For St Nicholas’ Eve, first choose crispbread labelled as wholegrain. Then compare the fibre and salt per 100 g, the pack size and the allergens. If a guest needs to follow a strict gluten-free diet, ordinary crispbread made with rye or wheat is not suitable. Look for a product explicitly labelled gluten-free and check the pack.
You’re looking for crispbread labelled as wholegrain, with a fibre value you can check, rather than judging by the colour of the pack. As a guide, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives 1.4 g of fibre for one 10 g piece of wholegrain crispbread; check the pack for the value of each individual product.
You’ll want to know how many pieces you can serve and how to store the rest once the pack is open. The pack weight and the stated number of pieces or servings can help you plan, especially if you’re serving the crispbread with a selection of toppings.
You’re buying for guests whose dietary requirements or allergies will determine what you can serve. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre notes that rye and wheat, among other grains, contain gluten. So check the ingredients, allergens and any warnings about possible traces of other allergens on each pack you choose.
Start with your guests’ requirements, as these determine which packs are suitable in the first place. Then compare the wholegrain labelling, nutritional information and quantity you’d like to serve.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholegrain and fibre | Look for the wholegrain label and compare the fibre per 100 g in the nutritional information. | If fibre is the main reason my household chooses crispbread, I want to compare the values on the same basis. This is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Allergens and gluten | Read the ingredients and allergen information; if someone needs to follow a strict gluten-free diet, look for an explicit gluten-free label. | If a guest needs to avoid certain grains or other allergens, their requirements take priority over my preference for a particular variety. This is the first priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Quantity for your group | Compare the pack weight with the stated number of pieces or servings. | When I’m serving several people, I want to know in advance whether one pack will be enough. For around 21% of consumers, quantity is the deciding factor. |
| Serving and storage | Check the product’s shape and follow the storage instructions, especially once opened. | If I prepare the crispbread in advance, I want to know how to keep any unused pieces dry and properly sealed. Around 14% of consumers prioritise this convenience. |
The colour doesn’t tell you how much of the flour used is wholegrain. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, crackers labelled wholegrain are made entirely from wholemeal flour.
Check the product description, then compare the ingredients and nutritional information per 100 g.
Rye and wheat are grains that contain gluten. The standard wholegrain products from Wasa, Albert Heijn and Jumbo used as examples here list gluten-containing grains.
If someone needs to eat gluten-free, choose a product explicitly labelled gluten-free and check the rest of the allergen information on the pack too.
Weight alone doesn’t tell you how many individual pieces you can serve on the evening. Serving sizes also vary between products.
If you’re planning for several guests, check the number of pieces or servings on the pack as well as the weight.
The fact that iodine may be present in bakery products through baker’s salt doesn’t tell you whether it has been used in a particular pack of crispbread.
If the use of iodine-containing baker’s salt matters to your choice, check the ingredients of the product you’re considering.
These product examples can help you compare packs and labels; a brand name alone won’t tell you which variety is right for your guests.
Wasa Wholegrain, 260 g, is an example for anyone specifically looking for wholegrain rye.
AH Wholegrain Crispbread is a 375 g pack made with wholegrain wheat and rye flour.
Jumbo Wholegrain Crispbread comes in a 375 g pack with 25 stated servings.
Lidl lists a 250 g pack of Wholegrain Crispbread, available in store only.
The listed Goud Gebakken wholegrain crispbread comes in a 375 g pack containing 25 pieces.
Ryvita features several crispbread categories in its international range.
These packs offer different quantities of crispbread to serve with toppings. For St Nicholas’ Eve, choose based on the label, the quantity you need and your guests’ requirements. Don’t treat the word ‘wholegrain’ in a product name as a substitute for the information on the pack.
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A rye variety to consider as a base for toppings on the evening. The pack contains 235 g; if you’re serving guests with allergies, check the ingredients and allergens on the label.
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A 300 g pack to consider if you’d like to serve crispbread with a selection of toppings. Before serving it to guests, check the grains, milk ingredients and other allergens on the current label.
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A 265 g pack for anyone looking for crispbread labelled as wholegrain. When choosing, check the fibre per 100 g and, if you’re serving guests with allergies, check the pack for grains and sesame.
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A 260 g pack for anyone looking for wholegrain crispbread to serve with toppings. If fibre content is a deciding factor, compare the value on the pack, and check the allergens before serving it to guests.
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A 125 g pack for anyone looking to serve a smaller quantity of crispbread with toppings. Check the wholegrain label on the pack and read the ingredients and allergen information, especially if a guest needs to avoid wheat, gluten or egg.
No, colour alone doesn’t tell you that. Check whether the product is actually labelled wholegrain. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, crackers with this label are made entirely from wholemeal flour; then compare the fibre value on the label too.
Compare fibre, sugars, fat and salt per 100 g so that differences in serving sizes don’t skew the comparison. Then check the nutritional information per serving if you want to know what one piece of that particular product contains.
No. Ordinary rye crispbread isn’t suitable for anyone who needs to follow a strict gluten-free diet, as rye contains gluten. Look for a product explicitly labelled gluten-free and read the ingredients and other allergen information on the pack.
No. The rules on iodine-containing baker’s salt don’t mean that every crispbread is made with it. If the use of baker’s salt is relevant to your choice, check the ingredients of the individual product.
Follow the instructions on the pack you choose and seal it properly after opening. For its wholegrain variety mentioned here, Albert Heijn recommends storing the crispbread in a sealed tin once opened; Jumbo advises keeping its variety cool and dry and resealing the pack securely after opening.
