Who is this guide for?

Households keeping an eye on fibre

If you use toast as a base for cheese, fish, vegetables or a dip and want to compare wholegrain ingredients and nutritional information per 100 g.

Shoppers checking allergens

If you need to check before serving whether a piece of toast contains gluten, wheat, sesame or soya, or carries a warning about possible traces of allergens.

Putting together a sharing platter

If you’re looking for a type of toast that suits your chosen toppings and want to factor in the packaging and current availability of a specific variety.

What should you look for?

First decide whether wholegrain ingredients, the allergen label or the shape matters most for your get-together or lunch. Then compare the nutritional information for toast per 100 g, without treating Melba toast, round toast bites and crackers as the same type of product.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Wholegrain ingredients and fibre Check which type of flour appears first in the ingredients list and compare the fibre per 100 g. If fibre determines my choice, I want to know which flour forms the base rather than relying on the product name alone. For around 45% of consumers, wholegrain ingredients come first.
Allergens Check both the ingredients and any warnings about possible traces of allergens on the current packaging. When I’m serving toast to someone with a relevant allergy or following a gluten-free diet, the label needs to be suitable for their needs. For around 27% of consumers, this check is the deciding factor.
Shape and availability Choose a type of toast that suits the toppings and check that your preferred variety is available. For my sharing platter, I want toast that goes with the chosen nibbles, without having to pick a different product just before serving. This practical consideration matters most to around 28% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a luxury or multigrain name proves what it’s made from

    A special grain mix and a standard wholegrain Melba toast can have different ingredients and nutritional values. The name won’t tell you how much fibre the toast contains per 100 g.

    Read the ingredients list and compare the nutritional information for the varieties you’re actually considering.

  • Checking allergens only after you’ve bought it

    The wholegrain varieties described contain ingredients with gluten; declarations for sesame, soya and the possible presence of other allergens also vary by product.

    Check the current packaging before buying, including both the ingredients and the allergen information.

  • Planning around a specific type of toast without a back-up

    Albert Heijn listed the luxury wholegrain spelt Melba toast described as discontinued; the Jumbo listing we checked said Jos Poell Toast Wholegrain was no longer available in its online range.

    Check current availability and reassess any replacement product for its ingredients, allergens and fibre.

  • Assuming salt means it contains iodine

    Salt in the ingredients list doesn’t confirm that iodised baker’s salt was used in the toast. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt.

    Check the product-specific ingredients information or ask the manufacturer which salt was used if you want to know.

Brands to consider

Van der Meulen Melba

Melba toast for topped canapés, including a standard wholegrain variety and a luxury wholegrain spelt variety.

  • For Van der Meulen Melba Toast Wholegrain, Albert Heijn lists wholegrain wheat flour as the first ingredient; the product information states 9.7 g of fibre and 1.9 g of salt per 100 g.
  • The luxury wholegrain spelt variety described has a different composition and was listed by Albert Heijn as discontinued. If you choose an alternative, check its nutritional information and allergens again.

Jos Poell

Wholegrain toast bites for topped party snacks.

  • The product information for the Toast Wholegrain described states 10 g of fibre and 1.64 g of salt per 100 g.
  • The variety contains gluten and wheat, and may contain egg, milk, sesame and soya. Jumbo listed this variety as no longer available in its online range.

ALDI

A supermarket range in which ALDI lists wholegrain toast alongside other types of toast.

  • A wholegrain variety could be worth considering alongside other types of toast.
  • Check the ingredients, nutritional information and allergens on the specific packaging before comparing it with another variety.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘multigrain’ or ‘luxury’ automatically mean the toast is wholegrain?

No, those words don’t tell you which type of flour forms the base. The luxury wholegrain spelt variety described also contains plain wheat flour, so check the ingredients list and nutritional information for the product you want to buy.

Are the wholegrain toast varieties described suitable for a gluten-free diet?

No, the Van der Meulen Melba and Jos Poell varieties described list ingredients containing gluten or wheat. Always check the current packaging of any other toast for an explicit gluten-free label and relevant allergen information.

Does wholegrain toast automatically contain iodine because it uses baker’s salt?

No, don’t assume so without product-specific information. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt, so check the ingredients or ask the manufacturer which salt is used in the toast.

How can I keep toast ready for a get-together?

Follow the storage advice on the packaging and only open inner packets when you need the toast. The Van der Meulen variety described comes in six packs of six pieces, so you don’t have to open them all at once.