Stallholder looking to offer sourdough
You’re looking for a product that lists sourdough as an ingredient, rather than a traditional rusk that simply looks artisanal. The sourdough alternative considered here is rye crispbread.
Who is this distinction important for?
Organiser of a classic rusk tasting
You want a light, round base for toppings and don’t require the product to contain sourdough. In that case, the product’s shape matters more than choosing rye crispbread.
Seller of unpackaged snacks
You need to be able to tell visitors about allergens in the product you’re offering before they buy. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority sets requirements for allergen information on unpackaged food.
What should you look for when choosing?
Sourdough rye crispbread
Choose this if: sourdough must be clearly listed in the ingredients.
Bear in mind: the Wasa and Leksands variants considered here are crispbreads, not the round rusks visitors may expect.
Traditional round rusks
Choose this if: a familiar, light base for toppings is your priority.
Bear in mind: the regular rusk variants considered here aren’t confirmed as sourdough products.
For your Christmas market display, first choose the product shape you want, then check the ingredients, nutritional information and allergens for the exact variant.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Clearly listed sourdough | Look for sourdough in the ingredients list and check whether the product is crispbread or rusks. | If sourdough is the starting point for my tasting, I want to be able to show that it’s in the product. Around 33% of consumers say this is their top priority. |
| Wholegrain and fibre | Compare the grain type and fibre listed per 100 g for the variant you’ve chosen, rather than relying on a claim on the front of the pack. | For my stall, I want to be able to explain the wholegrain choice and nutritional value using the label. This is a priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Allergens when serving | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack; if selling unpackaged, make sure you have the required information to hand. | When I offer individual snacks, I need to be able to answer questions about allergens before someone buys. This matters most to around 25% of consumers. |
| Round rusk shape | Check the product type and ingredients if you’re looking for light, round rusks to serve with toppings. | I want to give visitors a familiar, round base for toppings, even if it doesn’t contain sourdough. This is the main priority for around 17% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
-
Presenting crispbread as sourdough rusks
The Wasa and Leksands sourdough products considered here are crispbreads. Anyone expecting round rusks will get a different type of product.
Clearly name the product on your stall sign, for example, sourdough crispbread or round rusks.
-
Assuming it contains iodine from baker’s salt
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. The product type alone therefore won’t tell you which salt was used.
Don’t make product-specific claims about iodine without checking the ingredients information or confirming it with the baker.
-
Forgetting about allergens in individual tasters
The sourdough crispbread variants considered here contain gluten-containing cereals. For unpackaged sales in the Netherlands, customers must be able to get information about allergens present before buying, according to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority.
Keep the current packaging and use the information for your chosen variant when providing allergen details at your stall.
Keeping this information up to date takes extra preparation when you’re serving several products or variants.
-
Choosing based on a fibre claim alone
A claim on the front of the pack doesn’t show the full nutritional information, ingredients or allergens.
Compare the fibre and salt per 100 g, and read the ingredients and allergen lists for the exact variant too.
Brands and shops to consider
Wasa
According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Wasa Sourdough Rye is a crispbread made with wholegrain rye and sourdough.
- This variant lists 19 g of fibre per 100 g.
- These aren’t round rusks. Before serving, check the pack for gluten-containing cereals and possible allergens.
Leksands
The Sourdough Crispbread variant considered here lists rye sourdough and wholegrain in PLUS’s product information.
- PLUS lists 21 g of fibre per 100 g for this variant.
- The ingredients include gluten-containing cereals, including wheat, rye and barley.
Bolletje
Bolletje is worth considering if you’re looking for traditional rusks rather than sourdough crispbread.
- Bolletje says its Bakkers Beschuit Origineel is extra crisp and light thanks to the use of egg.
- This description doesn’t confirm that it contains sourdough. Check the ingredients and allergens for each variant.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn’s product range shows regular rusks; its product information for Wasa Sourdough Rye also offers an example of sourdough crispbread.
- You can compare the two product types separately.
- Albert Heijn warns that product information may change, so check the packaging of the product you buy.
Jumbo
Jumbo shows a range of rusks and information about sourdough crispbread as a separate product type.
- The rusk range includes plain and wholegrain options, as well as variants with grains and seeds.
- A product range overview isn’t a substitute for checking the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you choose.
Sourdough crispbread at Joybuy
This product is suited to a Christmas market display where clearly listed sourdough and a crunchy rye base are the priorities, rather than round rusks.
No image available
Wasa Sourdough Rye Crackers 235 g
An option if you want to serve sourdough on a crunchy rye base; this product isn’t round rusks.
According to Joybuy’s product information, this variant contains 100% wholegrain rye and 19 g of fibre per 100 g. Check the current packaging for ingredients and allergens before serving the crackers unpackaged.
Frequently asked questions
Is sourdough crispbread the same as rusks?
No. The Wasa and Leksands products considered here are crispbreads, while ALDI Netherlands describes rusks as a round bread product that’s baked twice. Choose the product type that suits your display and toppings.
Do all rusks contain iodine from baker’s salt?
You can’t assume they do: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check the ingredients information for the specific product or ask the baker if the type of salt used matters to you.
What allergen information do I need when selling unpackaged food?
If you’re selling unpackaged food at a Christmas market in the Netherlands, you must be able to tell customers about allergens present before they buy. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority lists 14 allergens. Use the current product information for each variant and, for cereals containing gluten, specify which cereals are involved.
How should I store sourdough crispbread for the Christmas market?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging for the variant you’ve chosen. The Leksands variant considered here says to store in a cool, dry place away from light; after opening, keep the original packaging available for the ingredients information and best-before date.
Is a fibre claim enough to help me choose between these products?
No. For the exact variants, compare the nutritional information per 100 g, the ingredients and the allergens, as well as the product shape you want. This lets you assess the stated fibre content, for example, without treating crispbread and round rusks as the same type of product.