Soup lovers looking for a hearty seed cracker
You want a cracker with a noticeable seed texture to have with your split pea soup, rather than a small piece of toast for topping. Compare the ingredients and size before you choose.
Who are these options relevant for?
Shoppers comparing wholegrains and fibre
You look beyond the visible seeds and compare wholegrain labelling and the fibre content in the nutritional information. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also distinguishes between wholegrain and other options when it comes to crackers and mini toasts.
Shoppers with gluten or allergen requirements
You need to check whether a product is suitable for your dietary requirements. A seed cracker may contain gluten-containing cereals, sesame or egg, among other ingredients, so always check the label of the specific product you choose.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want a cracker to have with your soup or a small piece of toast for topping. Then compare the features that matter most to you within that product type.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Size and seed texture | Compare the size and the seeds listed; don’t mistake a small piece of toast for a larger cracker. | With a bowl of split pea soup, I want something crunchy with a noticeable seed texture, even without a topping. For around 40% of consumers, that texture would be the first thing they look for. |
| Wholegrains and fibre | Look for wholegrain labelling and compare fibre per 100 g within the same product category. | I want to know whether the cracker is actually labelled wholegrain, not just whether it has seeds on top. Around 30% of consumers would prioritise wholegrains and fibre. |
| Carbohydrates and protein | Compare carbohydrates and protein per 100 g and per serving; if there’s a comparative claim, check which reference products are mentioned. | If nutritional values matter to my choice, I want to be able to compare them across similar crackers. For around 20% of consumers, this would be the main consideration. |
| Gluten and allergens | Check the gluten-free label, ingredients and relevant warnings on the current packaging. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, suitability comes before the seeds or nutritional values I’m looking for. For around 10% of consumers, this would be the first thing to consider. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming seeds mean a product is wholegrain
A cracker with visible seeds isn’t automatically wholegrain. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre treats wholegrain as a separate product label for crackers and mini toasts.
Check whether the product you choose is labelled wholegrain and read which cereal ingredients it contains.
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Assuming gluten-free means allergen-free
A gluten-free seed cracker may still contain other ingredients that are relevant to you. For example, Jumbo lists oats, egg and sesame among the ingredients in its Lekker Vrij van Gluten Zaden Crackers.
As well as checking the gluten-free label, read the full allergen information and any warnings about traces.
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Expecting every cracker to contain iodised salt
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, Dutch bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. The presence of seeds or a wholegrain label won’t tell you which type of salt has been used, either.
If this matters to your choice, check the ingredients list for iodised salt or baker’s salt.
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Thinking mini toasts and seed crackers are interchangeable
A small piece of toast is a different choice for topped bites from a cracker you want to eat with your soup. The product type also doesn’t automatically tell you whether it contains seeds or wholegrains.
First decide how you want to serve it, then compare the size, ingredients and nutritional information.
Brands to consider
Bolletje
Bolletje makes several breakfast crackers with seeds, including multiseed crackers and a separate sunflower seed variety.
- Bolletje states that its 45% Zadencrackers Zonnebloempitten contain 45% seeds. Compare the specific product if this matters to your choice.
- Other crackers in the same range don’t necessarily have the same ingredients; check each pack for wheat and sesame, too.
Nairn's
Super Seeded Wholegrain Crackers are a gluten-free seed cracker in the range described by Jumbo.
- Jumbo’s product information lists gluten-free oats, linseed and chia in this variety.
- This variety also contains oats and may contain milk. So even with a gluten-free cracker, check the other allergen information.
Jumbo Lekker Vrij
Lekker Vrij van Gluten Zaden Crackers are a separate gluten-free seed option to compare by checking the label.
- Jumbo lists linseed and sesame among the ingredients in these crackers.
- The product also contains oats and egg, and may contain nuts. Gluten-free labelling doesn’t rule out these other ingredients.
Goud Gebakken
This ALDI own brand offers, among other things, multiseed and sesame crackers, as well as wholegrain crispbread with seeds.
- These product types give you different sizes to compare for serving with soup.
- Check the ingredients, nutritional information and allergens on the pack of the variety you choose.
Van der Meulen Melba
Melba toast in plain and wholegrain varieties is most relevant if you’re looking for small pieces of toast to top.
- Jumbo lists both plain and wholegrain Melba toast in its toast range.
- Don’t assume these mini toasts are seed crackers without checking the label; check the ingredients and allergens for each variety.
Crackers from Joybuy to serve with split pea soup
These crackers are suited to shoppers looking for seeds, a wholegrain-labelled option or nutritional values to compare. If you’re serving small topped bites, don’t choose solely from this cracker selection: also consider whether the product type suits how you plan to serve them.
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TastyBasics Crackers Sunflower Seeds, 8 stuks
An option if you’re looking for a cracker with sunflower seeds to have with your soup. The pack contains 8 crackers; check the current ingredients list for wholegrains and allergens.
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Lu Vitalu Multiseed Crackers, 200 g
A multiseed cracker to compare if the seed texture matters to you when serving soup. The pack contains 200 g; check the label for the individual seeds, nutritional values and allergens.
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Wasa High-Fiber Crackers, 300 g
A cracker to include in your comparison if fibre matters more to you than a particular seed mix. The pack contains 300 g; compare fibre per 100 g and check the ingredients if you’re looking for seeds or wholegrains.
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Bolletje Sesame Bagel Crackers, 225 g
A sesame cracker to consider if you also want to serve toppings with your soup. The pack contains 225 g; check the cereal ingredients if wholegrains are a requirement for you.
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Bolletje Light Whole Grain Crackers, 190 g
A cracker to compare if you’re looking for a wholegrain label but don’t necessarily want a pronounced seed mix. The pack contains 190 g; consider the size, fibre and ingredients for serving with your split pea soup.
Frequently asked questions
Are seed crackers automatically wholegrain?
No, the presence of seeds doesn’t automatically make a cracker wholegrain. Check the wholegrain label and cereal ingredients; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre also distinguishes between wholegrain and other varieties of crackers and mini toasts.
Can I skip checking for other allergens if a seed cracker is gluten-free?
No, gluten-free doesn’t mean a cracker is free from all other allergens. Check the full ingredients list and warnings; for example, Jumbo also lists oats, egg and sesame in its Lekker Vrij van Gluten Zaden Crackers.
What should I choose for small topped bites with split pea soup?
Classic mini toasts are well suited to topped bites, while a seed cracker is a different product type if you want something to have with your soup. For either option, compare the size and ingredients, and don’t assume it contains wholegrains or seeds without checking the label.
Does toast or a cracker always contain iodised salt?
No, you can’t tell from the product category. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, Dutch bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt; check the ingredients list of the product you choose for iodised salt or baker’s salt.