Someone over 70 looking for sourdough
Wants a crunchy product for breakfast or lunch and compares the product type and nutritional information, rather than choosing based on the word sourdough alone.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Carer or shopper
Buying for someone else and needs to consider taste preferences, ingredients, and individual suitability for chewing or swallowing separately. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains how mouth and swallowing problems can make eating more difficult for older people.
Shopper comparing fibre and salt
Wants to compare rusks and crispbread on the same basis. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends using the nutritional information per 100 g.
What should you look for when choosing?
Sourdough crispbread
A good fit when: sourdough is a clear preference and crispbread is an option instead of rusks.
Consider: it isn’t a round rusk, and the hard, dry texture needs to suit the person eating it.
Plain or wholemeal rusks
A good fit when: the familiar shape of a rusk matters more than finding a specific sourdough product.
Consider: wholemeal on its own tells you nothing about whether a product is sourdough or how much salt it contains.
Softer alternative
Consider this when: a hard, dry product is difficult to eat.
Consider: a softer texture isn’t automatically suitable for someone with swallowing difficulties; ask for an individual assessment.
When choosing rusks or a crunchy alternative for someone over 70, ease of eating comes first. Then compare the ingredients and the product type you’re looking for.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Chewing and swallowing | Consider whether the hard, dry texture is suitable; if the person has known swallowing difficulties, ask for individual advice. | If I’m buying for someone with a dry mouth or difficulty chewing, I want to make sure they can eat the product comfortably. For around 40% of shoppers, ease of eating is said to be the main concern. |
| The whole meal | Consider the rusks or crispbread alongside the toppings and other parts of the meal. | If someone has a small appetite, I don’t want to assess just the crunchy base; I also want to consider what else is part of the meal. For around 30% of shoppers, the overall meal is said to come first. |
| Fibre and salt | Compare the amounts of fibre and salt in the nutritional information per 100 g. | When I compare two packs, I want to be able to compare fibre and salt on the same basis. Around 20% of shoppers are said to make this their first consideration when buying. |
| Sourdough and product type | Read the full product name and ingredients list; check whether it’s a rusk or crispbread. | If I’m specifically looking for sourdough, I want to know whether crispbread also meets my needs. This product choice is said to be the main priority for around 10% of shoppers. |
Common mistakes
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Mistaking sourdough crispbread for rusks
According to Albert Heijn, Wasa Sourdough Rye and the sourdough product from Leksands are listed in the crispbread category. A sourdough label doesn’t make them round rusks.
Check the full product name and shape, and choose crispbread only if that’s the type the person wants.
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Checking only the ingredients, not the texture
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a dry mouth and difficulties with chewing or swallowing can make eating more difficult for older people. A label on the pack won’t change that.
Consider how hard and dry the product is for the individual, and seek personalised care advice if they have known swallowing difficulties.
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Comparing different portion sizes directly
A per-portion comparison doesn’t always show the same amount of product. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing products per 100 g.
Check fibre and salt per 100 g in the nutritional information, and also check the ingredients and allergens on the pack.
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Treating the base product as a complete meal
For people over 70, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that protein, vitamins and minerals are among the things to consider. The name of a crunchy grain product doesn’t tell you what the whole meal provides.
Also consider the toppings and other parts of breakfast or lunch, according to the needs of the person you’re buying for.
Brands to consider
Wasa
Albert Heijn and Jumbo list Wasa Sourdough Rye as a crispbread product.
- A specific sourdough option to consider if you’re looking for crispbread.
- It isn’t a round rusk. Check the current pack for its ingredients and assess the hard texture separately.
Leksands
Albert Heijn lists Leksands Swedish Rye Crispbread with Sourdough.
- Worth considering if you prefer sourdough crispbread.
- The listing doesn’t mean it’s a rusk or that its texture is suitable for everyone.
Bolletje
Bolletje offers Echte and Volkoren Beschuit; Albert Heijn also lists several Bolletje rusk varieties.
- An option to consider when you’re looking for rusks.
- Don’t assume a product is sourdough based on the brand name or the word wholemeal; check the ingredients for the variety you choose.
Goud Gebakken
ALDI Netherlands lists plain rusks and thin rye crackers under Goud Gebakken.
- Shows the difference between a rusk and a cracker from the same brand.
- Don’t assume either product contains sourdough; check the pack you choose.
Rusks and crispbread on Joybuy
These products offer a choice of sourdough crispbread, rusks and another type of cracker. Choose a product type that suits the person eating it, and check the pack for the variety you choose if you have a specific dietary requirement.
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Wasa Sourdough Rye crispbread, 235 g
A choice for anyone looking for sourdough and considering crispbread instead of rusks. Albert Heijn and Jumbo list Wasa Sourdough Rye; the pack contains 235 g. Check whether the hard texture is suitable, and compare fibre and salt per 100 g on the pack.
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Bolletje Dark Whole Wheat rusks, 10 pieces
A choice for anyone looking for rusks and considering a wholemeal variety. The pack contains 10 rusks. Check the ingredients if sourdough is a requirement, and compare the nutritional information per 100 g.
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Bolletje Wholegrain rusks, 13 pieces
A choice for anyone who prefers wholemeal rusks to crispbread. The pack contains 13 rusks. Read the ingredients and allergen information for this variety, and consider whether its crunchy texture is suitable for the person eating it.
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Wasa High-Fibre crackers, 300 g
A choice for anyone also considering crackers as an alternative to rusks. The pack contains 300 g; this isn’t a rusk. Compare fibre and salt per 100 g, and check the ingredients if sourdough matters to you.
Frequently asked questions
Is sourdough crispbread the same as sourdough rusks?
No, they’re different types of product. Albert Heijn lists Wasa Sourdough Rye and sourdough crispbread from Leksands. If you specifically want round rusks, check the product type and full name.
Can someone with chewing or swallowing difficulties eat rusks?
This needs to be assessed for each individual. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that mouth and swallowing problems can make eating more difficult for older people. If someone has known swallowing difficulties, don’t choose based on the product name alone; ask for individual care advice.
How do I compare the fibre and salt in rusks and crispbread?
Compare the amounts per 100 g in the nutritional information for each product. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends this basis for comparing products. Also check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack.
How can I check whether rusks contain iodine?
Read the ingredients for the specific product and check whether baker’s salt is listed. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that baker’s salt is one way iodine compounds can be present in bakery products; the word ‘rusk’ alone doesn’t confirm the ingredients.
What should I look for in toppings for someone over 70?
As well as choosing the rusks, consider the food safety of the toppings. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises people over 70 to avoid raw meat, raw meat products, cheese made with raw milk, smoked fish and raw sprouts, among other foods.