If you want plenty of topping, don’t rely on the word ‘toast’ alone: check the size and whether the packaging tells you anything about the thickness or sturdiness of the specific product. Van der Meulen describes its Melba toast as super-thin, while Lidl calls its Fornaccini a thin toast; neither description confirms that it’s a thickly sliced option. You can also compare the ingredients, allergens and salt content per 100 g if these matter to your choice.
For cream cheese, cheese or a spread, you’ll want a base whose size and sturdiness you can assess. Van der Meulen describes its Melba toast as super-thin, while Lidl calls its Fornaccini a thin toast. So check the specific product before assuming it’s thickly sliced.
For toast to enjoy with your coffee, you can compare ingredients and nutritional values per 100 g. Pay particular attention to the details that matter to you, such as salt, fibre and serving size; don’t try to infer them from the words ‘plain’ or ‘gluten-free’.
Jumbo and Albert Heijn list wheat, barley or soya among the ingredients in several of their standard toast varieties. For one gluten-free toast option, Jumbo lists egg and oats, with possible traces of nuts and sesame. So check the allergen information on the exact product packaging.
First decide whether the toast needs to hold plenty of topping, serve as a small snack or meet specific label requirements. The product name alone won’t tell you how thick it is.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Sturdiness for toppings | Look for specific information about the size, thickness or texture. If the packaging doesn’t say, take a look at the toast itself. | If I want to add plenty of topping or use a dip, I want to know whether the toast makes a suitable base. For around 42% of consumers, sturdiness comes first. |
| Flavour and serving size | Compare plain and seasoned varieties, and check whether the size suits a snack on its own or toast with toppings. | With my coffee, I might want to enjoy the same toast with both sweet and savoury toppings. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this combination of flavour and size. |
| Ingredients and nutritional information | Read the allergen statement for the exact product and, for example, compare salt per 100 g on the same basis. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients or want to compare labels, this information matters more than the appearance of the toast. It’s the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
Van der Meulen calls its Melba toast super-thin, while Lidl describes its Fornaccini as a thin toast. So the product category doesn’t confirm that it has the thickness you’re looking for.
Check the description on the packaging or look at the toast itself if you want a sturdier base for toppings.
Jumbo lists wheat and barley in Fornaccini Toast Classica. For its gluten-free toast from Gluten Free Bakery Holland, Jumbo lists egg and oats, with possible traces of nuts and sesame, among other things.
Read the full ingredients and allergen information for the variety you’re buying; ‘gluten-free’ doesn’t tell you which other allergens may be present.
Those terms don’t tell you the salt content. For example, Jumbo’s nutritional information lists 2,40 g of salt per 100 g for Fornaccini Toast Classica and 6,6 g per 100 g for Gluten Free Bakery Holland Toastjes Italiaans Gekruid.
Compare the latest nutritional information per 100 g for the products you’re considering.
These brands offer different types of toast and other crisp products. Check whether each product’s shape suits your toppings; the brand name doesn’t tell you how thick every variety is.
The 120 g plain variety is designed for small, crisp topped snacks.
AH Melba toast naturel is a 240 g pack of toasted bread slices, ready to top.
Fornaccini Toast Classica, in a 150 g pack, is a variety of toast made with sunflower oil.
Lidl describes its 150 g Fornaccini toast as a toast for dipping.
ALDI lists toast in a range of shapes and varieties, including plain, wholemeal and seeded options.
Bolletje offers crackers and rusks, among other things: alternative crisp products if you’re not set on toast.
Not if thickness is your main requirement: Van der Meulen describes its plain Melba toast as super-thin, and Albert Heijn describes thin slices. Melba toast can work well for small topped snacks, but if you’re considering an alternative, check the thickness or size of the specific product.
You can’t tell from the word ‘toast’. The Dutch Commodities Act defines baker’s salt as iodised table salt for bread and other baked goods, but that doesn’t confirm which salt is used in a particular toast. Check the ingredients list on the packaging for that information.
Follow the storage instructions for the toast you’ve chosen and seal the packaging well. Jumbo recommends storing its Fornaccini in a cool, dry place; for AH Melba toast, Albert Heijn recommends storing it in a sealed tin once opened.
No, gluten-free doesn’t mean that other allergens are absent. For Gluten Free Bakery Holland Toastjes Italiaans Gekruid, Jumbo lists egg and oats, with possible traces of nuts and sesame, among other things. Always check the allergen information on the packaging of the variety you’ve chosen.
