If wholemeal content and fibre are your priorities, choose bread labelled ‘wholemeal’ and compare the nutritional information per 100 g. Then decide whether you want sliced bread, and whether a whole or half loaf is right for your breakfast group. The words ‘fine’ and ‘sliced’ don’t tell you whether the slices are the thickness you’re looking for, so check the packaging too if allergens or baker’s salt matter to your choice.
You’re looking for sliced bread to top with sweet or savoury fillings, and mainly want to know whether it’s genuinely wholemeal. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that the label ‘wholemeal’ tells you something about the composition of the bread; its colour or slice doesn’t.
You want bread that’s already sliced, and are choosing between a whole and half loaf based on the number of people having breakfast. Also check the range at your chosen shop: Dirk, Albert Heijn, PLUS and ALDI, among others, stock different sliced and half loaves.
If wheat, gluten-containing cereals or other allergens matter to your choice, check the information for the specific loaf. If you want to know whether baker’s salt has been used, check the label too, or ask about unpackaged bread.
First choose the type of bread, then check that the slices and loaf size suit your breakfast, and finally make sure your preferred option is available at your shop. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread labelled ‘wholemeal’ is made with wholemeal flour; ‘brown’ or ‘multigrain’ doesn’t automatically mean the same thing.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who does this matter to? |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal content and fibre | Look for the label ‘wholemeal’ on the packaging. Compare the fibre per 100 g shown for different loaves. | If I mainly want to serve wholemeal bread, I want to be able to tell from the packaging. For around 50% of shoppers, wholemeal content and fibre are the top priorities. |
| Slices and loaf size | Check whether the bread is sliced and see if the slices suit your toppings or toaster. Choose a whole or half loaf to match how much you expect to use. | When I’m making several sandwiches for breakfast, I want slices and a loaf size that suit the occasion. Convenience comes first for around 30% of shoppers. |
| Local availability | Check whether the specific loaf is available at your chosen shop; a range page won’t tell you which slice thickness is in stock there at that moment. | If I want to serve a particular option, I want to be able to find it at my shop. Local availability is the main concern for around 20% of shoppers. |
The colour and the name ‘multigrain’ don’t prove that bread is wholemeal. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre distinguishes between wholemeal bread and brown bread, which is made by mixing wholemeal flour with white flour.
If you’re specifically looking for wholemeal bread, use the ‘wholemeal’ label on the packaging; then compare the nutritional information for the loaves you’re considering.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers don’t have to use baker’s salt. So you can’t tell whether it has been added just from the type of bread.
Check the ingredients list for baker’s salt, or ask about unpackaged bread if this information matters to your choice.
A label describing the slice won’t tell you whether its thickness will work for your toppings or toaster. It also says nothing about whether the bread is wholemeal.
Where possible, look at the slices on the packaging or in the shop, and check the type of bread separately.
A bread’s name doesn’t give you a full list of the allergens it contains. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that allergens must be listed on food labels.
Read the allergen information for the specific product before buying; if the bread is unpackaged, ask where you can find this information.
These ranges give you a starting point for comparing types of bread, slice thickness and loaf sizes. Before choosing, always check the information for the individual loaf and your chosen shop.
The online bread range includes sliced OerDesem and Liefde & Passie options, as well as wholemeal and multigrain loaves.
Jumbo stocks options including Fine Wholemeal Bread, as well as whole and half loaves.
Lidl stocks an 800 g Fine Wholemeal loaf and uses a fibre scale on packaged bread.
ALDI stocks Fine Wholemeal as a whole and half loaf, as well as other wholemeal options.
PLUS stocks Round Fine Wholemeal as a whole and half loaf in its online range.
Dirk stocks Bakker van der Akker loaves in options including wholemeal, casino and multigrain, with half loaves among them.
TastyBasics Rustic Bread is one option to consider for weekend breakfast. If you’re specifically looking for wholemeal bread or a particular slice thickness, check the packaging and product information before choosing.
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A bread option to consider if you’re looking for a pack of 5 for weekend breakfast. If slice thickness, wholemeal content, ingredients or allergens will affect your choice, check the packaging.
No, the slice thickness says nothing about whether the bread is wholemeal. Look for the label ‘wholemeal’ on the packaging: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, it refers to the wholemeal flour used, not how finely the bread is sliced.
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bakers don’t have to use baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list on packaged bread, or ask if the bread is sold unpackaged.
Check the allergen information for the bread you want to buy. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens must be clearly listed on the labels of prepacked foods; don’t rely on the product name alone.
Not necessarily: the range can vary from shop to shop. Check that your chosen option is available at your local shop, and look at the packaging when you buy it, especially if you’re looking for a particular slice thickness or a half loaf.
