Who is this choice relevant to?

If you look for wholegrain and fibre

You want a toast base labelled wholegrain and compare the fibre listed on the label, including the amount in the portion you actually serve.

If you need to consider allergens

You’re hosting guests with known allergies or other dietary restrictions, so you check the ingredients, allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings on each pack.

If you’re planning bites around your toppings

You’re looking for a base that suits the shape and serving style of your bites: thin Melba toast, or sturdier crispbread if you’re happy with a different type of product.

What should you look for when choosing?

Decide what matters most for your table: the wholegrain label and nutritional values, your guests’ allergens or the way you plan to serve the bites.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Wholegrain and fibre Check the wholegrain label and compare fibre per 100 g; also consider how many pieces of toast you’ll serve. If I’m putting toast on the table because I’m looking for wholegrain and fibre, I want to know what’s in a serving. Around 42% of consumers put this first.
Allergens Read the current ingredients and allergen information, including any ‘may contain’ warnings. When guests have allergies, I need to be able to choose a base that suits their dietary restrictions. This check takes priority for around 33% of consumers.
Shape and quantity Check the number of pieces, whether there are individual packs, and whether the shape suits your toppings. I want to serve bites in the size I’m looking for without opening more toast than I need. Around 25% of consumers put this convenience first.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking brown or multigrain for wholegrain

    Colour and a fibre listing don’t tell you whether a product is wholegrain. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that a product carrying this label must be made entirely with wholemeal flour as its grain ingredient.

    Check the product description and ingredients list on the pack you’re buying.

  • Comparing fibre content alone

    Albert Heijn lists 9.7 g of fibre and 1.9 g of salt per 100 g for Van der Meulen Melba Wholegrain Toast; for Jos Poell Wholegrain Toast, the figures are 10 g of fibre and 1.64 g of salt per 100 g. The amount in each piece you serve also depends on its weight.

    Compare nutritional values on the same basis, such as per 100 g, and factor in the portion you plan to serve.

  • Putting out a shared platter without checking allergens

    Ingredients and ‘may contain’ warnings vary between products. For the Van der Meulen toast described, Albert Heijn lists wheat, barley, rye, sesame and soya, among other ingredients; the product information for Jos Poell toast lists wheat and possible traces of egg, milk, soya and sesame.

    Ask guests about any relevant dietary restrictions in advance and check the current packaging before putting the bites together.

  • Using crispbread as an exact substitute for toast

    Wholegrain crispbread has a different shape and texture from thin Melba toast. Its ingredients and allergens may also differ.

    Choose it only if this different base suits your toppings and presentation, and remember to check its label too.

Brands to consider

Van der Meulen

The 120 g Melba Wholegrain Toast is a thin base for small topped bites.

  • Albert Heijn lists six packs of six pieces of toast each, and 9.7 g of fibre per 100 g for this product.
  • The same product information lists 1.9 g of salt per 100 g and the allergens wheat, barley, rye, sesame and soya.

Jos Poell

According to Albert Heijn, the 90 g Wholegrain Toast contains 27 pieces, making it a good choice for a platter of classic-shaped toast.

  • Albert Heijn lists 10 g of fibre per 100 g for this product.
  • The product information lists 1.64 g of salt per 100 g, wheat and gluten, and possible traces of egg, milk, soya and sesame. Check the current label.

Bolletje

Bolletje Oerknäck Waldkorn is seeded crispbread: an alternative if you’re not looking for thin pieces of toast.

  • Bolletje describes this specific product as wholegrain crispbread containing sunflower seeds and sesame seeds, among other ingredients.
  • It isn’t Melba toast; the product information lists several gluten-containing grains and sesame.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell if toast is wholegrain?

Look for the wholegrain label and check the ingredients list on the current packaging. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, a product carrying this label must be made entirely with wholemeal flour as its grain ingredient; a brown colour alone doesn’t mean it’s wholegrain.

Can I compare wholegrain toast by fibre alone?

No. Also compare the serving size and any other nutritional values that matter to you. Albert Heijn lists 10 g of fibre per 100 g for Jos Poell Wholegrain Toast and 9.7 g per 100 g for Van der Meulen Melba Wholegrain Toast. These figures apply to the products mentioned, not to each individual piece of toast.

What should I look for if guests need to avoid gluten or sesame?

Check the current ingredients, allergen information and any ‘may contain’ warning for each product. The Van der Meulen product mentioned contains wheat and sesame, among other ingredients; for the Jos Poell product mentioned, Albert Heijn lists wheat and possible traces of sesame. Don’t assume that another product from the same brand has the same ingredients.

How can I keep toast crisp until it’s time to serve?

Follow the storage instructions on the pack, open only what you need and add moist toppings just before serving. The six individual packs of Van der Meulen Melba Wholegrain Toast let you keep unopened toast separate, but they don’t guarantee that it will stay crisp once opened.