For a small, crunchy bite alongside coffee and cake, sesame melba toast is a better fit than a substantial seed cracker: Albert Heijn describes its melba toast with 7% sesame as crunchy and nutty. If you’re after a pronounced seed crunch and a wholegrain cracker, look at seed crackers instead. For either option, check the nutritional information and allergens on the packaging.
A small piece of toast adds a crunchy contrast to soft cake or toppings. Albert Heijn describes its organic melba toast with 7% sesame as crunchy and nutty. It’s a different format from a substantial breakfast cracker.
If the cracker itself is the snack, a wholegrain base and a generous seed content may matter more than the light texture of toast. Bolletje lists 45% seeds and a wholegrain base for its Zadencrackers Zonnebloempitten.
If you need to avoid sesame, gluten-containing cereals or other allergens, the information on the specific pack is what matters. According to the product information, even gluten-free rice toast may carry a warning that it could contain traces of sesame and soya.
First decide whether you want a light accompaniment to cake or a cracker to eat on its own. Then compare the seed content and nutritional information of products in the format you prefer.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Texture and flavour | Check whether it’s melba toast or a cracker, and whether herbs or savoury flavourings have been added alongside the seeds. | I want to serve something small and crunchy with cake, without a substantial cracker taking the place of the cake; for around 36% of consumers, that light texture matters most. |
| Seeds and fibre | Compare the seed content, grain base and fibre per 100 g on the packaging of the exact product. | When I have a cracker as a snack on its own, I’m mainly looking for a pronounced seed crunch and a wholegrain base; around 36% of consumers prioritise this seed profile. |
| Label and ingredients | Read the allergen information and salt content. If you’re checking for iodine or baker’s salt, look for iodised salt in the ingredients. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients or am looking for specific information on the label, I want to check the packaging before choosing based on taste; around 28% of consumers put this check first. |
Albert Heijn lists 7% sesame in its melba toast, while Bolletje describes its Zadencrackers Zonnebloempitten as a wholegrain cracker with 45% seeds. The difference in format matters if you’re looking for something light to serve with cake.
First choose between melba toast and crackers. Then compare the seed content and nutritional information of the varieties you want to serve.
According to the product information, the sesame melba toast from Albert Heijn that we looked at also contains wheat, barley and soya. Gluten-free rice toast may also carry a warning that it could contain traces of sesame and soya.
If you have an allergy, check the current ingredients list and allergen information on the specific pack, including any warnings about traces.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum), bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So the product category or an organic label won’t tell you whether iodised salt has been used in a particular toast or cracker.
If you want to know whether a product contains baker’s salt or iodised salt, check the ingredients list or ask your baker.
The details for Jumbo Crackers Zaden & Pitten can help you compare nutritional information, but Jumbo says this product is no longer part of its online range.
Before buying, check that the variety you want is actually available.
These product ranges show how light toast differs from seed crackers. A brand name alone doesn’t tell you what’s in a different variety.
Its organic sesame melba toast is an example of a small piece of toast to serve with coffee and cake.
The seed crackers we looked at are for anyone who would rather have a distinctly crunchy cracker than light melba toast.
The listed Crackers Zaden & Pitten provide a useful point of comparison for nutritional information, but aren’t currently available to buy online from Jumbo.
ALDI lists both multiseed and sesame wholegrain crackers in its Goud Gebakken range; each variety needs to be checked separately.
These are crackers with sesame or other seeds for anyone who wants to look beyond the light format of melba toast. For a coffee break, pay particular attention to the size and any savoury flavourings.
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An option to consider if you’d like a thin sesame cracker with coffee and cake instead of melba toast. Check the packaging to see whether the flavour and allergens are suitable for your guests.
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Worth a look if fibre in a cracker matters more to you than having a small piece of toast with cake. Compare the fibre per 100 g and the ingredients on the pack with those of your other options.
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A sesame cracker to consider if you’d prefer something more substantial, perhaps with a topping, instead of light melba toast. Check the fibre per 100 g on the current packaging before comparing nutritional information.
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A sunflower seed cracker to compare if you want the seeds to take centre stage. If you’re serving it with cake rather than as a snack on its own, consider its size and ingredients.
No. Don’t assume that toast or crackers contain baker’s salt. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum), bakers aren’t required to use it. For a specific product, check the ingredients list or ask your baker.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack, including any warnings about traces. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that 14 allergens must be listed on the label. The sesame melba toast from Albert Heijn that we looked at contains sesame, wheat and barley, among other ingredients, while gluten-free rice toast may carry a warning that it could contain traces of sesame.
No. The word ‘seed’ doesn’t tell you how much fibre a product contains. Albert Heijn lists 5.2 g fibre per 100 g for its sesame melba toast; the Jumbo Crackers Zaden & Pitten, which were previously available, listed 10.3 g per 100 g. Compare the nutritional information for varieties you can actually buy.
Seal the pack tightly after opening and follow the product’s storage advice. Albert Heijn recommends keeping its sesame melba toast in a sealed tin; for the Wasa sesame cracker we looked at, the advice is to keep the packaging tightly closed.
