Who is this choice relevant to?

People avoiding gluten-containing cereals

If you need to avoid wheat, rye or barley, ‘sourdough’ is not a suitable substitute for an explicit gluten-free label. Check which types of cereal are listed in the ingredients, too.

People avoiding several allergens

As well as cereals, ingredients such as soya and warnings about possible traces of egg, milk or sesame may affect your choice. So check the information for the specific variety.

Shoppers looking for sourdough toast

If you want to buy this toast for its flavour or texture, you still need to check that the ingredients and allergen warnings are suitable. If the type of salt used matters to your diet, check it separately.

What should you look for when choosing?

Sourdough toast, regular Melba toast and an explicitly gluten-free toast alternative each meet different needs. The ingredients listed for one product don’t apply to every variety in the same category.

Sourdough toast

Choose it when: You can eat the types of cereal in the toast you’ve chosen and have checked the other allergen information.

Keep in mind: According to Albert Heijn, Jos Poell Sourdough Toast contains wheat and rye, and may contain traces of egg, milk, soya and sesame.

Regular Melba toast

Choose it when: You don’t need to avoid the allergens in the specific Melba toast.

Keep in mind: The Albert Heijn and Van der Meulen varieties reviewed list wheat, barley and soya; their warnings about possible traces differ.

Gluten-free toast alternative

Choose it when: If you need to avoid gluten-containing cereals, look for a product that is explicitly labelled gluten-free.

Keep in mind: That label doesn’t tell you whether the product is also free from any other allergens you need to avoid.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters most to
Gluten-containing cereals Check the types of cereal in the ingredients list and, if necessary, look for an explicit gluten-free label. If I need to avoid gluten-containing cereals, I don’t want to rely on the word ‘sourdough’. For around 40% of consumers, avoiding these cereals comes first.
Other allergens and traces Read the information about both the allergens present and any warnings about allergens that may be present in the variety you’ve chosen. If several allergens are relevant to me, I want to know whether, for example, soya is an ingredient and whether egg, milk or sesame may be present. Around 30% of consumers prioritise this broader allergen check.
Up-to-date product information Compare the online information with the pack you buy; ask about allergens before buying unpackaged products. When choosing between packaged and unpackaged toast, I need to be able to check the information for the product I’m actually buying. This up-to-date information is the most important consideration for around 20% of consumers.
Type of salt used Check whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed; if buying unpackaged bread, ask which type of salt has been used if necessary. If my food choices mean I eat little bread, I want to know whether the bread I do eat is made with iodised salt. For around 10% of consumers, this is the main concern.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘sourdough’ means ‘gluten-free’

    According to Albert Heijn, Jos Poell Sourdough Toast contains wheat and rye. The word ‘sourdough’ doesn’t change the fact that these cereals are listed.

    If you need to avoid gluten-containing cereals, check the ingredients and make sure the product you choose is explicitly labelled gluten-free.

  • Overlooking warnings about possible traces

    Albert Heijn says that Jos Poell Sourdough Toast may contain traces of egg, milk, soya and sesame. For AH Melba Toast Naturel, it lists other possible allergens, including sesame, oats, spelt and rye.

    Read all the allergen information. Ask your healthcare professional how to assess a warning about possible traces that’s relevant to you.

  • Relying on an old product page

    Albert Heijn warns that ingredients and allergen information can change. A different variety of the same type of toast may also have a different composition.

    Use a product page to compare options in advance, but check the pack of the variety you’re buying again.

  • Assuming all toast contains baker’s salt

    Baker’s salt contains iodine, but according to the Voedingscentrum, bakers aren’t required to use it. A label that only says ‘salt’ doesn’t tell you which type has been used.

    Check the label on packaged bread or ask the baker which type of salt they use. Don’t let this question take priority over avoiding allergens that are relevant to you.

Brands to consider

Jos Poell

Jos Poell Sourdough Toast is a specific example of sourdough toast with listed allergens.

  • Albert Heijn lists wheat flour, rye flour and wheat sourdough powder as ingredients.
  • The product information warns that it may contain traces of egg, milk, soya and sesame; check the pack before choosing this variety.

Albert Heijn

AH Melba Toast Naturel is an example of regular Melba toast, not sourdough toast.

  • The product information lists wheat, barley and soya as allergens present.
  • Possible allergens include sesame, oats, spelt and rye. Albert Heijn advises checking the pack because product information can change.

Van der Meulen

Van der Meulen Melba Toast Naturel is another example of regular Melba toast.

  • Jumbo lists wheat, barley and soya as allergens present in this variety.
  • Jumbo lists sesame as a possible allergen; this variety isn’t suitable if you need to avoid the ingredients listed.

Bolletje

Bolletje Ciabatta Snack Crackers Tomato & Herbs are crackers, not sourdough toast.

  • The allergen information for this specific cracker gives you a point of comparison with a toast alternative.
  • Bolletje lists wheat and possible traces of other cereals, egg, milk, nuts and sesame, among other things. Check the pack of any other Bolletje variety separately.

Sun Snacks

Sun Snacks Melba Toast Naturel is a regular Melba toast variety listed by ALDI.

  • ALDI lists the variety and a pack size of 240 g.
  • If you have a food allergy, base your choice on the ingredients and allergen information on the pack, not on the brand name or product category.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is sourdough toast gluten-free?

Not automatically: according to Albert Heijn, Jos Poell Sourdough Toast contains wheat and rye. If you need to avoid gluten-containing cereals, choose only a product that is explicitly labelled gluten-free and check for any other relevant allergens.

What does ‘may contain’ mean if you have a food allergy?

A ‘may contain’ warning indicates that the named allergen could be present unintentionally. Whether a product with this kind of warning is suitable for you depends on your allergy and your healthcare professional’s advice; don’t ignore a relevant warning just because the allergen isn’t listed among the ingredients.

Can I ask about allergens in unpackaged toast?

Yes. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, consumers must also be given allergen information for unpackaged foods. Ask before buying if the information isn’t readily visible.

Does all sourdough toast contain iodine from baker’s salt?

No, you can’t tell from the product name. According to the Voedingscentrum, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt; check the type of salt on the pack or ask about it when buying unpackaged bread.

How can I avoid contact with allergens after opening toast?

Follow the storage instructions on the pack and avoid contact with ingredients you need to avoid. Albert Heijn advises keeping opened AH Melba Toast Naturel in a sealed tin; when serving it, watch out for crumbs, knives and toppings, too.