Try fine wholemeal bread if a coarse texture is putting you off, but you still want wholemeal. If a familiar taste matters more, brown bread could be a stepping stone; nutritionally, white bread is not an equivalent substitute for wholemeal bread. Check the bread description and ingredients, and ask about allergens and baker’s salt if needed when buying unpackaged bread.
If someone leaves coarse wholemeal bread uneaten, you could compare fine wholemeal with brown bread. Finely milled wholemeal is still wholemeal, but whether its texture appeals depends on the loaf and the person eating it.
For these shoppers, the wholemeal description is more useful than a dark colour or the name ‘multigrain’. Compare the fibre content in the nutritional information for each loaf.
At a market or bakery, not all the information will be on a packet. Before buying, ask about any relevant allergens and, if you want to know, whether the bread is made with baker’s salt.
First, decide which bread description suits your needs. Then consider whether the texture and information for that particular loaf work for your household.
Choose it when: you want wholemeal bread but would rather avoid a coarse texture.
Consider: finely milled doesn’t tell you whether someone will like the taste and crumb of this particular loaf.
Choose it when: a bread between white and wholemeal better suits your household’s preferences.
Consider: brown bread isn’t automatically wholemeal, so check the ingredients and nutritional information.
Choose it when: a familiar taste and texture are the main priority for now.
Consider: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, white bread contains fewer nutrients than wholemeal bread.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this relevant to? |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for the wholemeal description and compare fibre per 100 g on the packet. | If wholemeal and fibre are my main priorities, I don’t want to judge by the bread’s colour. This is the top priority for around 40% of consumers. |
| Texture and taste | Check whether the bread is described as fine or coarse, and distinguish between white, brown and wholemeal. | There’s a fussy eater at home who finds a coarse crumb difficult, so I’m looking for a loaf they’ll be willing to try. This is the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Size and range | Check whether the shop offers a suitable whole or half loaf. | For our household, I want to choose a size we can use, from a shop where we already do our food shopping. Around 20% of consumers give this the highest priority. |
| Ingredient information | Check for relevant allergens. Look for baker’s salt on the label or ask the seller. | I need to know which ingredients matter to us before buying, including for unpackaged bread. For around 10% of consumers, this check comes first. |
Colour, seeds and the word ‘multigrain’ don’t tell you by themselves whether a loaf is wholemeal. Albert Heijn describes brown and multigrain breads that use white flour as well as wholemeal flour.
Look for the white, brown or wholemeal description, then read the ingredients.
Jumbo lists 7.6 g of fibre per 100 g for its Fijn Volkoren. That figure applies to that product, not to every fine wholemeal loaf.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g for the exact products you’re considering.
A loaf’s name or appearance won’t tell you all the allergens it contains. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information must also be available for unpackaged products.
Before buying, ask the seller about any allergens that are relevant to you.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So you can’t tell whether it’s been used just from the type of bread.
For packaged bread, check the ingredients list. If you need this information for unpackaged bread, ask the seller.
Albert Heijn’s wholemeal range includes different shapes and textures, including fine wholemeal bread.
Jumbo offers white, brown, wholemeal and multigrain bread, including Fijn Volkoren.
ALDI describes a bakery range that includes white, brown and wholemeal bread in whole and half sizes.
PLUS offers several wholemeal breads, including fine wholemeal, tiger wholemeal and farmhouse wholemeal.
Dirk offers white, brown, wholemeal and multigrain bread, as well as sourdough products.
This selection includes flatbread, rye bread and bread to bake at home. If you’re choosing for a fussy eater, check the bread description and texture of each product separately: these products aren’t automatically a mix of white and wholemeal bread or a fine wholemeal loaf.
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An option if you’re looking for flatbread; don’t expect the crumb texture of an ordinary loaf.
The product name lists six pieces. Check the current ingredients and allergens on the packet.
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A good fit if you’re looking for rye bread, but it’s not necessarily a substitute for bread with a familiar, soft crumb.
The product name lists nine pieces. Check the ingredients and allergens on the current packaging.
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A good choice if you want to buy two round loaves and have room at home to store and bake them.
The product name distinguishes this pack from the one-loaf version. Check the baking instructions and allergens on the packaging.
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A good fit if you want one round loaf rather than a pack of two.
Before baking, check the instructions on the packaging and look there for the latest allergen information.
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Consider this product if you’re looking for rye bread, but check its format: the name says ‘bun’, while the description refers to sliced rye bread.
The product name lists 500 g. Check the bread description and grain composition on the packaging before assuming it’s a fully wholemeal product.
No. According to Albert Heijn, brown or multigrain bread can contain white flour as well as wholemeal flour. For wholemeal bread, look for the wholemeal description on the specific product and read the ingredients.
No. Fine or coarse doesn’t in itself tell you how much of the grain has been used. Fine wholemeal bread could be a good option if a coarse texture is putting you off; compare the labels of the loaves you’re considering to check for nutritional differences.
Before buying, ask the market stallholder or baker about any allergens that are relevant to you. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, consumers must also be given allergen information for unpackaged products.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. For packaged bread, look for baker’s salt in the ingredients list, or ask about it when buying unpackaged bread.
