To find toast with less total sugar, first compare the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g across similar products; a claim of 0 g added sugars doesn’t answer that question. Then check fibre, salt and allergens. If someone has difficulty swallowing, their individual dietary or swallowing advice will determine whether hard toast is suitable.
If you’re buying toast for an older person and want to compare total sugar content, the nutrition information per 100 g is more useful than a claim on the front of the pack. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing products on this basis.
When sugar values are similar, fibre and salt can influence your choice. Compare both values in the nutrition table, even when a product is labelled wholemeal.
If someone has difficulty swallowing or chewing, allergies or an individual diet, suitability comes before comparing sugar levels. Check their personal dietary or swallowing advice and the allergen information for the variant you choose.
First decide whether your main concern is total sugars, the balance of fibre and salt, or whether the toast is suitable for the person eating it. Then compare only products that are suitable for that person.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Total sugars | Compare the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g across similar toast products. Check added sugars separately if that’s the specific requirement. | If my main aim is to limit total sugars, I need to see what’s actually in the toast per 100 g. Around 40% of consumers put this need first. |
| Fibre and salt | Check both values per 100 g; don’t infer them from the terms ‘wholemeal’ or ‘plain’. | When planning meals for an older person, I want to weigh up fibre and salt as well as sugars. For around 30% of consumers, this is the top priority. |
| Suitability and diet | Check the person’s individual dietary or swallowing plan and read the allergen information for the variant you choose. | If hard toast isn’t suitable for someone’s swallowing advice or diet, a lower sugar level won’t help me choose the right product. Individual suitability comes first for around 30% of consumers. |
According to Albert Heijn, AH Melba toast plain contains 0 g added sugars but 3.2 g total sugars per 100 g. These two values answer different questions.
If you’re aiming to limit total sugars, compare the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g. Check the ingredients list too if added sugar is a separate concern.
The Van der Meulen wholemeal melba toast examined, along with two plain varieties, each lists 3.2 g sugars per 100 g at Albert Heijn and Jumbo. The product name therefore doesn’t tell you which contains less sugar.
If you’re interested in wholemeal toast, check the fibre listed too, and assess salt and sugars separately.
For someone with difficulty swallowing, the hard, dry texture may determine whether toast is suitable, regardless of its nutritional values. Thuisarts discusses adapted foods for people with swallowing difficulties.
Before serving, follow the person’s individual dietary or swallowing advice and, if needed, choose food with the recommended consistency.
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine may be added to certain bakery products through baker’s salt. This doesn’t mean every variety of toast contains this ingredient.
If someone has a prescribed diet, check the manufacturer’s information for the specific product and discuss your choice with their healthcare professional.
The Van der Meulen melba toast products examined include a wholemeal variety at Albert Heijn and a plain variety at Jumbo.
AH Melba toast plain is an own-brand variety examined, sold in a 240 g pack.
Lidl lists melba toast in a 240 g pack as an in-store product.
No. According to Albert Heijn, AH Melba toast plain lists both 0 g added sugars and 3.2 g total sugars per 100 g. If total sugar content is your main criterion, compare the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g.
Not necessarily. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the term may refer to a lower energy, fat or sugar content compared with a similar product. Check what the claim refers to, and compare the nutrition table for sugar content.
That depends on the person’s individual swallowing advice; a lower sugar level doesn’t automatically make hard toast suitable. Thuisarts discusses adapted foods for people with swallowing difficulties, such as soft or puréed food. Follow the individual dietary or swallowing plan before serving toast.
No. This doesn’t follow from the permitted use of iodine through baker’s salt described by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority. If someone has a prescribed diet, check the manufacturer’s information for the specific product and discuss your choice with their healthcare professional.
