If you have a food allergy, start by checking the allergen information on the current packaging. Only then compare the wholemeal claims and fibre content. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, toast labelled ‘wholemeal’ must be made from 100% wholemeal flour, but that does not make it gluten-free or suitable for someone with another allergy. Also check for any warnings about possible cross-contamination. If the toast is sold loose, ask for the allergen information before buying.
If you need to avoid gluten or wheat, check the gluten-free claim and ingredients list first. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) notes that cereals containing gluten must be clearly identified as allergens in the ingredients list; the word ‘wholemeal’ is no substitute for checking.
Ingredients other than grains can also be important. Check the highlighted allergens on the exact product packaging and consider any warning about possible cross-contamination in light of the allergens you need to avoid.
If you’re mainly looking for wholemeal toast, use the wholemeal claim to help you choose. Then compare the stated fibre per 100 g or per serving, along with the ingredients of the product you’ve selected.
When checking toast for allergens and fibre, check for ingredients you need to avoid before comparing nutritional values. The most important checks will vary from person to person.
| What to look for | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten and wheat | Check the cereals in the ingredients list and, if you need a gluten-free product, look for a separate gluten-free claim. | If I need to avoid gluten or wheat, I want to know whether the toast meets my requirements before comparing fibre. This would be the main concern when shopping for around 42% of consumers. |
| Other allergens | Read the highlighted ingredients and any warnings about possible cross-contamination. If the toast is sold loose, ask for allergen information before buying. | If sesame, soya or several allergens are things I need to avoid, I also want to check ingredients and warnings beyond the grains. This would be the main concern for around 33% of consumers. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for the wholemeal claim and compare fibre per 100 g or per serving across the same type of product. | If I don’t need to avoid any relevant allergens, I want to know how much fibre the toast I’ve chosen contains, not just what it’s called. Fibre would be the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
Wholemeal toast may contain wheat or other cereals that contain gluten. So the wholemeal claim doesn’t tell you whether a product is suitable if you need to avoid gluten or wheat.
First check for a gluten-free claim if you need one, and read which cereals are listed in the ingredients. Only then compare the fibre content of products you can eat.
The ingredient information on a webpage may differ from what’s on the packaging you receive. Albert Heijn advises customers to check the current packaging for allergy information.
Check the packaging again before eating the product. If the online information doesn’t match the label, ask the retailer to clarify.
The wholemeal claim doesn’t tell you which other allergens the toast contains. According to the manufacturer, Melba Toast Wholemeal contains sesame and soya, among other ingredients, as well as several types of grain.
Read the full ingredients list and take any warning about possible cross-contamination into account when checking the allergens you need to avoid.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, baker’s salt contains iodine, but it isn’t compulsory to use it in bread. So you can’t tell whether a product contains baker’s salt from its name alone.
If baker’s salt is important to your choice, check the ingredients list on packaged toast or ask about it if the product is sold loose.
Melba Toast Wholemeal is an example of a product where the wholemeal claim should be checked alongside the allergen information.
Bolletje Wholemeal Light Crackers can be compared with other crunchy grain products, but crackers aren’t toast.
Jumbo provides allergen information for both pre-packed and shop-packed products.
Albert Heijn provides product information online, but the current packaging remains the key source when choosing food with an allergy in mind.
No. Wholemeal describes the flour used; it doesn’t rule out cereals containing gluten, such as wheat. Check for a gluten-free claim if you need one, and also read the full allergen information.
Look for the word ‘wholemeal’. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, toast labelled this way must be made from 100% wholemeal flour. To compare fibre content, check the nutritional information for the exact products per 100 g or per serving.
Ask for information about the allergens in the specific product before buying. According to the NVWA, allergen information for unpackaged products must be available in a way other than on a label.
No, don’t assume that it does. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, baker’s salt contains iodine, but it isn’t compulsory to use it in bread. Check the ingredients list for packaged toast or, if it’s sold loose, ask which salt has been used.
