

You want a familiar plain variety for several lunch breaks and need to be able to store an opened pack somewhere dry and securely sealed.

If you check ingredients for colleagues

Before sharing, you need to check whether the rusks contain wheat, egg, sesame or other relevant allergens. The product category alone won’t tell you whether they suit everyone’s dietary requirements.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you want a simple plain variety, wholemeal rusks or rusks with seeds. Then compare the nutritional information and ingredients on the specific packs.

What to consider What to check when buying Who is this most important for?
Wholemeal and fibre Check whether the product is labelled wholemeal and compare fibre per 100 g. Albert Heijn lists 4.2 g for AH plain rusks and 9 g for AH wholemeal rusks. If wholemeal flour is the deciding factor for my lunch staple, I want to know what the pack says. For around 38% of consumers, wholemeal and fibre are the most important factors in this choice.
Ingredients and allergens Read the current ingredients and allergen information, including any ‘may contain’ warnings, especially if you’re sharing the rusks with others. When I put rusks out for colleagues, I want to be able to check who they’re suitable for first. Ingredients and allergens are the main consideration for around 25% of consumers.
Stock and storage Compare the number of rusks per pack and choose an amount you can store somewhere dry and securely sealed once opened. For shared office supplies, I want to avoid leaving an opened pack for too long. Around 37% of consumers give stock convenience and storage top priority.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming plain, wholemeal and high-fibre mean the same thing

    These labels don’t tell you the same thing about the ingredients. Albert Heijn lists 4.2 g of fibre per 100 g for its plain rusks and 9 g per 100 g for its wholemeal variety.

    Check the product name and compare the fibre content per 100 g on the same basis.

  • Assuming seeds or wholemeal mean a product is suitable for your diet

    Rusks may contain wheat and egg; sesame may also be relevant in seeded varieties. A rusk’s name or colour is no substitute for checking the allergen information.

    Read the current packaging, including any warnings about cross-contamination, before sharing the product at work.

  • Leaving an opened pack without suitable storage

    For office supplies, it’s important to be able to store rusks somewhere dry and securely sealed once opened.

    Use an airtight storage container and follow the storage instructions on the pack.

  • Assuming all rusks contain iodine

    The Dutch agreement on iodised baker’s salt doesn’t prove that the salt in every individual rusk contains iodine.

    If iodine content matters to your purchase, check the information for the variety you’ve chosen.

Brands to consider

Bolletje

Bolletje offers plain and wholemeal rusks, as well as varieties that differ in size or composition.

  • Albert Heijn lists 10 g of fibre per 100 g for Bolletje Vezelrijk boeren beschuit volkoren.
  • Check each variety separately for grains, egg and sesame; ingredients and allergens aren’t the same across all Bolletje rusks.

Albert Heijn

The own-label range offers plain and wholemeal rusks, making it easy to compare the two directly.

  • Albert Heijn lists 4.2 g of fibre per 100 g for AH plain rusks and 9 g per 100 g for AH wholemeal rusks.
  • Check the current ingredients and allergen information for both varieties; the products reviewed contain wheat and egg.

Jumbo

Jumbo offers plain and wholemeal rusks, as well as varieties made with other grains.

  • Jumbo Plain Rusks come in a pack of 13.
  • Jumbo recommends storing this plain variety in a cool, dry, dark place. Check the ingredients of each product before sharing the rusks.

PLUS

PLUS offers plain rusks and a seeded wholemeal variety for anyone looking for a different combination of ingredients.

  • PLUS lists 3.1 g of fibre and 0.49 g of salt per 100 g for its plain rusks.
  • Check the ingredients and allergens in the seeded wholemeal variety, including whether it contains sesame.

Goud Gebakken (ALDI)

Goud Gebakken is ALDI’s brand of wholemeal rusks, sold in a pack of 13.

  • ALDI’s product information lists wholemeal grains and 13 rusks per pack.
  • Check the packaging for ingredients, allergens and nutritional information if you’re comparing this product with other wholemeal varieties.

Wholemeal rusks at Joybuy

These two Bolletje packs are a good fit if you’re looking for wholemeal rusks for an office lunch. Compare the number of rusks and check the ingredients of your chosen variety before sharing it with colleagues.

Bolletje dark wholemeal rusks, 10 pieces

Bolletje dark wholemeal rusks, 10 pieces

An option if you’re looking for dark wholemeal rusks for your lunch. The pack contains 10 pieces.

When sharing, check the latest allergen information, particularly for wheat, oats, barley and sesame. Store the rusks in a cool, dry place and seal the pack securely after opening.

View at Joybuy
Bolletje wholemeal rusks, 13 pieces

Bolletje wholemeal rusks, 13 pieces

A wholemeal option if you want a pack of 13 for office lunches. Only compare the fibre content with other rusks once you’ve checked what quantity the figure on the pack refers to.

Before sharing, check the information about wheat, egg and possible sesame. Store the rusks in a cool, dry place and seal the pack securely after opening.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is ‘medium sliced’ a useful term when choosing rusks?

No, don’t use that term to choose Dutch rusks. Jumbo describes how a rusk is cut in half and the two halves are baked again; when buying, it’s better to look at whether they’re plain, wholemeal or seeded, and at their size.

Which rusks should I choose if I’m looking for wholemeal and fibre?

Choose a product labelled wholemeal, then compare the fibre per 100 g. Albert Heijn lists 9 g of fibre per 100 g for AH wholemeal rusks, compared with 4.2 g for AH plain rusks; also check the serving size and the rest of the nutritional information.

Can I share rusks with colleagues who have allergies without checking first?

No, check the current packaging first. The plain and wholemeal varieties reviewed contain wheat and egg, while sesame and other grains may also be relevant in seeded varieties; check any ‘may contain’ warnings too.

How should I store an opened pack of rusks at work?

Keep the rusks dry and seal the pack securely after opening, for example in an airtight storage container. Also follow the storage instructions for your chosen product; Albert Heijn and Jumbo product information recommends storing rusks in a dry place.

Do all rusks contain iodised baker’s salt?

You can’t tell from the product category alone. A publication by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport in the Dutch Government Gazette on 28 October 2008 describes an agreement encouraging the use of iodised baker’s salt; it doesn’t guarantee that every rusk contains it. If iodine content matters to your choice, check the information for the specific variety.