Who might find this choice useful?

The fibre-conscious host

You want to serve a wholemeal bite with coffee and friends, so you compare the wholemeal labelling and fibre content on the pack.

If you’re serving a variety of toppings

You’re looking for small toast slices that you can top with a choice of sweet or savoury ingredients. The size and layout of the pack can help you work out how many to put on the table.

If you need to consider allergens

You’re buying for guests who may need to avoid gluten, sesame or soya, for example. In that case, the allergen information for the exact variant you choose matters more than a general product description.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start with the wholemeal labelling and a shape that works with your toppings. Then compare the nutritional information and allergen statement on the packs you’re considering.

What to consider What to look for Who it matters to
Wholemeal and fibre Look for the wholemeal label and compare fibre on a like-for-like basis, per 100 g. If fibre is the deciding factor for me, I don’t want to rely on the brown colour or visible seeds alone. For around 40% of consumers, choosing wholemeal and fibre comes first.
Shape and portions Check the size, number of toast slices and whether there are individual packs, based on the toppings you plan to serve. When I’m catering for several guests, I want to be able to put out plenty of small bites without assuming that packs of the same weight contain the same number of slices. For around 40% of consumers, how easy a product is to serve matters most.
Allergens and ingredients Read the current allergen statement, including information about possible traces, and compare salt per 100 g. If a guest needs to avoid an allergen, I want to know what’s in this exact variant; the ingredients can also affect my choice. For around 20% of consumers, checking this is the top priority.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming brown or multigrain means wholemeal

    The colour and visible seeds don’t tell you whether the flour is wholemeal. According to the Voedingscentrum, the wholemeal label also matters for toast slices, as it indicates the type of flour used.

    Check for the wholemeal label, then look at the ingredients list and fibre per 100 g.

  • Choosing one type of toast for all your guests without checking the label

    Allergens vary by product. According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Van der Meulen Melba Toast Volkoren contains sesame and soya, among other ingredients; Jos Poell Volkoren Toast lists wheat and possible traces of sesame, among other things.

    Ask which allergens are relevant to your guests and read the current pack for the variant you’re buying.

  • Comparing fibre content alone

    Albert Heijn’s product information lists 9,7 g of fibre and 1,9 g of salt per 100 g for Van der Meulen Melba Toast Volkoren, and 10 g of fibre and 1,64 g of salt per 100 g for Jos Poell Volkoren Toast. Those figures alone don’t tell you how many toast slices you’ll be serving.

    Compare the nutritional values per 100 g, and also check the number of slices and the portions you want to offer.

  • Assuming toast always contains iodine-enriched baker’s salt

    You can’t tell whether a product contains iodine-enriched baker’s salt just from the type of product.

    Check the ingredients list on the pack you choose if this matters to your purchase.

Brands to consider

Van der Meulen

Melba Toast Volkoren makes a thin base for small topped bites.

  • Albert Heijn lists six packs of six toast slices and 9,7 g of fibre per 100 g for this variant.
  • The listed ingredients include sesame, wheat, barley, rye and soya. Check the pack if your guests need to avoid allergens.

Jos Poell

Volkoren Toast consists of small toast slices for a platter of topped bites.

  • For the pack described, Albert Heijn lists wholemeal wheat flour as the first ingredient, along with 10 g of fibre and 1,64 g of salt per 100 g.
  • The product information lists wheat and gluten, and possible traces of egg, milk, soya and sesame. Albert Heijn marks this specific pack as discontinued, so check which variant is available.

Bolletje

Volkoren Knäckebröd is a crunchy alternative in a different shape from small Melba toast slices.

  • According to Bolletje, this crispbread is made with 100% wholemeal grains.
  • According to Bolletje, the product contains wheat, rye, barley and sesame, among other ingredients. Its larger shape may not be as suitable for the same small topped bites.

Goud Gebakken

This ALDI own brand is worth considering if you’re also looking at rusk, crackers or crispbread as well as toast.

  • ALDI lists wholemeal rusk, crackers and crispbread under Goud Gebakken, and names wholemeal toast as a separate type of toast.
  • Don’t choose based on the own-brand name alone: for a specific toast product, compare the ingredients and nutritional information on the pack.

Related Joybuy products

Related products are coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

How can I recognise wholemeal toast?

Look for the word ‘wholemeal’ clearly stated on the pack, rather than relying on the colour or seeds. According to the Voedingscentrum, this label on toast slices indicates that wholemeal flour has been used. Then compare the ingredients and fibre per 100 g of the products you’re considering.

Which allergens should I check in these toast slices?

Check the allergens for each variant on the current pack. For Van der Meulen Melba Toast Volkoren, Albert Heijn lists wheat, barley, rye, sesame and soya, among other ingredients; for Jos Poell Volkoren Toast, it lists wheat and gluten, with possible traces of egg, milk, soya and sesame.

Does Dutch toast always contain iodine-enriched baker’s salt?

Don’t assume that a particular type of toast contains iodine-enriched baker’s salt without checking the ingredients. Read the ingredients list on the pack you’re buying if this is important to your choice.

How should I store toast for guests?

Follow the storage instructions for the product you choose and seal an opened pack tightly. For the Jos Poell variant described, the product information recommends storing it in a cool, dry, dark place. Check the label on any other variant.

Is online product information enough to help me choose?

Use online information to compare products in advance, but check the current pack when you buy for ingredients, allergens and nutritional values. Product information can change and isn’t equally comprehensive online for every product.