Choose wholemeal Melba toast for small, crunchy bites with toppings; wholemeal tostibrood is a good choice if you want to make toast or toasted sandwiches. Knäckebröd is a different, firmer type of product if the shape of the toast doesn’t matter. For every product, check the wholemeal description, fibre and salt per 100 g, and the allergens on the packaging; don’t assume it contains iodised baker’s salt.
Households looking to swap white toast for a wholemeal option at a school holiday lunch and compare the fibre content per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre notes that wholegrain products contain more fibre than white grain products.
Parents and carers choosing between small, crunchy toast bites for toppings and slices of bread to toast for lunch at home.
Households for whom the ingredients and nutritional information of a particular variety are key. Jumbo lists sesame, soya and wheat among the allergens in Van der Meulen Melba Volkoren Toast, along with 1,9 g of salt per 100 g.
First, choose a type that suits your lunch. Then compare the wholemeal description, nutritional information and ingredients on the current packaging of products in that category.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Check the wholemeal description and compare the fibre per 100 g of products intended for the same use. | I don’t want to judge by the colour of the toast; I want to know whether it’s described as wholemeal and how much fibre it contains. This is the most important check for around 31% of consumers. |
| Type of lunch | Choose between small Melba toast bites, bread for toasting and knäckebröd as an alternative with a different texture. | I’m looking for something different for small bites with toppings than for slices of toast at the table. The type of lunch is the deciding factor for around 31% of consumers. |
| Allergens and salt | Read the allergen information for the variety you’ve chosen and compare salt per 100 g; also consider how much you’ll eat. | If sesame or soya is a concern for my household, I want to check the information for this particular variety. Salt can also influence my choice. This check comes first for around 23% of consumers. |
| Baker’s salt and iodine | Check the ingredients list or ask the manufacturer which type of salt has been used; don’t infer this from the wholemeal description. | If I specifically want to know whether baker’s salt has been used, I want to be able to check this for the individual product. This is the main consideration for around 15% of consumers. |
The colour of toast doesn’t tell you which flour was used for its grain ingredients. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that, in the Netherlands, a product can only be called wholemeal if all of its grain ingredients are made from wholemeal flour.
Check the product description and, if in doubt, read the ingredients list, even if the front only says ‘with whole grains’.
Small toast bites for cold toppings, bread that you toast and knäckebröd all have different shapes and uses. A wholemeal version of one type of product won’t necessarily replace another at the table.
Decide whether you want toast bites with toppings, slices to toast or a cracker-like alternative before comparing varieties.
Being wholemeal tells you nothing about the allergens or salt content of an individual product. Jumbo lists sesame, soya and several gluten-containing cereals in Van der Meulen Melba Volkoren Toast, along with 1,9 g of salt per 100 g.
Check the current packaging every time you buy, especially if you’re using different varieties for the same lunch.
Jumbo lists baker’s salt in its Volkoren Tostibrood, while the product information for the Melba toast mentioned lists salt. The word ‘wholemeal’ doesn’t tell you which type of salt has been used.
Check the ingredients list or ask the manufacturer for clarification if the type of salt used matters to your purchase.
An option if you’re looking for small, crisp wholemeal toast bites to serve with toppings or dips.
A wholemeal toast option in a small, crisp format.
The Volkoren Tostibrood mentioned here is suited to a lunch of toasted slices or toasted sandwiches.
A knäckebröd alternative if you don’t necessarily want toast for lunch.
A retailer to explore if you want to check the product information for different types of toast individually.
According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, a grain product can only be called wholemeal in the Netherlands if all of its grain ingredients are made from wholemeal flour. So check the product description and ingredients, rather than relying only on a dark colour or the words ‘with whole grains’.
No, you can’t tell that from the wholemeal description. Jumbo lists baker’s salt in its Volkoren Tostibrood, while the Melba toast mentioned lists salt in its product information. Check the current ingredients list or ask the manufacturer which type of salt has been used.
Check the allergens on the specific packaging, as they vary between varieties. For Van der Meulen Melba Volkoren Toast, Jumbo lists barley, rye, sesame, soya and wheat, among other allergens. Albert Heijn’s information for Jos Poell Volkoren Toast lists wheat and possible traces of egg, milk, soya and sesame.
Follow the storage and best-before instructions on the packaging of the toast you’ve chosen. Albert Heijn says to store Jos Poell Volkoren Toast in a cool, dry, dark place.
