Large households looking to reduce bread waste
You buy several loaves, but want to match your stock to what will be eaten within a few days or can be frozen in portions.
Who is this choice important for?
Families looking for everyday wholemeal bread
You weigh up the loaf size and nutritional information against whether everyone at home enjoys eating it.
Households prioritising fibre or salt content
You want to compare the nutritional information for the exact bread variety, rather than applying a product-specific claim to every loaf sold by a shop.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, work out how much bread your household gets through. Then compare the type of bread, its nutritional information and the preparation or storage instructions on the pack you intend to buy.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it's important for |
|---|---|---|
| Amount you can use | Compare the net weight and the number of loaves or slices; check that the quantity suits how much you get through. | When I shop for several people, I want us to finish the bread rather than leave it uneaten. That’s why around 31% of consumers prioritise the amount they can use. |
| Stock and waste | Check the storage advice and decide which portions you can freeze. | When our bread consumption varies, I want to be able to divide up our stock without wasting bread. That’s the main concern for around 25% of consumers. |
| Wholemeal and nutritional information | Check the type of bread, ingredients and fibre per 100 g; only consider a salt claim for the exact variety it refers to. | I want to know whether the bread I choose for everyday use is really the wholemeal variety I’m looking for. Nutritional information is a priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Texture and whether people like it | Look at the difference between fine and coarser bread, and try an unfamiliar variety in a suitable quantity first. | If people at home leave coarser bread uneaten, I’d rather find a wholemeal loaf they will eat. Around 19% of consumers give acceptance the highest priority. |
Common mistakes
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Choosing a larger loaf without considering how much you get through
A whole loaf isn’t automatically a better fit for your household than a smaller one: bread that isn’t eaten or frozen may go to waste.
Compare the net weight and plan how much bread you’ll use over the next few days or freeze in portions.
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Applying a fibre or salt claim to every loaf
Nutritional values and comparative claims apply to a specific variety. For example, Jumbo lists 7,6 g of fibre per 100 g for Jumbo Fijn Volkoren; this figure doesn’t apply to every fine wholemeal loaf.
Read the nutritional information per 100 g and the ingredients for the exact pack you’re buying.
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Assuming every loaf contains iodine-enriched baker’s salt
If you’re looking for a particular ingredient, you’ll need information about the individual loaf rather than making assumptions about all bread.
Check the ingredients on the packaging or ask the seller which salt was used in the bread.
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Overlooking allergen information for loose bread
Allergen information is important for unpackaged or freshly baked bread too, if someone in your household has an allergy.
For pre-packed bread, read the label. For unpackaged bread, ask about allergen information before buying; the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that this information must also be available for products sold without packaging.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn’s online range includes, among other options, a whole wholemeal loaf.
- The product page provides information about a specific variety.
- Albert Heijn warns that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change. So be sure to check the packaging of the loaf you buy too.
Jumbo
Jumbo’s range includes fine wholemeal bread and wholemeal multigrain bread.
- Jumbo lists 7,6 g of fibre per 100 g for Jumbo Fijn Volkoren and 7,8 g per 100 g for Jumbo Volkoren Meergranen Brood.
- These values apply to the varieties named; compare the nutritional information on the pack you choose.
Lidl
Lidl’s range includes oven-fresh bread, and it publishes an overview of ingredients and allergens for this selection.
- The overview can help you choose a particular oven-fresh loaf.
- Check which bread is available when you buy and what information applies to that variety.
ALDI
ALDI’s range includes fine wholemeal bread and a separate variety called Extra vezelrijk volkorenbrood.
- According to ALDI’s own product information, this extra-high-fibre variety has 30% less salt and 30% more fibre than standard wholemeal bread.
- This comparison applies only to that variety and the comparison basis stated by ALDI.
PLUS
PLUS stocks various wholemeal loaves, including Korenlanders Extra donker volkoren vloer heel.
- For this Korenlanders variety, PLUS says you can freeze the bread on the day you buy it and should use it within one month.
- Don’t assume this storage advice applies to other loaves; check the instructions for the variety you choose.
Dirk
Dirk stocks types of bread including wholemeal bread, multigrain bread and a whole wholemeal tin loaf.
- These options offer different types of bread to consider for your household.
- Wholemeal and multigrain are not interchangeable product descriptions; check the name and ingredients of the individual loaf.
Wholemeal bread at Joybuy
These two round wholemeal loaves from Lekhaven Bakkerij differ in pack size: one loaf or two loaves weighing 550 g each. Choose an amount your household can use, and check the preparation and storage instructions on the packaging.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij round wholemeal bread, 2 × 550 g
The two-loaf pack is a good fit for a household that can use both loaves or freeze some of the bread.
Check the preparation and storage instructions on the packaging before use.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij round wholemeal bread, 550 g
The single loaf is a good option if you’d like to see how much of this variety your household gets through first.
Check the preparation and storage instructions on the packaging before use.
Frequently asked questions
Does everyday bread always have to be wholemeal?
Wholemeal is a good starting point when choosing bread for everyday use: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends replacing white bread with wholemeal or brown bread as much as possible. Also consider whether your household likes the texture; fine wholemeal can be an alternative if coarser bread tends to be left uneaten.
How long can I keep wholemeal bread?
For opened wholemeal bread, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s storage guide recommends 2–4 days in a kitchen cupboard and 1–3 months in the freezer. Divide bread that won’t be eaten within a few days into portions, and follow the storage advice on the packaging too.
Can I assume that every loaf contains iodine-enriched baker’s salt?
No, don’t assume a particular type of salt is used in an individual loaf without checking. Look at the ingredients on the packaging or ask the seller which salt was used if this matters to your choice.
Where can I find allergen information for packaged and loose bread?
For pre-packed bread, read the label; for loose bread, ask for the available allergen information before buying. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, this information must be provided to consumers in another way for unpackaged products.