If you want to serve toast that demonstrably contains less sugar, compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g with a similar type of toast. Don’t rely solely on ‘no added sugars’. According to product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo, all four Melba toasts compared here contain 3.2 g of sugars per 100 g, so none has less sugar than the others based on these figures. Salt, fibre, allergens and toppings can then help you decide.
You’re looking for toast for Christmas dinner and want to know whether it really contains less sugar than a similar product. Compare total sugars per 100 g; ‘no added sugars’ doesn’t answer that question on its own.
With cheese, cold meats or spreads, it’s not just the toast that counts – the topping matters too. If salt is an important factor for you, compare the salt content of the toast and consider what you’ll serve on it.
Check the ingredients and any warnings about possible traces on each pack. The Melba toasts examined here list ingredients including cereals containing gluten, soya or sesame; the information varies by product.
Start with total sugars per 100 g, comparing only similar types of toast. Then consider which of the other qualities matter most for your Christmas dinner.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Total sugars | Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g for similar types of toast; assess a reduced-sugar claim against the comparison product. | I want to be able to see whether the toast itself really contains less sugar for my Christmas dinner, rather than relying on the front of the pack. Around 31% of consumers put this comparison first. |
| Salt and toppings | Compare salt per 100 g and consider the toppings you plan to use. | If I’m making savoury bites, I want to know how much salt the toast adds alongside the topping. For around 31% of consumers, getting the salt balance right is the top priority. |
| Fibre and type of grain | Check fibre, sugars and salt per 100 g side by side; don’t assume ‘wholemeal’ or ‘multigrain’ means less sugar. | If I want a toast base with more fibre, I don’t automatically accept a different sugar or salt content. Around 23% of consumers put this consideration first. |
| Allergens | Check the current ingredients list and any warnings about possible traces, including those for the toppings. | If a guest has a food allergy, I need to check first whether both the toast and topping are suitable for them. For around 15% of consumers, this check takes priority. |
Product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo lists 3.2 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Melba toast naturel and each of the three Van der Meulen varieties examined. According to Jumbo, Van der Meulen Naturel contains 1.3 g of salt and 3.9 g of fibre per 100 g; Meergranen contains 1.5 g of salt and 7.5 g of fibre, while Volkoren contains 1.9 g of salt and 9.7 g of fibre per 100 g. Albert Heijn lists 1.93 g of salt per 100 g for AH Melba toast naturel. These differences can help you choose between the products listed, but they don’t show any difference in sugar content.
Albert Heijn lists 0 g of added sugars for AH Melba toast naturel, but also 3.2 g of total sugars per 100 g. These two figures answer different questions.
Use ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g to compare the total sugar content of similar products.
The wholemeal and multigrain varieties of Van der Meulen listed by Jumbo contain more fibre than Naturel, but all three list 3.2 g of sugars per 100 g.
Choose based on the fibre content if that matters to you, and check the sugar content separately.
The topping is part of the bite you’re serving. Choosing based only on the nutritional value of the toast tells you nothing about the nutritional value of the toast and topping together.
Also check the nutritional information for your chosen topping if sugars or salt are important factors for you.
Melba toast varieties may list different cereals, soya and sesame. And the word ‘toast’ doesn’t mean it contains iodised baker’s salt; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bakers aren’t required to use it.
If any guests have allergies, check the current packaging for both the toast and the topping. If you have a question about iodine, look for an explicit statement on the pack rather than trying to infer it from the product name.
Naturel, Volkoren and Meergranen Melba toast varieties to compare by nutritional values per 100 g.
AH Melba toast naturel is an own-brand variety sold in a 240 g pack.
Jumbo provides product information that lets you compare the Van der Meulen varieties listed on the same 100 g basis.
If you’re considering rice toast as a base for Christmas party bites, compare it with a similar rice toast if your aim is to choose a lower-sugar option. The sugar content of Melba toast isn’t necessarily a suitable comparison.
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This rice toast is an option to consider if you’d like an alternative to Melba toast as a base for Christmas party bites. The pack contains 65 g; the product name doesn’t indicate a lower sugar content. If you have allergies, check the current packaging, especially the information about sesame and soya.
No. That statement doesn’t show that the toast contains less total sugar than a similar product. Albert Heijn lists 0 g of added sugars and 3.2 g of total sugars per 100 g for AH Melba toast naturel. Compare products using ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. To make a reduced-sugar claim, EU regulations on nutrition claims require a reduction of at least 30% compared with a similar product.
At 1.3 g of salt per 100 g, Van der Meulen Melba Toast Naturel has the lowest listed figure of the four products. According to Jumbo’s product information, Van der Meulen Meergranen and Volkoren contain 1.5 g and 1.9 g per 100 g respectively; Albert Heijn lists 1.93 g per 100 g for AH Melba toast naturel.
Not for the three Van der Meulen varieties compared here: Jumbo lists 3.2 g of sugars per 100 g for Volkoren, Meergranen and Naturel. In this comparison, Volkoren stands out for its 9.7 g of fibre per 100 g, compared with 3.9 g for Naturel.
Check the current ingredients list and any warnings about possible traces for both the toast and the topping. The Melba toasts examined here include declarations for cereals containing gluten, soya and sesame; don’t rely on the nutritional information or product type to decide whether a variety is suitable for a guest.
No, you can’t tell that from the word ‘toast’. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre describes baker’s salt as iodised salt, but also says that bakers aren’t required to use it. Check the packaging if the type of salt used is important to your choice.
