Lunchers looking to increase their fibre intake
You want to keep rusks as the base of your lunch, so you compare the fibre content per 100 g. This helps you spot differences that aren’t clear from the word ‘wholemeal’ on the front of the pack.
Who should consider this choice?
Families who want to keep eating chocolate sprinkles
You don’t want to give up this familiar combination, but you also don’t want to base your lunch choice solely on the wholemeal rusks. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre doesn’t include chocolate sprinkles in the Dutch Wheel of Five.
Shoppers checking ingredients and allergens
You read the label for the variety you’ve chosen, because the wholemeal rusks reviewed differ in the ingredients they contain or may contain, such as wheat, egg, sesame, oats and barley.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start with the wholemeal rusk base, then compare the topping. For the variety you want to buy, also check the ingredients, pack size and availability.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who should consider this? |
|---|---|---|
| Fibre in the rusks | Check the ingredients and compare fibre per 100 g; compare the figures per rusk too if serving sizes differ. | If I want to keep rusks as the base of my lunch, I mainly want to know how much fibre my chosen variety contains. This fibre choice is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Rusks and topping together | Check the nutritional information for the chocolate sprinkles. For lunches you eat regularly, try a topping from the Dutch Wheel of Five too. | If you enjoy chocolate sprinkles, you don’t want the wholemeal base to be the only factor you consider when choosing lunch. Around 29% of consumers pay the most attention to the combination of rusks and topping. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the latest ingredients and allergen information, especially for cereals, egg and sesame. | If certain ingredients aren’t suitable for me, I need to be able to check the exact variety of rusks. Around 21% of consumers make checking ingredients their top priority. |
| Availability and packaging | Check current availability and compare the number of rusks or the pack weight. | If you want to buy a familiar variety again, there’s little point choosing one that isn’t available at the time. Availability and packaging are the main considerations for around 14% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Thinking wholemeal rusks change the chocolate sprinkles
The fibre in the rusks doesn’t change the composition of the topping. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, chocolate sprinkles aren’t included in the Dutch Wheel of Five.
Choose your rusks and topping separately. If you’d like to try other lunch combinations too, consider toppings from the Dutch Wheel of Five, along with vegetables or fruit.
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Judging a product by the front of the pack alone
The wholemeal rusks reviewed list different amounts of fibre per 100 g. The product name also doesn’t tell you how much sugar or salt a variety contains.
Compare the nutritional values on the same basis, then read the ingredients list.
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Choosing a seeded variety without reading the label
According to Jumbo, Bolletje’s dark wholemeal variety contains wheat, oats, barley and sesame, among other ingredients. Other varieties of rusks have a different composition.
Before buying, check the latest allergen information for the exact pack you’ve chosen.
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Assuming a named variety will be available straight away
A product page or supermarket listing doesn’t guarantee that a pack will be available when you shop.
Check availability shortly before buying and decide which other wholemeal variety you’d consider.
If you’re relying on one shop, an unavailable variety could mean an extra trip.
Brands to consider
Bolletje
Bolletje offers a standard wholemeal rusk pack of 13 and a dark wholemeal seeded variety in a pack of 10.
- Albert Heijn lists 11 g of fibre per 100 g for the standard variety; Jumbo lists 10 g per 100 g for the dark variety.
- According to Jumbo, the dark variety contains wheat, oats, barley and sesame, among other ingredients. Check the label if these ingredients are important to you.
Albert Heijn
The supermarket’s own brand offers standard wholemeal rusks as an alternative for anyone comparing rusk varieties per 100 g.
- For AH Wholemeal Rusks, Albert Heijn lists 9 g of fibre and 0.48 g of salt per 100 g.
- According to Albert Heijn, this variety contains egg and cereals containing gluten, including wheat; other cereals and sesame may also be present.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists a standard own-brand wholemeal rusk and an organic wholemeal variety.
- For the standard variety, Jumbo lists 7.7 g of fibre per 100 g.
- Check which variety is available: Jumbo listed the standard variety as temporarily unavailable and the organic variety as no longer part of its online range.
Lidl
Lidl describes a 140 g pack of wholemeal rusks.
- The product page says this variety is available in store only.
- If you want to compare fibre or allergens, check the nutritional information on the pack in store.
Goud Gebakken (ALDI)
ALDI describes a Goud Gebakken wholemeal rusk pack containing 13 rusks.
- The pack size is listed, so you can compare it with other wholemeal varieties.
- Compare fibre, salt and allergens using the label on the pack you buy.
De Ruijter
De Ruijter is relevant here for the chocolate sprinkles on your rusks, not for the wholemeal rusk base.
- The nutritional information for the dark chocolate sprinkles reviewed lists 64 g of sugars per 100 g.
- Wholemeal rusks don’t change the nutritional value of the chocolate sprinkles. So compare the rusks and topping separately.
Wholemeal rusks on Joybuy
These are two wholemeal rusk varieties you can compare as the base for the lunch combination discussed: a dark variety with 10 rusks and a standard variety with 13. Choose the topping separately.
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Bolletje dark wholemeal rusks, 10 pieces
For anyone looking to compare a dark wholemeal seeded rusk as the base for lunch.
Jumbo lists 10 g of fibre per 100 g and 1.6 g per rusk for this variety. According to the product information, it contains wheat, oats, barley and sesame; check the latest packaging if this is important to you.
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Bolletje wholemeal rusks, 13 pieces
For anyone looking for standard wholemeal rusks as the base for lunch.
Before comparing these with another variety, check the fibre per 100 g on the latest packaging. Also check the ingredients and allergens, especially if wheat, egg or sesame is important to you.
Frequently asked questions
Do wholemeal rusks with chocolate sprinkles make a lunch part of the Dutch Wheel of Five?
No. Choosing wholemeal rusks alone doesn’t do that: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, chocolate sprinkles aren’t included in the Dutch Wheel of Five. If you’re putting together a lunch you eat often, consider other types of topping, vegetables or fruit too.
How do I compare the fibre in wholemeal rusks?
First compare the amount of fibre per 100 g, so you’re comparing different packs on the same basis. Then check the figure per rusk if portion sizes differ, and take the rest of the nutritional information into account too.
Which allergens should I check in wholemeal rusks?
Check the allergens on the latest label for the specific variety. Wheat and egg are listed for some of the products reviewed; according to Jumbo, Bolletje’s dark wholemeal variety also contains oats, barley and sesame.
How can I tell whether my rusks contain iodised baker’s salt?
Check the ingredients list on the pack for a mention of baker’s salt with added iodine. A general mention of baker’s salt doesn’t, by itself, tell you which ingredients are in the rusks you’re thinking of buying.