Who is this relevant to?

Parents looking at wholemeal flour and fibre

For a crunchy snack, you’ll want to know which flour has been used and how much fibre the toast contains per 100 g. These two details tell you more about what’s in it than the colour of a piece of toast.

Parents who need to check allergens and school rules

If a child needs to avoid certain ingredients or takes toast to school, check both the packaging and the rules at the school or childcare setting. The toast products described by Albert Heijn contain cereals containing gluten; the other listed allergens vary from product to product.

Households that also want to compare salt

When choosing between wholegrain toast products, compare salt on the same basis. Albert Heijn lists different salt values per 100 g for the three products discussed here; how much toast and topping you serve is a separate consideration.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start with the ingredients list and compare fibre and salt per 100 g. Before packing it, check separately that the allergen information and school rules are suitable for your child.

What to look for What to check when buying Who it matters to
Wholemeal flour and fibre Check which type of flour appears first in the ingredients list and compare fibre per 100 g. Albert Heijn lists 8 to 10 g of fibre per 100 g for the three products discussed. For a snack, I want to know how much wholemeal flour it contains and how much fibre it provides. This combination is a top priority for around 39% of consumers.
Allergens and school rules Check the current packaging for cereals containing gluten, other allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings. Also ask about the rules at the school or childcare setting. If I’m packing toast for a child who needs to avoid certain ingredients, the product must also meet the school’s rules. For around 38% of consumers, this check is the top priority.
Salt and portion size Compare salt per 100 g, then decide how much toast to serve. Albert Heijn lists 1.25 to 1.9 g of salt per 100 g for the products discussed; consider the topping separately. I want to put together a small snack, so I pay attention to both the salt content and the amount of toast and topping. Around 23% of consumers put this consideration first.

Common mistakes

  • Looking only at the word ‘wholegrain’

    The grain composition varies. According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Van der Meulen and Jos Poell list wholemeal wheat flour as the first ingredient, while Sansepolcro lists wheat flour first and states that the product contains 36% wholemeal wheat flour.

    Read the full ingredients list and compare fibre per 100 g as well. Don’t rely on the product name or colour alone.

  • Checking for gluten but overlooking other allergens

    Allergen information varies by product. Albert Heijn lists sesame and soya for Van der Meulen, possible traces of egg, milk, soya and sesame for Jos Poell, and sesame and possible soya for Sansepolcro.

    Check the current label against the ingredients your child needs to avoid. If it’s for a school snack, also check the rules at the school in question.

  • Assuming more fibre means less salt

    According to Albert Heijn, Jos Poell lists 10 g of fibre and 1.64 g of salt per 100 g, compared with 8 g of fibre and 1.25 g of salt per 100 g for Sansepolcro. So the product with the most fibre isn’t the one with the least salt.

    Decide which quality matters more to you and compare both figures separately, always per 100 g.

  • Assuming the salt in toast is always iodised baker’s salt

    The salt value on the label won’t tell you by itself whether iodised baker’s salt has been used. According to the Voedingscentrum, bakers aren’t required to use it.

    If the presence of iodised baker’s salt matters to your choice, check the packaging or ask the producer.

Brands compared

Van der Meulen

The 120 g Melba Wholegrain Toast is a thin wholegrain toast, ideal for a crunchy snack.

  • Albert Heijn lists wholemeal wheat flour as the first ingredient and 9.7 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • Albert Heijn lists 1.9 g of salt per 100 g; the product information names wheat, barley, rye, sesame and soya as allergens.

Jos Poell

The 90 g Wholegrain Toast is a good comparison if fibre per 100 g is your priority.

  • Albert Heijn lists wholemeal wheat flour as the first ingredient and 10 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • Albert Heijn lists 1.64 g of salt per 100 g, wheat and cereals containing gluten, with possible traces of egg, milk, soya and sesame.

Sansepolcro

The 100 g Wholegrain Toast shows why the order of ingredients matters as well as the nutritional information.

  • Albert Heijn lists 1.25 g of salt and 8 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • According to Albert Heijn, wheat flour appears first in the ingredients list and the product contains 36% wholemeal wheat flour. It contains wheat, barley and sesame, and may contain soya.

Products on Joybuy

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is wholegrain toast automatically gluten-free?

No. The wholegrain toast products discussed here contain cereals containing gluten, including wheat. If you need a gluten-free product, check that it is explicitly labelled as such and read the current label of the product you want to buy.

What should I check before taking toast to school?

If your child has a relevant allergy or other dietary restriction, first check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging, then ask about the rules at the specific school or childcare setting. A suitable label won’t automatically tell you what that setting allows.

Does wholegrain toast always provide iodine from baker’s salt?

No. You can’t tell from the word ‘wholegrain’ or the salt value shown. According to the Voedingscentrum, bakers aren’t required to use iodised baker’s salt. Check the packaging or ask the producer if you want to know whether it has been used in a particular toast product.

How do I compare salt in wholegrain toast products?

Compare the salt value per 100 g, then consider how much toast you’re serving and which topping you choose. Albert Heijn lists values of 1.25 to 1.9 g of salt per 100 g for the three products discussed here; these figures are for the toast alone, not the whole snack.