Anyone packing lunch and checking allergens
You’re looking for wholemeal rusks, but need to know whether wheat, gluten, egg, sesame or a ‘may contain’ warning is compatible with the requirements for your child and their nursery.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Anyone comparing nutritional information
You want to compare fibre and salt per 100 g, rather than relying solely on claims on the front of the pack.
Anyone considering organic or seeded rusks
You’re looking for some variety or an organic product, and want to check whether the extra seeds and grains meet the nursery’s allergen requirements.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, check whether the exact rusk product is allowed at the nursery. For the varieties that meet its requirements, compare the nutritional information and practical serving size.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens and nursery requirements | Read the ingredients, allergens and any ‘may contain’ statements on the current packaging, then check them against the nursery’s requirements. | If I’m packing rusks for a child with specific allergy requirements, I want to know whether this particular variety is allowed. An estimated 42% of consumers put this question first. |
| Fibre, salt and serving size | Compare fibre and salt on the same basis, per 100 g. Also check the weight of each rusk if portion size matters. | When I’m putting together a lunch, I want to be able to compare the nutritional information and know how much one rusk contributes to the serving. An estimated 33% of consumers give this top priority. |
| Organic and seeded varieties | Check the label on the exact variety and see which seeds and grains are listed as ingredients. | If I’d like to pack an organic or seeded variety, it also needs to meet the requirements for the group. An estimated 25% of consumers say this is their most important preference. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming wholemeal means allergen-friendly
The rusks described by Albert Heijn and Jumbo contain wheat and gluten. Depending on the variety, they may also contain egg, sesame, oats or barley.
Check the allergen statement on the pack you’re actually putting in your child’s lunch, and discuss any ‘may contain’ statements with the nursery too.
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Relying only on ‘high in fibre’ or ‘organic’
According to Jumbo’s product information, Bolletje Volkoren Beschuit contains 11 g of fibre and 0.47 g of salt per 100 g. Albert Heijn lists the same fibre content for its organic wholemeal seeded rusks, but 0.73 g of salt per 100 g.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g for the exact varieties and check allergens separately.
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Assuming all rusks contain iodine
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority describes the addition of iodine through baker’s salt in bakery products. This does not confirm that a particular wholemeal rusk contains iodine.
If iodine is important to your choice, check the product information for the exact variety or ask the manufacturer.
Brands to compare
Albert Heijn
A plain wholemeal rusk and an organic seeded variety give you two different labels to compare.
- Albert Heijn lists 9 g of fibre and 0.48 g of salt per 100 g for AH Beschuit volkoren. The product contains wheat and egg.
- AH Biologisch Volkoren beschuit meerzaden carries the EU organic logo and NL-BIO-01, but also lists egg, sesame, wheat, oats and barley. According to Albert Heijn, it contains 11 g of fibre and 0.73 g of salt per 100 g.
Bolletje
The plain wholemeal rusks and larger wholemeal seeded rusks differ in shape and ingredients.
- Jumbo lists 11 g of fibre and 0.47 g of salt per 100 g for Bolletje Volkoren Beschuit.
- According to Jumbo, the plain variety contains wheat and egg and may contain sesame. The larger Bolletje Vezelrijk boeren beschuit contains, among other ingredients, wheat, oats, barley and sesame, according to Albert Heijn. So if you choose a different variety, check its allergens again.
Jumbo
Jumbo Beschuit Volkoren gives you a third product label to compare with other wholemeal rusks.
- Jumbo lists 7.7 g of fibre and 0.53 g of salt per 100 g for this variety.
- According to Jumbo, these rusks contain wheat, gluten, barley and egg. Check this information on the current packaging before packing them.
Rusk products on Joybuy
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Are wholemeal rusks automatically suitable for every nursery lunch?
No. Check the allergens for the exact variety against the nursery’s requirements, and consider the nutritional information and the rest of the lunch separately. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists wholemeal bread as a snack option for young children; that doesn’t mean rusks are automatically a substitute for a varied lunch.
Which allergens should I check in wholemeal rusks?
Always check for wheat and gluten, and look for egg, sesame, oats, barley and any ‘may contain’ statements on each variety. Albert Heijn and Jumbo’s product information shows that the ingredients differ between the plain and seeded rusks mentioned here. The current packaging is what matters for the product you pack.
Do organic wholemeal rusks contain less salt or fewer allergens?
The organic label doesn’t tell you that. Albert Heijn lists 0.73 g of salt per 100 g for AH Biologisch Volkoren beschuit meerzaden, as well as allergens including egg, sesame, wheat, oats and barley. So compare salt and allergens separately from the organic certification.
Do wholemeal rusks always contain iodine from baker’s salt?
Don’t assume that’s the case for any particular product. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority describes the addition of iodine through baker’s salt in bakery products, but this doesn’t confirm that it is used in every rusk. Check the information for the exact variety or ask the manufacturer.