Who are these choices relevant to?

People keeping an eye on fibre

You want a crunchy base for Easter lunch, but you also want to consider the wholegrain label and fibre content. To compare, check the nutritional information for the specific products.

Guests with a food allergy

Your choice may depend on ingredients such as wheat, soya, egg or sesame. Before serving, also read any ‘may contain’ warnings on the packaging.

Anyone putting toppings and texture first

You might be looking for a thin piece of toast for toppings or a light, airy rusk. The type of topping and when you add it can help you decide which base is right for lunch.

What should you look for when choosing?

Choose a shape that works with your toppings, but if you have a known allergy, check the label on every variety first. Then compare the wholegrain label and fibre content per 100 g if these are important to your choice.

What to consider What to check when buying Who should consider this?
Wholegrain and fibre Look for the wholegrain label and compare fibre per 100 g. According to the Voedingscentrum, toast is wholegrain only if it is made entirely from wholegrain flour. I want to choose a grain-based option for Easter toppings where wholegrain and fibre come first. This is the main consideration for around 34% of consumers.
Allergens Read the current ingredients and any ‘may contain’ warnings; look out for allergens that are relevant to your guests. If a guest has a food allergy, I need to know whether this specific pack is suitable to serve. This check matters most to around 33% of consumers.
Toppings and texture Compare thin toast with light, airy rusks, and choose a flavour and shape that work with your toppings. I’m mainly looking for a base to serve my chosen Easter toppings on, with the right bite to match. Around 25% of consumers put toppings and texture first.
Storage and serving Check the use-by date and packaging, and follow the storage instructions on the pack. I’m buying for a planned lunch and want to store the pack properly until it’s time to serve. This is the main concern for around 8% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming dark or multigrain means wholegrain

    A dark colour or the word ‘multigrain’ doesn’t tell you whether a piece of toast is made entirely from wholegrain flour. According to the Voedingscentrum, the wholegrain label has a specific meaning for toast.

    Check for the wholegrain label and also compare the fibre content in the nutritional information.

  • Serving a seeded variety without checking the label

    Even a wholegrain variety can contain ingredients that matter to a guest with an allergy. The dark wholegrain rusks on Bolletje’s Joybuy product page list wheat, oats, barley and sesame, among other ingredients.

    Before buying and serving, read the allergen information on the pack you’ll actually be using.

  • Assuming it contains iodine from baker’s salt

    According to the Voedingscentrum, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So the words ‘toast’ or ‘rusk’ don’t tell you whether the product contains iodine from it.

    If this matters to your choice, check the ingredients or ask the manufacturer.

  • Leaving the pack open well before serving

    Moisture can take away the crunch you chose toast or rusks for.

    Follow the storage instructions on the packaging and only add toppings to the toast or rusks shortly before serving if you want to keep them crisp.

Brands to consider

Bolletje

Bolletje offers both Echte Beschuit and dark wholegrain rusks; compare the varieties individually.

  • Rusks provide a light, crisp base for toppings.
  • The dark wholegrain variety described on Joybuy contains wheat, oats, barley and sesame. Check the packaging if anyone has a relevant allergy.

Van der Meulen

A brand to compare if you’re looking for thin Melba toast to serve with toppings or dips.

  • Jumbo presents Van der Meulen’s wholegrain Melba toast as a base for toppings or dips.
  • The plain variety at Albert Heijn lists wheat flour, barley malt flour and soya lecithin, among other ingredients. Don’t assume other varieties have the same ingredients.

Jumbo

Jumbo offers, among other options, tomato and basil Melba toast for anyone considering a flavoured variety.

  • This flavoured option is an alternative to plain Melba toast if you’d like the toast itself to add flavour.
  • Flavour doesn’t tell you whether the base is wholegrain or what allergens it contains; compare the nutritional information and ingredients for each variety.

Products for a crunchy Easter lunch

These products include rusks for Easter lunch and crackers as a related crunchy alternative. Crackers aren’t Melba toast or rusks, so choose them only if this different type of product also works with your toppings.

Bolletje wholegrain rusks, 13 pieces

Bolletje wholegrain rusks, 13 pieces

A rusk option if you want a crisp base for Easter lunch. The pack contains 13 pieces; compare the fibre per 100 g when choosing, and check the current ingredients if you have any allergies.

View at Joybuy
Wasa High-Fiber crackers, 300 g

Wasa High-Fiber crackers, 300 g

An alternative if you’d also like to serve crackers at Easter lunch instead of toast or rusks. The pack contains 300 g; compare the nutritional information per 100 g and check the allergens on the label.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is multigrain the same as wholegrain toast?

No. According to the Voedingscentrum, toast is wholegrain only if it is made entirely from wholegrain flour. So check the product label rather than relying on the words ‘multigrain’ or a dark colour.

Which allergens should I check in toast and rusks?

Check for allergens that are relevant to your guests, including cereals containing gluten, soya, egg and sesame. Van der Meulen’s plain Melba toast at Albert Heijn lists wheat, barley and soya; Bolletje’s dark wholegrain rusks on Joybuy list wheat, oats, barley and sesame. Always check the current packaging for the variety you’ve chosen.

Does toast always contain iodine from baker’s salt?

No. According to the Voedingscentrum, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check the ingredients or ask the manufacturer about the specific product if this matters to your choice.

How can I keep toast and rusks crisp until Easter lunch?

Follow the storage instructions on the packaging and keep the products away from moisture. Seal an opened pack well, and only add toppings shortly before serving if you want to keep the crisp texture.