Who is this choice relevant for?

Family organiser serving food at different times

You don’t want to open everything at once when you’ll be topping up platters later. Albert Heijn and Jumbo list individual portions for the mini crackers reviewed.

Host serving topped toast

You’re looking for a suitable base for small bites topped with, for example, fish, cheese or a spread. Melba toast has a different shape from mini crackers.

Label reader with a dietary requirement

You compare the allergens and nutritional information for the exact product variant. Products that both look like toast can differ in these respects.

What should you consider when choosing?

First decide how often you want to serve the toast and which shape will work with your toppings. Then check the label on the pack you’re actually buying.

What to consider What to check when buying Especially useful for
Portion sizes Compare the number of individual packs with the number of times you’ll be serving. Albert Heijn and Jumbo each list 8 portions in their 250 g packs of mini crackers; Albert Heijn lists 12 packs in its 240 g Melba toast. If I want to put out another platter later, I’d rather leave some of the pack unopened; for around 42% of consumers, portion sizes matter most.
Shape for toppings Decide whether you want to serve small mini crackers, Melba toast or rectangular wheat toast. Choose a shape that suits the size of your toppings and how you want to present them. For topped bites, I want to know what the toast will look like on the platter first; around 33% of consumers prioritise a suitable shape.
Label and nutritional information Read the allergen information for the exact product variant and, if it matters to your choice, compare salt per 100 g. If I need to take allergens into account or watch my salt intake, I can’t rely on the product name alone; for roughly 25% of consumers, the label is the top priority.

Common mistakes

  • Looking only at the total weight

    A larger pack doesn’t tell you how much you’ll need to open at once. The mini crackers reviewed from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and LU are divided into 8 portions; AH Melba toast plain comes in 12 individual packs.

    Count the individual packs if you want to serve snacks throughout the get-together.

  • Assuming all toast products have the same allergens and salt content

    Ingredients and salt levels vary between products. For example, Albert Heijn lists 1,8 g of salt per 100 g for LU Mini crackers plain and 1,9 g per 100 g for Van der Meulen wholegrain Melba toast.

    If you have an allergy, check the current allergen information on the exact pack; compare nutritional values by product variant too.

  • Assuming the product category tells you how much iodine it contains

    According to the Voedingscentrum, bakers are not required to use baker’s salt. The word ‘salt’ in an ingredients list does not tell you how much iodine a product contains.

    Only rely on an explicit statement about the product in question for this information.

Brands to consider

These examples relate to the specific product variants mentioned, not each brand’s entire range.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists 250 g packs of AH Mini crackers plain in 8 portions and 240 g packs of AH Melba toast plain in 12 packs of 6 pieces of toast.

  • The individual packs let you open just some of the product at a time.
  • Check the allergens for each variant; the Melba toast reviewed also lists soya.

Jumbo

Jumbo Mini Crackers Naturel comes in a 250 g pack divided into 8 portions.

  • The portions are handy if you’re serving snacks at different times.
  • The variant reviewed contains wheat and barley; if you have an allergy, check the other allergen information on the label too.

LU

Albert Heijn lists LU Mini crackers plain in a 250 g pack containing 8 packs of 5 duo crackers each.

  • You can open the packs individually during a get-together.
  • The plain variant reviewed contains wheat and barley; it may also contain milk.

Van der Meulen

Van der Meulen wholegrain Melba toast comes in a 120 g pack containing 6 packs of 6 pieces of toast.

  • The individual packs are handy for small portions of topped Melba toast.
  • The variant reviewed contains, among other things, sesame and soya; don’t assume the same ingredients list applies to other variants.

Bolletje

Bolletje’s range includes crackers, crispbread and rusks: other types of products to consider if you don’t need Melba toast.

  • The different product shapes offer alternatives for your get-together.
  • Check the shape, packaging and allergens of your chosen product individually; crackers or rusks aren’t automatically a substitute for Melba toast.

Toast and mini crackers for a get-together

These Joybuy products offer two different shapes for a get-together: mini crackers for small bites and Melba toast for topped toast. Check whether the individual portions in the pack suit your serving plan.

LU Mini Cracker Natural, 250 g pack

LU Mini Cracker Natural 250 g

For small snacks you want to serve at different times. This pack contains 250 g; for this LU variant, Albert Heijn lists 8 packs of 5 duo crackers each.

These are mini crackers, not Melba toast. If you have an allergy, check the current label: the variant reviewed lists wheat and barley and may contain milk.

View at Joybuy
Crispy Melba Toast, 240 g pack

Crispy Melba Toast 240 g

Melba toast for small topped bites, in a 240 g pack. Check how many individual packs it contains if you don’t want to open everything at once.

If you have an allergy, check the allergens on the current packaging before buying; don’t rely solely on general product information.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

How do I choose a pack of toast for a family get-together?

Consider how many times you’ll be serving and how the product is divided into individual packs, not just the weight. Albert Heijn lists 12 packs in its 240 g AH Melba toast plain, while the 120 g pack of Van der Meulen wholegrain Melba toast contains 6 packs of 6 pieces of toast.

Can I assume toast contains iodine because it uses baker’s salt?

No, don’t assume that. The Voedingscentrum says bakers are not required to use baker’s salt; the word ‘salt’ in an ingredients list does not, on its own, indicate the iodine content.

Which allergens should I check if guests are eating toast?

Check the allergen declaration for every exact product variant you’re serving. The products reviewed list, among other things, wheat and barley; some variants also contain sesame or soya, or may contain milk. A label such as vegan does not, by itself, tell you whether a product contains gluten.

How should I store toast between servings?

Follow the storage instructions on the pack and leave individual packs unopened until you need them. Jumbo recommends storing the mini crackers reviewed in a cool, dry place; for AH Melba toast plain, Albert Heijn recommends storing it in a sealed tin after opening.