Who is this choice relevant to?

If you’re consciously choosing wholegrain

You want a product for your Easter brunch that’s clearly labelled as wholegrain. The label and fibre content per 100 g help you compare products; check the salt and ingredients too.

If you’re serving topped bites

Choose your base to suit how you plan to serve it: small, cold bites on thin Melba toast, or larger portions on toastie bread that you toast yourself.

If you need to read labels carefully

If you’re keeping an eye on salt, allergens or baker’s salt, the information for the specific product matters. Ingredients and allergens can vary between varieties; a wholegrain label doesn’t tell you what they are.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you want to serve small, ready-to-eat pieces of toast, larger portions of warm toast or a cracker-style base. Then compare the labels of products that suit the shape you’re looking for.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Wholegrain and fibre Look for an explicit wholegrain label and compare fibre per 100 g. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a brown colour alone doesn’t prove that a product is wholegrain. If I want to replace white toast, I need to know whether my chosen base is genuinely wholegrain. This would be the main consideration for around 40% of consumers.
Shape and toppings Choose small Melba toast for individual bites, toastie bread to toast yourself, or a larger, flat cracker base; check the size of the variety you choose. When serving a platter with different toppings, the way I plan to serve them determines which base will work best. Shape would be the top priority for around 30% of consumers.
Salt and ingredients Compare salt per 100 g and read the current allergen information. Check separately whether baker’s salt is listed as an ingredient if that matters to your choice. If I need to consider salt or particular ingredients, checking the label comes before presentation. Around 20% of consumers are expected to make this their main consideration.
Packaging and availability Check current availability, net weight and how much you’ll need for brunch. For a small brunch, I want to be able to buy a suitable quantity without basing my menu on a variety that isn’t available. This would be the main consideration for around 10% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming brown or multigrain means wholegrain

    The colour and a general fibre claim don’t tell you whether toast or crackers are made entirely from wholegrain flour. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends checking for a wholegrain label.

    Read the product description and ingredients list, and compare fibre per 100 g on a like-for-like basis.

  • Assuming wholegrain toast is automatically low in salt

    Albert Heijn lists 1.9 g of salt per 100 g for Van der Meulen Melba Toast Wholegrain; Jumbo lists 0.98 g per 100 g for its Wholegrain Toastie Bread. The products also differ in shape and preparation.

    Compare the salt content on the current labels of products that suit your planned bites, and take the toppings into account too.

  • Assuming all toast contains baker’s salt

    Baker’s salt is iodised, but according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use it. The type of product alone won’t tell you which salt has been added.

    Check the ingredients list for the specific variety if baker’s salt is relevant to your purchasing decision.

  • Planning brunch around outdated product information

    Jumbo says that Jos Poell Wholegrain Toast 90 g is no longer part of its online range. You should also check the ingredients of your chosen variety are up to date.

    Before buying, check the availability, packaging and allergens of the product you want to serve.

Brands to compare

These brands offer different product shapes; always check the nutritional information and ingredients for the specific variety.

Van der Meulen

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

  • Albert Heijn lists 9.7 g of fibre per 100 g for the 120 g pack.
  • The product information also lists 1.9 g of salt per 100 g and ingredients including cereals containing gluten, sesame and soya. Check the label if these ingredients are relevant to your guests.

Jumbo

Wholegrain Toastie Bread is a loaf you can toast yourself for larger, warm portions.

  • Jumbo lists 6.4 g of fibre and 0.98 g of salt per 100 g; baker’s salt is listed among the ingredients.
  • This isn’t a small, ready-to-eat piece of toast. The product information lists cereals containing gluten and possible traces of milk, sesame and soya, among other things.

Bolletje

Wholegrain crackers and crispbread offer a flat, crunchy base if you’re not looking for classic toast pieces.

  • Bolletje describes its wholegrain crispbread as made with 100% wholegrain cereals.
  • Crackers and crispbread have a different shape from Melba toast. Check the ingredients and allergens for each variety.

Jos Poell

Wholegrain Toast 90 g is a product you can use to compare the nutritional information for wholegrain toast.

  • Jumbo lists 10 g of fibre and 1.64 g of salt per 100 g for this variety.
  • Jumbo says this product is no longer part of its online range. Check availability before planning to use it.

ALDI

ALDI includes wholegrain toast in its range of toast products.

  • That gives you somewhere to start if you’re looking for wholegrain toast while doing your shopping.
  • Check the current nutritional information and allergens on the packaging for the variety you choose.

Crunchy alternatives on Joybuy

These wholegrain crackers and crispbreads are for anyone looking for a crunchy base for brunch toppings. They’re not small pieces of Melba toast or toastie bread for serving warm.

Bolletje Light wholegrain crackers, 190 g

Bolletje Light wholegrain crackers 190 g

A cracker option if you want a flat base for toppings at Easter brunch instead of classic toast pieces. This Light variety comes in a 190 g pack; check the current ingredients and allergens if they’re relevant to your guests.

View at Joybuy
Bolletje wholegrain crispbread, 265 g

Bolletje wholegrain crispbread 265 g

A crunchy alternative when crispbread suits your toppings and presentation better than small pieces of toast. The pack contains 265 g; before buying, check the current ingredients and allergens if they’re relevant to your choice.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell if toast is wholegrain?

Check whether the product is explicitly labelled as wholegrain. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a brown colour or the word ‘multigrain’ alone doesn’t mean that toast or crackers are made entirely from wholegrain flour; if in doubt, check the ingredients list too.

Is wholegrain toast automatically a low-salt choice?

No. Check the salt content per 100 g for the specific variety. Albert Heijn lists 1.9 g per 100 g for Van der Meulen Melba Toast Wholegrain, while Jumbo lists 0.98 g per 100 g for Jumbo Wholegrain Toastie Bread; these are different types of product.

Does all wholegrain toast contain iodine from baker’s salt?

You can’t tell from the wholegrain label. Baker’s salt is iodised, but according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, its use isn’t compulsory. Check the label or ask the manufacturer about the variety you’ve chosen if this matters to your purchase.

Which allergens should I check for my guests?

Read the current allergen information for every product you plan to serve. The information for Van der Meulen Melba Toast Wholegrain lists cereals containing gluten, sesame and soya, among other things; for its Wholegrain Toastie Bread, Jumbo lists cereals containing gluten and possible traces of milk, sesame and soya, among other things.

Can I use crispbread instead of Melba toast?

Yes, if a larger, flat and crunchy base works with your toppings. Crispbread doesn’t come in the small shape of Melba toast, so choose according to the portions you want to serve and check the label for the variety you’ve picked.