Breakfast lovers looking for seeds and fibre
You want to see seeds and wholemeal flour in the ingredients list. When comparing crackers and rusks, check the fibre and salt per 100 g, then consider the portion you eat.
Which option is right for you?
Breakfast lovers who want the toppings to take centre stage
You’re looking for a thin, neutral and crisp base for sweet or savoury toppings. The Van der Meulen Melba Toast Naturel we looked at has that format, but doesn’t contain seeds as an ingredient.
Shoppers who need to check allergens
If you need to avoid certain ingredients for yourself or someone else, check the exact variant. Sesame, cereals containing gluten and any warnings about other allergens vary by product, so read the current packaging.
What should you look for when choosing?
Seed cracker
Choose this: if you want the seeds and the crisp cracker itself to play a clear role in your breakfast.
Keep in mind: wholemeal flour, fibre and salt vary by product. Albert Heijn lists 16 g of fibre and 1.83 g of salt per 100 g for its Dunne crackers zaden en pitten.
Multiseed rusk or breakfast cracker
Choose this: if you’re looking for a seed-rich base for toppings.
Keep in mind: multiseed doesn’t necessarily mean wholemeal. For its Ontbijtcrackers Meerzaden, Bolletje lists both 49% wholemeal wheat flour and 23% wheat flour.
Traditional Melba toast
Choose this: if you mainly want a thin, neutral base for toppings.
Keep in mind: Van der Meulen Melba Toast Naturel contains no seeds as an ingredient. If you’re looking for seeds, choose a different variant or type of product.
First decide whether you want seeds in the base itself or simply a surface that leaves room for toppings. Then compare products of the same type by their ingredients, nutritional information and allergens.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Seeds, flour and fibre | Check which seeds and types of flour are listed in the ingredients; compare fibre per 100 g. | If I want seeds in the cracker itself, I also want to know which types of flour have been used and how much fibre the product contains. For around 40% of consumers, this combination comes first. |
| Allergens | Check the allergen information and any warnings on the current packaging. | If I need to avoid ingredients for myself or someone else, the exact variant must be suitable. For around 30% of consumers, checking this is the top priority. |
| Base for toppings | Compare the product formats: thin Melba toast, a cracker or a seed rusk. | For a breakfast where the toppings take centre stage, I’d rather have a thin, neutral base than a strongly flavoured seed cracker. This is the main priority for around 30% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming seeds or multigrain means wholemeal
Seeds don’t tell you which types of flour have been used. Alongside wholemeal wheat flour, Bolletje lists wheat flour in its Ontbijtcrackers Meerzaden.
If wholemeal flour is a must-have, check both the product description and the ingredients list.
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Comparing fibre content alone
For AH Dunne crackers zaden en pitten, Albert Heijn lists 16 g of fibre and 1.83 g of salt per 100 g. One nutritional value doesn’t tell you everything about a product.
Compare fibre and salt on the same basis, such as per 100 g, and consider the portion you eat too.
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Relying on the product name to check allergens
A name such as breakfast cracker or toast doesn’t tell you which allergens the exact variant contains. The products we looked at include sesame and cereals containing gluten.
Before buying, read the current ingredients list, allergen information and any warnings on the packaging.
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Assuming Melba toast is a seed-based alternative
The Van der Meulen Melba Toast Naturel we looked at is a thin base for toppings, but doesn’t contain seeds as an ingredient.
Choose the product format based on what you want from breakfast: a neutral toast base, or seeds in the cracker or rusk itself.
Brands and product ranges to consider
Bolletje
Bolletje’s Ontbijtcrackers Meerzaden are an example of breakfast crackers containing linseed, sesame, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds.
- A good option to consider if you’re looking for different seeds in your cracker.
- For this variant, Bolletje lists 49% wholemeal wheat flour and 23% wheat flour. Check the allergen information too.
Albert Heijn
AH Dunne crackers zaden en pitten are an example of thin crackers made with wholemeal wheat flour, linseed, sesame and sunflower seeds.
- Albert Heijn lists 16 g of fibre per 100 g for this product.
- Albert Heijn also lists 1.83 g of salt per 100 g and allergens including sesame and cereals containing gluten. Check the current packaging.
Jumbo
Jumbo Crackers Meergranen & Zaden are an example of crackers containing ingredients such as wholemeal wheat flour, linseed and sesame seeds.
- For this variant, Jumbo lists 14.8 g of fibre per 100 g and provides allergen information.
- Check the current product variant and availability before choosing these particular crackers.
Van der Meulen
Van der Meulen Melba Toast Naturel is an example of traditional, thin toast for toppings.
- A neutral toast option when the toppings matter more than seeds in the base.
- The Naturel variant contains no seeds as an ingredient. For this product, Jumbo lists 3.9 g of fibre per 100 g and names wheat, barley and soya as allergens; it may contain traces of sesame.
Crackers and rusks on Joybuy
These rusks and crackers are options to consider for a Sunday breakfast with seeds or a crisp base for toppings. For each product, check whether the ingredients, nutritional information and allergens meet your needs.
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Bolletje multiseed rusks, 10 pieces
For anyone looking for seeds in their rusk base. If wholemeal flour matters to you, check the ingredients list and read the allergen information on the packaging.
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Wasa High-Fiber Crackers, 300 g
If you’re comparing crackers by fibre content, check the nutritional information per 100 g. Also check which seeds and allergens are listed on the packaging; the product name alone won’t answer those questions.
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Wasa Thin Crisp Sesame, 190 g
A thin cracker to consider if you want to pair sesame with toppings. To compare fibre and salt, check the values per 100 g on the current packaging and check the allergens too.
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Bolletje Sesame Bagel Crackers, 225 g
For anyone considering a sesame cracker as a base for toppings. Before comparing fibre and salt, check the units in the nutrition table, and read the allergen information too.
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Pacific Soda Cracker (Sesame Flavour), 100 g
If you’re considering a soda cracker for breakfast, check that its flavour and ingredients go with your toppings. Check the current packaging for seeds, fibre content and allergens.
Frequently asked questions
Does multiseed mean wholemeal?
No. Seeds in or on a product don’t mean that all the flour used is wholemeal. Check both the product description and the types of flour in the ingredients list; Bolletje also lists wheat flour in its Ontbijtcrackers Meerzaden.
Where can I check allergens in toast or seed crackers?
Read the allergen information on the current packaging for the exact variant. Look out for sesame and cereals containing gluten, among other things, and check for any warnings about other allergens. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains which allergens must be listed on prepacked foods.
Is toast or a cracker always made with iodised baker’s salt?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. If the type of salt used matters to you, check the ingredients list for the specific product.
How do I store crackers or toast so they stay crisp?
Follow the storage instructions on the product packaging. Jumbo recommends storing its Crackers Meergranen & Zaden in a cool, dry, dark place. Check the packaging for your product to see how to seal it after opening.