Choose plain wholemeal rusks if you’re looking for a simple wholemeal option. A darker variety or rusks with seeds may appeal if you like their ingredients, flavour or texture. Compare fibre and salt per 100 g and per rusk: larger rusks aren’t necessarily equivalent portions. If you have allergies, always check the latest packaging.
If you regularly eat rusks for breakfast or lunch, you can compare the fibre content of wholemeal varieties without treating rusks as a substitute for other foods. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre highlights fibre and drinking enough fluids as things to consider after the age of 70.
If you need to avoid certain ingredients, it’s important to check the latest packaging. The wholemeal varieties described here differ in ingredients including wheat, egg, oats, barley and sesame.
If you’re looking for a familiar wholemeal variety, you’ll also want to know whether it’s available in your local shop or through your preferred ordering channel. The online range and in-store stock may differ.
First, decide what matters most to your household when choosing wholemeal rusks. Then use the packaging to compare varieties on the same nutritional basis.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for the wholemeal label and compare fibre per 100 g and, where stated, per rusk. | If rusks are a regular part of my diet, I want to know how much fibre my chosen variety contains without losing sight of the rest of what I eat. For around 36% of consumers, fibre is the top priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the latest ingredients list and allergen information; look out for wheat, egg and sesame in particular. | If someone at home needs to avoid certain ingredients, I don’t want to assume that another variety from the same brand is suitable too. For around 22% of consumers, checking this is the top priority. |
| Flavour and portion size | Compare the weight per rusk and check whether it contains seeds. | I’m looking for a rusk whose size and texture suit how I’ll eat it and the topping I choose. Around 21% of consumers prioritise flavour and portion size. |
| Availability | Check your supermarket’s current range and whether the product is available online or in store only. | For my regular shopping, I want to be able to find a variety in the shop or through the ordering channel I use. Availability matters most to around 21% of consumers. |
Colour doesn’t tell you whether a rusk is made from wholemeal flour. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a product that isn’t made entirely from wholemeal flour cannot be labelled wholemeal.
Look for the wholemeal label on the packaging, then compare the nutritional information.
Bolletje Volkoren lists wheat and egg and may contain sesame. The PLUS seed variety described here contains wheat, barley, oats, egg and sesame, among other ingredients. So products in the same category don’t necessarily have the same ingredients.
Check the allergen information on the packaging every time you buy a different variety.
Bolletje Vezelrijk Beschuit Donker Volkoren is listed as weighing around 16 g per rusk. So a comparison per 100 g won’t necessarily tell you how much you’re eating per rusk.
Check both nutritional values if the figures per rusk matter to your choice.
A product listing doesn’t necessarily tell you whether an item is available through your preferred channel. Lidl lists its wholemeal rusks as available in store only.
Check the current range before looking for or ordering a particular variety.
Bolletje offers plain wholemeal rusks and a darker wholemeal variety with a different recipe and portion size.
The own-label range includes plain wholemeal rusks and an organic wholemeal variety with several seeds.
Jumbo lists plain wholemeal rusks, as well as organic and spelt varieties.
Lidl lists a 140 g pack of wholemeal rusks for sale in store.
ALDI lists Goud Gebakken Volkoren rusks in a pack of 13.
PLUS offers plain wholemeal rusks and a wholemeal variety with seeds.
These two Bolletje varieties let you choose between dark wholemeal rusks with oats and seeds and plain wholemeal rusks. Check the packaging if portion size or allergens are important to you.
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Worth a look if you’re after dark wholemeal rusks with oats and seeds.
The product description lists 10 g of fibre per 100 g. The rusks contain wheat, oats, barley and sesame; if you have allergies, check the latest packaging.
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A plain wholemeal variety for anyone who prefers rusks without the seed texture of the darker variety.
The pack contains 13 rusks. These rusks contain wheat and egg and may contain sesame; if you have allergies, check the latest packaging.
Look for the wholemeal label on the packaging; a dark colour alone isn’t enough. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a product that isn’t made entirely from wholemeal flour cannot be labelled wholemeal.
No, you should also consider the rest of your diet. Alongside wholegrain cereals, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists vegetables, fruit, pulses and nuts as sources of fibre. It also highlights fibre and drinking enough fluids as things to consider after the age of 70.
No, ingredients vary by product. Bolletje Volkoren contains wheat and egg and may contain sesame; the PLUS seed variety described here contains wheat, barley, oats, egg and sesame, among other ingredients. Always check the latest allergen information.
No, the wholemeal label doesn’t tell you what type of salt has been used. If baker’s salt matters to your choice, check the ingredients list on the rusks you’re buying.
The value per 100 g lets you compare products on the same basis; the value per rusk shows how much one rusk contributes. Jumbo lists Bolletje Vezelrijk Beschuit Donker Volkoren as weighing around 16 g per rusk and containing 1.6 g of fibre per piece.
