Who are these choices relevant to?

Small households with a secondary school pupil

If you only need to prepare a few school lunches, compare the number of rolls in each pack with how many you’ll actually use. Albert Heijn, Jumbo and Dirk list their rolls in packs of four.

Anyone who prioritises wholemeal

The name ‘multigrain’ doesn’t tell you how much wholemeal flour a roll contains. Check the ingredients if you want to take the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice to choose wholemeal or brown bread more often into account.

Families with an allergy requirement

Before packing lunch, check the allergen information for the exact roll, any warnings about other allergens, and the school’s policies. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains which allergens must be listed on food labels.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start with the quantity your household uses for school lunches, then compare the ingredients. Always treat an allergy requirement as a separate check before buying.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Quantity and waste Compare the number of rolls per pack with how many you’ll use, or with the amount of bread you’d take from half a loaf. Check the shelf life, too. If I’m making lunch for one or a few school pupils, I don’t want any rolls left over. Around 38% of consumers prioritise a suitable quantity.
What the roll is made of Look for wholemeal flour in the ingredients list and, where provided, compare the fibre per 100 g. Don’t rely on ‘multigrain’ alone. For regular school lunches, I want to know what flour the roll contains. Around 37% of consumers give the ingredients top priority.
Gluten and other allergens Read the allergen information and any warnings on the exact pack. If gluten-free is a requirement, check that it says ‘gluten-free’ and confirm the school’s policies. If the person eating the lunch needs to avoid gluten or another allergen, I need to be able to check this before packing it. This is the top priority for around 25% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘multigrain’ means ‘gluten-free’

    These are different characteristics. PLUS’s multigrain rolls list wheat, rye and barley, and also carry warnings about soya, milk and sesame.

    Read the allergen information on the pack you choose. If gluten-free is essential, choose a product that is explicitly labelled as such, and check the school’s policies too.

  • Assuming ‘multigrain’ means ‘wholemeal’

    The product name alone doesn’t tell you how much wholemeal flour has been used. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends replacing white bread with wholemeal or brown bread as often as possible.

    Check the ingredients list for the variety you want to buy. For example, PLUS states that its multigrain rolls contain 56% wholemeal wheat flour.

Brands to compare

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists rolls in packs of four as an own-brand product.

  • A four-pack gives you a clear quantity to compare with the number of lunches you’re planning.
  • Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information for the variety you choose on the pack in store.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists white and multiseed rolls, among others, in packs of four weighing 300 g.

  • You can compare a white variety with a multiseed one in the same pack size.
  • Check the ingredients and allergens for the specific variety; the category name won’t tell you what they are.

Lidl

Lidl lists white rolls to bake at home as an own-brand product.

  • The preparation instructions make it clear that you’ll need to plan time to bake them at home.
  • Check the pack in store for the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information.

PLUS

PLUS lists white, multigrain and explicitly labelled gluten-free rolls as separate products.

  • The 300 g multigrain variety lists 56% wholemeal wheat flour, along with an ingredients and allergen list.
  • Don’t treat the gluten-free variety as interchangeable with the multigrain one; always check the information on the pack you choose.

Dirk

Dirk lists rustic multigrain rolls in packs of four, among other products.

  • The four-pack gives you a clear basis for planning quantities for school lunches.
  • Read the label for the exact variety to check its allergens and nutritional information.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are multigrain rolls gluten-free?

No, ‘multigrain’ doesn’t mean ‘gluten-free’. PLUS’s multigrain rolls list cereals containing gluten, including wheat, rye and barley. If gluten-free is a requirement, choose a product explicitly labelled as gluten-free and check the current label.

Should I choose white or multigrain rolls for a school lunch?

Don’t choose based on the variety name alone. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends replacing white bread with wholemeal or brown bread as often as possible, so check whether the roll actually contains wholemeal flour. For example, PLUS’s multigrain rolls list 56% wholemeal wheat flour.

Do I need to bake rolls before packing them for school?

Yes, prepare bake-at-home rolls according to the instructions on the pack you choose before packing them. Leave them to cool before adding a filling.

Do rolls always contain iodised salt?

You can’t tell from the product name. PLUS lists ‘iodised salt’ in its multigrain rolls. Check the ingredients list on the pack if this matters to your choice.