Choose a half wholemeal loaf if you want a smaller amount and fibre is a priority. If crust and texture matter just as much, compare half hearth-baked loaves too; wholemeal and hearth-baked are not mutually exclusive. Check the ingredients, nutritional information and allergens for each loaf, and read the storage instructions if even half a loaf is more than you can eat quickly.
Do you live alone or with someone else, or not eat bread every day? A half loaf can help you buy an amount that matches what you actually eat. The Voedingscentrum (Netherlands Nutrition Centre) lists bread among the foods most often wasted in Dutch households. Check the storage instructions too: PLUS says its Boeren volkoren half can be frozen on the day of purchase.
If you eat bread regularly, the product description and fibre per 100 g are good places to start comparing. Crust, seeds and texture then help you decide which loaf you’ll enjoy eating. Check the ingredients as well: a dark hearth-baked loaf or one made with several grains may contain different allergens from your usual bread.
Are you looking for bread with a particular nutritional profile, for example in terms of carbohydrates, salt or gluten? Compare the specific product’s ingredients, nutritional information and allergens. The wording on the front of the pack doesn’t tell you everything about the rest of its composition.
Start with how much bread your household gets through. Then compare the product description and nutritional information, before choosing between options such as a softer slice, a firm crust or a loaf with seeds.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Right-sized amount | Compare the weight or number of slices with how much you use; check whether freezing on the day of purchase is recommended. | If I don’t eat bread every day, I don’t want slices left over that I won’t use. An estimated 36% of consumers say getting the right amount matters most. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Read the product description and compare fibre per 100 g. | For my everyday sandwiches, the ingredients matter more than a dark colour alone. Around 29% of consumers prioritise wholemeal bread and fibre. |
| Crust and texture | Check whether the loaf is hearth-baked or contains seeds, and read the ingredients too. | I’m mainly looking for a crust and texture that suit my taste, even if that means comparing more products. This is the first thing around 21% of consumers consider. |
| Specific nutritional profile | Read the full ingredients and allergen information, and compare relevant values, such as salt or carbohydrates, per 100 g. | If I have a specific dietary requirement, the composition of this particular loaf needs to be right. An estimated 14% of consumers give this check top priority. |
A loaf’s colour, seeds and name don’t, on their own, tell you whether it is wholemeal or how much fibre it contains.
If you prefer wholemeal, check the product description and then compare fibre per 100 g.
Ingredients vary from one half loaf to another. The hearth-baked, seeded and reduced-carbohydrate loaves reviewed list a range of ingredients, including different grains, sesame, soya and egg.
Before buying, read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging, even if you’ve bought another loaf from the same range before.
Reduced-carbohydrate bread may have a different composition from regular wholemeal bread. The description alone doesn’t tell you about all its other nutritional values or allergens.
Compare the carbohydrates, fibre and salt per 100 g, as well as the ingredients and allergens in both loaves.
Not every half loaf listed is sold in the same way at every shop. Lidl says the Halfje extra volkorenbrood reviewed is sold in store.
Before you set off, check the information for your local branch or ask in store about the specific loaf.
A useful starting point if you want to compare half wholemeal hearth-baked loaves.
A useful starting point if you want to look at a half wholemeal loaf with a different composition.
Worth comparing if you’re choosing between a regular half wholemeal loaf and a dark wholemeal hearth-baked loaf.
Worth considering if you’re looking for a half farmhouse wholemeal loaf.
Worth considering if you’re looking for a half wholemeal loaf with seeds and grains.
Worth considering if a 400 g half wholemeal loaf suits how much bread you eat.
A half loaf may suit your needs better if you can’t get through a whole loaf in time. Think about how many slices you usually eat, and follow the packaging instructions if you want to freeze the rest. The Voedingscentrum (Netherlands Nutrition Centre) lists bread among the foods most often wasted in Dutch households.
No. Don’t choose on colour alone. Check the product description and ingredients, and compare fibre per 100 g if that’s important to you. Loaves with seeds or several grains should also be assessed individually.
You can’t assume that every loaf does. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may only be present in bread through the addition of baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list for the specific loaf to see which salt is listed.
Follow the storage instructions for the loaf you buy. PLUS says you can freeze Boeren volkoren half at home on the day of purchase and should use it within one month. Don’t assume the same instructions apply to other products.
