Plain melba toast makes a good base for small topped bites, while larger toast gives you more room for toppings. If you’d also like to offer a wholemeal option, check the fibre, salt and allergens on each pack. For a mixed group, the ingredients in the toppings and how you serve them matter too.
You’re looking for a handy size that will fit your chosen toppings. Van der Meulen describes its plain melba toast as a base for small topped bites; larger rectangular toast is another size you could try with your toppings.
You’d like to offer a recognisable wholemeal option alongside plain toast and compare the nutritional information on both packs.
You want to know in advance which allergens are in the toast and the toppings, so you can label the options clearly and keep any gluten-free product separate.
First, decide which size will work best for your bites. Then compare the labels and plan how to serve the different options so they’re easy to identify.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Size and toppings | Compare the size and shape of the toast, and try your intended topping in advance. | I want small bites that are easy to top and serve. For around 29% of consumers, practical presentation is the priority. |
| Allergens | Read the current label on each type of toast and check the ingredients in the toppings too. | When serving different people, I want to make their options easy to distinguish. Allergen information is the main concern for around 29% of consumers. |
| Wholemeal, fibre and salt | Check the wholemeal description and compare the fibre and salt per 100 g on the packs you’re considering. | I want to offer a wholemeal option without overlooking the salt content; around 24% of consumers prioritise this nutritional information. |
| Pack size and availability | Check the pack size and how many bites you can serve from it. Before planning, check where the product is available. | For a meeting, I want to buy enough suitable toast without having to switch sizes at the last minute. This is the main concern for around 18% of consumers. |
The colour and visible seeds don’t tell you whether the flour is wholemeal. According to the Voedingscentrum, toast snacks can be described as wholemeal when they’re made entirely from wholemeal flour.
Check the description and ingredients on the pack, then compare the nutritional information for the products you’re considering.
Toppings can contain allergens too. Once you’ve unpacked the toast and paired it with toppings, it’s harder for people to check the original labels.
Keep the packaging and note the ingredients for each combination. For any gluten-free option, use separate serving dishes and utensils.
A small piece of toast isn’t the whole portion if someone eats several topped bites. The toppings also contribute to the nutritional value of what you serve.
Compare toast per 100 g, then consider the size of the portion you plan to serve.
Thin melba toast and larger rectangular toast don’t offer the same amount of room for toppings. How well a topping stays in place while serving depends on the combination you choose.
Make a few test bites with your chosen toast and topping, prepared in the same way you plan to serve them at the meeting.
These brands and shops offer different toast sizes or related products. Always compare the information for the specific product you plan to serve.
Producer of products including plain and wholemeal melba toast for retail and catering.
Supplier of products including multiseed rusks, an alternative size to toast.
Retailer with its own melba toast and other toast and cracker products.
Retailer with products including plain and wholemeal melba toast, as well as separately labelled gluten-free crackers.
Retailer with different types of toast, including larger rectangular wheat toast.
Retailer where you may find melba toast.
These products suit two different choices for the meeting table: melba toast as a base for small topped bites, and rice toast as an alternative size. For both products, check the current packaging if allergens or nutritional values are important to you.
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An option for making small topped bites with melba toast. The pack contains 100 g. Check the current label for fibre and allergens, and check your chosen toppings too.
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Rice toast to consider as an alternative to melba toast. The pack contains 65 g. Before serving, check the allergens on the current packaging, and don’t assume it’s suitable for a gluten-free diet based on the product name alone.
Check the description and ingredients on the packaging; a dark colour or seeds aren’t proof on their own. According to the Voedingscentrum, toast snacks can be described as wholemeal when they’re made entirely from wholemeal flour.
Keep the packaging for the toast and toppings available, or note the ingredients for each bite. The NVWA requires information about 14 allergens when unpackaged foods are offered to consumers; whether this requirement applies to a work meeting for employees only depends on the specific circumstances.
No. Compare the salt content of the specific products per 100 g, and take the portion size and toppings into account. The wholemeal description alone doesn’t tell you how much salt a particular toast contains.
No, don’t assume that every toast product contains iodine. The NVWA explains that iodine compounds may be present in bread, bread substitutes and other bakery products because baker’s salt has been added; this doesn’t mean every manufacturer uses this salt. Check the information for the specific product if iodine is relevant to your choice.
Allow for the number of people, the other snacks and how many topped pieces of toast you can make from the pack you’ve chosen. Try it with the actual topping: the pack weight alone won’t tell you how many ready-to-serve bites you’ll get.
