Who is this choice relevant to?

People who strictly avoid allergens

Choose toast for a drinks party only if its ingredients, declared allergens and any cross-contamination warnings match your list of foods to avoid. Think about flavour and appearance afterwards.

People looking for gluten-free toast

You want gluten-free toast for nibbles, but you also check for any other allergens that matter to you. A gluten-free label does not replace this check.

People who can eat wheat and want a short ingredient list

You would rather compare a short list of ingredients than a more complex recipe, and wheat and gluten are not on your list of foods to avoid.

What should you look for when choosing?

When choosing toast for a special meal, decide which consideration matters most to you. Then always check the full information on the packaging, even if a product seems to meet your first requirement.

What to look for What to check before buying Who it matters to
Allergens and cross-contamination Compare the ingredients and allergens with your list of foods to avoid; also read warnings such as ‘may contain’. If I need to avoid several allergens, I want to know which are present and which are covered by a precautionary warning before the drinks party. This is the top priority for around 50% of people.
Gluten-free toast Look for an explicit gluten-free label, then check the other ingredients and allergens too. I’m looking for gluten-free toast for nibbles, but I don’t want to overlook other allergens I avoid. Around 30% of people give priority to choosing gluten-free.
Short ingredient list Read the ingredients actually listed and check the current allergen information. If I can eat wheat, I like to compare toast with a straightforward list of ingredients for a drinks party. A short ingredient list is the top priority for around 20% of people.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming gluten-free means free from all allergens

    Gluten-free says nothing about other allergens. For example, Jumbo lists egg and oats for Gluten Free Bakery Holland Toastjes Italiaans Gekruid, as well as a warning that it may contain nuts and sesame, among other things.

    For each type of toast, check both the allergens it contains and any warnings about possible cross-contamination.

  • Relying only on an online product page

    Ingredients and allergen information can change. Albert Heijn therefore advises customers to read the packaging before eating a product.

    Compare the current packaging with your list of foods to avoid, even if you have bought the same toast before.

  • Assuming a short ingredient list proves a product is safe for you

    Jumbo lists wheat flour and water as the ingredients in Hollandia 100% Natural Toast, and identifies wheat as an allergen. A short list does not make this toast suitable for someone who avoids wheat.

    Check which ingredients are listed, not just how many there are.

  • Assuming loose or shop-packed toast is automatically safe

    According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, information about allergens present must be available for non-prepacked foods. Jumbo says it cannot rule out cross-contamination with other allergens in products it packs in store.

    Ask about allergen information and what is known about possible cross-contamination before buying. Don’t judge by the appearance of the toast alone.

Relevant brands and retailers

Van der Meulen / Melba Toast

Worth considering when comparing Rice Toast Naturel with classic Melba Toast Naturel.

  • Van der Meulen describes Rice Toast Naturel as gluten-free and certified by the Dutch Coeliac Society.
  • For Melba Toast Naturel, the manufacturer lists wheat, barley and soya, and says it may contain traces of sesame. Check the packaging of the variant you choose.

Gluten Free Bakery Holland

Worth considering if you’re comparing savoury, seasoned gluten-free toasts.

  • The Toastjes Italiaans Gekruid listed by Jumbo is a gluten-free type of toast.
  • Jumbo lists egg and oats and warns that this variant may contain nuts and sesame, among other things. So gluten-free is not the only thing to check before buying.

Hollandia

Worth considering if you can eat wheat and want to compare toast with a short ingredient list.

  • Jumbo lists wheat flour and water as the ingredients in Hollandia 100% Natural Toast.
  • The same product page identifies wheat as an allergen. This product’s ingredients tell you nothing about other Hollandia variants.

Jumbo

A retailer with online ingredient and allergen information for individual toast products.

  • Product pages let you check the listed ingredients and allergens for selected variants in advance.
  • Jumbo says that cross-contamination is not listed on the label and cannot be ruled out for products it packs in store. Ask for more information if needed and read the packaging.

Albert Heijn

A retailer with a gluten-free range and product pages you can use to compare different options.

  • The range gives you a starting point for finding a gluten-free type of toast.
  • Albert Heijn warns that ingredient and allergen information can change. So check the current packaging of the specific toast you’re considering.

Toast options at Joybuy

Below are a classic melba toast and a rice toast for drinks-party nibbles. For both products, compare the current packaging with your own list of foods to avoid before considering flavour or size.

Delverde Classic Melba Toast, 100 g

Delverde Classic Melba Toast 100 g

A classic melba toast to compare if wheat and barley are not on your list of foods to avoid.

If you have other allergies, also check the current warnings about possible traces of sesame, soya and mustard.

View at Joybuy
Van der Meulen Rice Toast Natural, 65 g

Van der Meulen Rice Toast Natural 65 g

A rice toast to consider if eating gluten-free is your top priority when buying.

Carefully check the current packaging for sesame and soya before deciding whether this variant suits your other allergies.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Do allergens have to be listed on packaged toast?

Yes. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, the allergens specified by law must be clearly identifiable in the ingredients list of prepacked food. Check the current packaging of the type of toast you want to buy.

Is gluten-free toast suitable for every food allergy?

No. A gluten-free label relates to gluten and does not rule out other allergens. For example, Jumbo lists egg and oats for Gluten Free Bakery Holland Toastjes Italiaans Gekruid, and warns that it may contain nuts and sesame, among other things.

What does ‘may contain’ mean on a pack of toast?

It is a warning about possible cross-contamination with the named allergen, not a statement that the allergen has been added as an ingredient. Compare the warning with your personal list of foods to avoid. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority also describes the wording ‘not suitable for people with an X allergy’ as a way of warning about this risk.

Where can I find allergen information for toast sold loose?

Ask where the toast is sold. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, information about allergens present must be available for non-prepacked foods. It can be provided in writing or electronically, or verbally under certain conditions. Ask separately what is known about possible cross-contamination.