Families with fussy bread eaters
Looking for a less coarse texture for a family dinner than some family members expect from wholemeal bread? A finely milled wholemeal loaf may be worth considering; taste and ingredients vary from loaf to loaf.
Who might find this choice relevant?
Families prioritising wholemeal and fibre
Want to look beyond colour and compare the product name, ingredients and fibre content per 100 g of specific loaves.
Households that read labels carefully
Need to check allergens before serving, or want to know what the label says about salt and baker’s salt when choosing bread.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether a loaf that everyone will enjoy or a clearly wholemeal base matters more. Then check the label of your chosen loaf for the details that are essential for your household.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Taste and texture | Check whether the bread is finely milled and whether its crust, seeds or kernels suit what your family likes to eat. | If a coarse slice isn’t popular, I look for a finer texture. For around 36% of consumers, finding a loaf everyone will enjoy is the top priority. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for ‘wholemeal’ in the product name and compare the stated fibre content on the same basis, for example per 100 g. | I want to know whether the bread is genuinely wholemeal and how much fibre it contains. For around 29% of consumers, both are top priorities. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current allergen information and any cross-contamination warnings on the packaging. | If someone has an allergy, I want to know which allergens and possible traces are listed before serving. For around 21% of consumers, this check matters most. |
| Salt and baker’s salt | Compare salt content on the same nutritional basis and check whether baker’s salt is listed in the ingredients. | If salt or baker’s salt is a consideration for my household, I want to read the label for this specific loaf. Around 14% of consumers put this information first. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming dark bread is wholemeal
A dark colour doesn’t prove that only wholemeal grains or wholemeal flour have been used. So if you’re choosing a wholemeal loaf, you can’t rely on the colour of the crust or crumb.
Look for ‘wholemeal’ in the product name and read the ingredients list for the specific loaf.
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Taking ‘fine’ or ‘kids’ as a guarantee of wholemeal
Lidl describes its specific wholemeal kids’ bread as being made with extra-finely milled wholemeal flour. This tells you nothing about the ingredients in other breads with a fine texture or a similar name.
Use texture descriptions to explore possible taste preferences, but check separately whether your chosen loaf is wholemeal.
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Checking allergens only once you’re at the table
Bread may contain cereals containing gluten and other relevant allergens; warnings about possible cross-contamination vary by product.
Read the current packaging for the exact loaf before buying it, and check again before serving if a family member has an allergy.
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Assuming every loaf contains iodine-enriched baker’s salt
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the conditions under which iodine compounds may be present in bread through baker’s salt. This doesn’t mean that every loaf is made with baker’s salt.
Check the ingredients list for the loaf you choose rather than assuming that all bread contains a particular type of baker’s salt.
Brands to compare
These brands offer a range of breads that may be relevant when choosing between brown and wholemeal. Always compare individual products, not just brands.
Albert Heijn
AH Zoutarm bruin is an example for households who also want to check the added salt in a brown loaf.
- Albert Heijn states that this loaf contains 34% wholemeal wheat flour and 33% wheat flour.
- This composition applies to this product; check the current packaging when you buy it.
Jumbo
Offers finely milled wholemeal, brown bread and multigrain bread as distinct product ranges, among others.
- This gives you the opportunity to compare breads with different product names.
- Check the fibre, salt and allergen information on the page or packaging for the loaf you actually choose.
Lidl
Offers a specific wholemeal kids’ bread that may be relevant if a coarse texture is a concern.
- According to Lidl, the wholemeal flour in this bread is extra-finely milled, and the loaf tastes like brown bread.
- This description doesn’t apply to every fine-textured loaf; check the ingredients of your chosen product for allergen information.
ALDI
Alongside its regular bread varieties, ALDI also offers a specific extra-high-fibre wholemeal loaf.
- ALDI describes this product as 100% wholemeal.
- Don’t assume that other breads in the range have the same qualities; compare their individual labels.
PLUS
PLUS Rond fijn volkoren is a specific product you can assess as a finely milled wholemeal option by checking its nutritional information.
- PLUS states that this loaf contains 6,7 g of fibre per 100 g and 1,03 g of salt per 100 g.
- PLUS notes that product information may change; check the packaging of the loaf you receive.
Dirk
Offers Bakker van der Akker breads in brown and wholemeal varieties, among others.
- The individual product names make it easier to compare brown and wholemeal bread.
- Read the ingredients and nutritional information for each variety; a brown label doesn’t mean the bread is wholemeal.
Bread options on Joybuy
These two round loaves are options if you want to defrost and bake bread for a family dinner. Check the packaging if a fully wholemeal composition, a particular texture or allergen information is essential to your choice.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round, 2 × 550 g
For a family dinner where defrosting and baking fit into your preparations. The pack contains two 550 g round loaves; check the ingredients, nutritional information and allergens on the label.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round, 550 g
For anyone who wants to bake one 550 g round loaf for dinner. Allow time to defrost it and follow the packaging instructions for baking; also check the ingredients and allergens for this loaf.
Frequently asked questions
Is dark or brown bread always wholemeal?
No. Colour doesn’t tell you whether a loaf is made entirely from wholemeal grains or wholemeal flour. Look for ‘wholemeal’ in the product name and check the ingredients if this is important to you.
Does baker’s salt mean that all bread in the Netherlands contains iodine?
No. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority sets out the conditions for iodine compounds to be present in bread through baker’s salt; this doesn’t mean that every loaf contains baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list for the specific product.
What should I look out for if someone in my family has an allergy?
Check the current allergen information for the exact loaf before serving it. Bread may contain cereals containing gluten and may also carry warnings about other allergens or possible cross-contamination.
Is low-salt brown bread the same as wholemeal bread?
No. ‘Low salt’ and ‘wholemeal’ describe different qualities. Albert Heijn states that AH Zoutarm bruin contains both wholemeal wheat flour and wheat flour, so compare the product name, ingredients and salt content separately with those of a loaf labelled wholemeal.