Everyday budget shopper
You’re looking for bread for breakfast and lunch that suits how much your household gets through. A half loaf and a whole loaf won’t necessarily meet the same needs, so compare their weight and size too.
Who is this relevant to?
Shopper looking to confirm it’s wholemeal
You want to know whether a multigrain loaf is actually wholemeal. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ doesn’t automatically mean ‘wholemeal’. Check the product description and ingredients rather than relying on the name of the bread alone.
Shopper with a practical or dietary requirement
Perhaps you’re looking for bread to bake at a later date, or need to take gluten or other allergens into account. In that case, the preparation instructions and allergen information for the specific product matter more than the general name ‘multigrain’.
What should you look for?
Start with a size that suits how much you use; then check whether it’s wholemeal, read the label and consider when you plan to eat it.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it important to? |
|---|---|---|
| A size that suits everyday use | Compare the weight and size, and consider whether you’ll get through a half or whole loaf. | I often buy bread for breakfast and lunch and don’t want to keep having slices left over. A suitable everyday size is the top priority for around 40% of consumers. |
| Wholemeal base and fibre | Look for ‘wholemeal’ in the product description and compare the fibre per 100 g in suitable loaves. | If wholemeal is my main priority, I want to be able to confirm it on the label. This matters most to around 30% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the allergen information; if needed, also check whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed in the ingredients. | I need to know what’s in a particular loaf before choosing it. For around 20% of consumers, checking the label is the top priority. |
| Storage and preparation | Check the storage advice, packaging and preparation instructions for bake-at-home bread. | I want to be able to use bread later and need to allow for defrosting or baking. This is the top priority for around 10% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘multigrain’ means ‘wholemeal’
A loaf can contain several types of grain without being made entirely from wholemeal flour. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre distinguishes between these descriptions.
Look for ‘wholemeal’ in the product description, then check the ingredients and nutritional information per 100 g.
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Looking only at the number of loaves
A half loaf, a whole loaf and a pack of bake-at-home bread can differ in weight and when you’ll use them. So the number of items tells you little about how much bread you’ll actually get through.
Compare the weight and choose a size that suits your household and storage plans.
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Assuming the type of bread tells you whether it contains iodised salt
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt isn’t compulsory. So the name ‘multigrain’ doesn’t tell you what type of salt has been used.
Check the ingredients for baker’s salt or iodised salt. If the bread isn’t packaged, ask for the ingredient information.
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Assuming seeds give you the full allergen picture
Multigrain bread with seeds may also contain ingredients such as wheat, barley, sesame and soya. Ingredients vary from product to product.
Read the current ingredients and allergen information, including any ‘may contain’ statements, for the exact product you’re choosing.
Brands to consider
ALDI
ALDI lists products including Boeren volkoren meergranen in a half-loaf size.
- The product reviewed combines the descriptions ‘multigrain’, ‘wholemeal’ and ‘half’.
- Check the weight and ingredients before comparing it with a different loaf size.
Dirk
Dirk lists multigrain loaves from Bakker van der Akker, including half loaves.
- Both Bakkers meergranen half and Multikorn volkoren half are listed.
- Don’t assume products with ‘multigrain’ in the name are all made with the same wholemeal base.
Jumbo
Jumbo describes Stevig Meergranen as a whole, wholemeal multigrain loaf with seeds.
- This particular loaf is listed as containing 8,6 g of fibre per 100 g.
- The listed ingredients include wheat, barley, sesame and soya; check the current packaging if you have a dietary requirement.
PLUS
PLUS lists both a round Korenlanders multigrain loaf and wholemeal multigrain baguettes.
- For Korenlanders Donker meergranen rond heel, PLUS lists 50% wholemeal wheat flour and 6,8 g of fibre per 100 g.
- The baguettes are bake-at-home products, so check the preparation instructions if you want bread you can eat straight away.
Albert Heijn
The product information for AH Boeren donker meergranen heel gives an example of ingredients and storage advice.
- For this particular product, the ingredients include wholemeal wheat flour and iodised salt, and the nutritional information lists 6 g of fibre per 100 g.
- Don’t use these product details as the label information for other AH multigrain loaves.
Lidl
Lidl describes a fibre indicator on packaged bread.
- According to Lidl, the indicator shows four ranges, from 0–3 g to at least 8 g of fibre per 100 g.
- Use the fibre value alongside the product description and ingredients; the indicator alone doesn’t confirm that the bread is wholemeal.
Multigrain products on Joybuy
These rolls, baguettes and round loaves are for anyone looking to bake multigrain bread at a later date. Choose the size you want and check the preparation method, wholemeal base and allergen information on each pack.
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g'woon Multigrain Rolls, 4 stuks
For anyone who wants individual multigrain rolls and can fit defrosting and baking into their routine.
Check the current packaging for preparation instructions, wholemeal information and allergen details.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Country Bread Round, 2 × 550 g
For anyone looking for two round multigrain loaves to use later and able to allow time for defrosting and baking.
Check the preparation instructions and ingredients for this product before use.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Rustic Baguette, 4 × 135 g
For anyone who wants to bake multigrain baguettes as needed; defrosting and an oven are part of the process.
Check the current packaging for ingredients, allergens and preparation instructions.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Country Bread Round, 550 g
For anyone looking for one round multigrain loaf to use later and with time to defrost and bake it.
Check the packaging for preparation instructions, wholemeal information and allergen details.
Frequently asked questions
Is multigrain bread automatically wholemeal?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘wholemeal’ bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour; ‘multigrain’ doesn’t confirm this. If you’re looking for wholemeal bread, check the product description and ingredients.
Does Dutch multigrain bread always contain baker’s salt?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt isn’t compulsory. For packaged bread, check whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed in the ingredients. If the bread isn’t packaged, ask which ingredients have been used.
Can I freeze multigrain bread?
Follow the storage advice for the specific loaf. The product information for AH Boeren donker meergranen heel and PLUS Korenlanders Donker meergranen rond heel recommends freezing them on the day of purchase; don’t assume the same advice applies to other loaves.
Is gluten-free multigrain bread the same as regular multigrain bread?
No. ‘Gluten-free’ is a separate product description and doesn’t mean that other allergens are absent. For example, the Schär Meesterbakker Mehrkorn described by PLUS contains soya, so read the full allergen information for the product you choose.