Student keeping an eye on fibre
You’re looking for toast for breakfast, lunch or a snack, and want to compare the wholegrain ingredients and fibre content of the specific options.
Who should consider this choice?
Student stocking up
You’re setting up a new room and want to know how much toast comes in a pack, how to store it and whether the option you want is available.
Consumer checking ingredients
You need to check which grains, seeds and allergens a product contains before buying it. The term ‘wholegrain’ doesn’t replace that check.
What should you look for?
First, compare the ingredients and fibre content of the toast you want to buy. Then check that the pack meets your requirements for allergens, salt and storage.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholegrain and fibre | Check the ingredients list and compare the fibre per 100 g in the specific options. | If fibre is my main priority, I want to know more than just whether the pack says ‘wholegrain’. Around 36% of consumers put this first. |
| Pack size and availability | Check the pack size and whether the option you want is available. | When stocking up, I want to know how much toast I’ll have at home and whether I can find the same option again. This matters most to around 29% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information, including any warnings about possible traces. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I don’t want to rely on the product name. This check comes first for around 21% of consumers. |
| Portions and storage | Check for individual inner packs, the use-by date and the storage instructions. | If I only eat toast occasionally, I want to be able to store an opened pack properly. Around 14% of consumers put convenience first. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming wholegrain is suitable for every allergy
The wholegrain options checked contain wheat; some also list sesame, soya or warnings about possible traces.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack every time you buy, even if you recognise the product name.
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Assuming toast is a source of iodine without checking the label
According to the Voedingscentrum, baker’s salt contains iodine, but using it when baking bread is not compulsory. So the word ‘toast’ doesn’t tell you which type of salt was used.
Check the ingredients list if the type of salt used matters to you.
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Looking only at the fibre content
As well as fibre, a wholegrain option may contain salt and allergens that matter to you. Nutritional values and ingredients vary from product to product.
Compare fibre and salt on the same basis, preferably per 100 g, and read the ingredients list too.
Brands and shops to consider
Van der Meulen
The 120 g pack of Van der Meulen wholegrain Melba toast is a specific option you can compare for its ingredients and nutritional value.
- Van der Meulen says this option is made from 100% wholegrain bread. Albert Heijn lists 9.7 g of fibre per 100 g.
- Albert Heijn also lists 1.9 g of salt per 100 g for this option, with wheat, sesame, rye and soya among the allergens.
Jos Poell
Jos Poell wholegrain toast shows why nutritional value and availability should be considered separately.
- Albert Heijn lists 10 g of fibre per 100 g for this option.
- Albert Heijn’s product listing also says ‘Discontinued’. Check whether this option is currently available before choosing it.
Albert Heijn
The range includes its own plain Melba toast, as well as Melba toast from other brands.
- Albert Heijn lists 3.9 g of fibre per 100 g for its own plain Melba toast and describes it as vegan and lactose-free.
- The same product information lists wheat, barley and soya, and warns that it may contain traces of sesame, among other allergens. Check the pack of the option you buy.
ALDI
ALDI Netherlands stocks toast, Melba toast and options that include wholegrain cereals or seeds.
- When choosing between plain, wholegrain and seeded options, you can check the ingredients of the specific product.
- Check the nutritional information and ingredients on the pack of your chosen option for fibre, salt and allergens.
Lidl
Lidl is an option if you’d like to compare toast while doing your food shopping.
- Lidl refers shoppers to the packaging for information about food ingredients and nutritional values.
- So, when considering a specific option in store, check its fibre, salt and allergen information before choosing.
Related products on Joybuy
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Can you assume that wholegrain toast provides iodine?
No. ‘Wholegrain’ doesn’t tell you which salt was used to make it. According to the Voedingscentrum, baker’s salt contains iodine, but using it when baking bread is not compulsory. Check whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed in the ingredients of the toast you buy.
Is wholegrain toast suitable if you need to avoid gluten?
The wholegrain options mentioned here contain wheat, so they’re not suitable if you need to avoid wheat or gluten. For any other option, always check the ingredients list and look for a gluten-free label on the exact pack.
How should you store opened Melba toast?
Follow the storage instructions on the pack you bought. Albert Heijn says to store its own plain Melba toast in a closed tin after opening. Also check the use-by date on your pack.
What should you check when stocking up on toast for your new room?
Check the pack size, whether it contains individual inner packs and the storage instructions, so the quantity suits how often you eat toast. Also check whether the specific option is currently available; Albert Heijn’s listing for Jos Poell wholegrain toast says ‘Discontinued’.