Parents keeping an eye on sugar in treats
For a snack to enjoy around the parade, you’ll want to know how much sugar the toast itself contains. Then check the topping too: it contributes to the total sugar in the finished snack.
Who might find this choice relevant?
Shoppers comparing fibre as well
You’re looking for toast for a drinks party and want to consider fibre as well as sugars. Compare plain, wholemeal and multigrain varieties per 100 g, without assuming they have the same ingredients.
Shoppers checking allergens or salt
If guests need to avoid certain ingredients, or salt matters to your choice, check the allergen information and salt content for the variety you choose. These details vary between the products described.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start with the sugars per 100 g when comparing toast for the parade. Then decide whether fibre, the ingredients in your toppings or your guests’ needs should further narrow down your choice.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars in the toast | Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. Consider any ‘reduced sugar’ claim separately from that figure. | If sweet toppings and sweets are already on the table for the parade, I want to know how much sugar the toast base adds. For around 45% of consumers, checking sugar comes first. |
| Fibre | Check fibre and sugars per 100 g on the same label; also check the ingredients in wholemeal and multigrain varieties. | For a drinks party, I want to choose a toast variety where fibre counts, without losing sight of the sugar content. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this combination. |
| Allergens and salt | Check the current allergen information, possible traces and salt content per 100 g. | When sharing toast with guests, I first need to check which ingredients are suitable for them; the salt content can also affect my choice. Around 22% of consumers prioritise these checks. |
Common mistakes
-
Treating ‘low sugar’ and ‘reduced sugar’ as the same thing
Voedingscentrum sets a maximum of 5 g of sugars per 100 g for a product to be considered ‘low sugar’. A low figure on its own doesn’t show that a product contains less sugar than a comparable product.
Use the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g to compare packs. If a product claims to have reduced sugar, check what the manufacturer is comparing it with.
-
Leaving the topping out of the comparison
The sugars listed on the toast label relate to the toast, not the complete snack with its topping.
First decide which topping you want to serve, then assess the combination rather than choosing the toast base on its own.
-
Choosing a wholemeal or multigrain variety based on fibre alone
The varieties described differ not only in fibre and salt content, but also in their ingredients and allergens.
Check the pack for the specific variety, especially if guests need to avoid wheat, soya, sesame or other grains.
-
Assuming all toast contains baker’s salt
The fact that baker’s salt is used in bakery products doesn’t mean it’s an ingredient in every packaged toast product.
If iodine matters to your choice, check whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed among the ingredients of the product you’ve chosen.
Brands compared
These examples can help you compare melba toast labels. The figures given apply to the specific varieties listed, not to every product from each brand.
Albert Heijn
AH Melba toast naturel is a plain variety for which Albert Heijn lists nutritional values and ingredients.
- Albert Heijn lists 3.2 g of sugars, 0 g of added sugars and 3.9 g of fibre per 100 g.
- The listed salt content of 1.93 g per 100 g and allergens, including cereals containing gluten and soya, deserve separate attention. Check the current packaging.
Van der Meulen
Naturel, Volkoren and Meergranen are separate melba toast varieties whose ingredients you can compare.
- Jumbo and Albert Heijn each list 3.2 g of sugars per 100 g for these varieties. Volkoren lists 9.7 g of fibre per 100 g, while Meergranen lists 7.5 g.
- The listed salt contents differ: 1.3 g for Naturel, 1.9 g for Volkoren and 1.5 g for Meergranen per 100 g. Check the allergens for each variety.
Sun Snacks
ALDI Nederland lists Sun Snacks Melba Toast Naturel in a 240 g pack.
- The product type and pack size give you a starting point if you’re looking for this plain variety.
- Before comparing it with other toast, check the packaging for sugars, fibre, salt and allergens.
Lidl Melba toast
Lidl lists a 240 g melba toast product for sale in store.
- The listed pack size makes it easy to recognise when you’re shopping.
- Check the nutritional information and ingredients on the pack in store to compare this toast for sugars, fibre, salt and allergens.
Joybuy products related to this topic
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Does 3.2 g of sugars per 100 g mean the toast is reduced sugar?
No, that figure on its own doesn’t show a reduction compared with a similar product. Voedingscentrum gives a maximum of 5 g of sugars per 100 g as the criterion for ‘low sugar’; for a ‘reduced sugar’ claim, also check what the manufacturer is using as a basis for comparison.
Which of these toast varieties lists 0 g of added sugars?
Albert Heijn lists 0 g of added sugars per 100 g for AH Melba toast naturel, alongside 3.2 g of total sugars per 100 g. For another variety, check its current packaging; the same total sugar figure doesn’t tell you how much sugar has been added.
Does toast in the Netherlands always contain iodised baker’s salt?
No, don’t assume it contains baker’s salt based on the product type. The Dutch Commodities Act Decree defines baker’s salt as iodised table salt for bakery products; check the ingredients list to see whether it’s used in the toast you’ve chosen.
How do I choose toast for a snack at the Sinterklaas parade?
First compare the sugars per 100 g in the toast, then choose a topping to suit the snack you want to serve. If you’re sharing snacks, check the ingredients and allergens in both the toast and the topping, and factor in the toast’s salt content if it matters to your choice.