Choose a half multigrain loaf based on what you want to check: look for the ‘wholemeal’ label and fibre per 100 g if the grain content is your priority, or check the ingredients and nutritional information if you’re considering a particular brown loaf. Buying half a loaf means there’s less to get through at once, but if your routine changes during the holidays, freezing it in portions is still important. Check the latest allergen information for every variety.
If you’re eating with fewer people during the summer holidays or spending less time at home, a half loaf may better suit how much you’ll get through. The Voedingscentrum also provides advice on storing bread in the freezer; divide the loaf into portions if needed.
A loaf doesn’t automatically count as wholemeal just because it contains several types of grain. Check the product description and compare the stated fibre per 100 g, rather than judging by the colour or visible seeds alone.
The half multigrain loaves reviewed contain different gluten-containing cereals; some varieties also list soya or sesame. So check the information for the specific loaf you’re buying.
First, work out how much bread you’ll get through during the changing pace of the holidays. Then compare the grain content and nutritional information, and always check allergens before buying.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Loaf size and storage | Check that it’s a half loaf and that you can freeze any portions you don’t use. | When I’m not eating at home every day during the holidays, I don’t want to have more bread open than I can get through. An estimated 36% of consumers say reducing leftovers is their top priority. |
| Wholemeal content and fibre | Look for the ‘wholemeal’ label and compare fibre on a like-for-like basis: per 100 g. | I want to know whether the loaf is actually labelled as wholemeal, not just whether it contains several grains. Around 29% of consumers put questions about grain content and fibre first. |
| Allergens | Read the latest ingredients and allergen information; if buying unwrapped bread, ask before you buy. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I need to be able to see which grains and other allergens the loaf contains. An estimated 21% of consumers put this check first. |
| Availability | Check whether your shop sells the loaf you want in a half-size format. | I want to be able to do my holiday food shopping at a convenient shop and not come home with a different size. For around 14% of consumers, local availability is the first consideration. |
According to the Voedingscentrum, multigrain bread contains at least three types of grain. The name alone doesn’t tell you whether the bread is wholemeal or how much fibre it contains.
Check for the ‘wholemeal’ label, then compare the fibre per 100 g on the packaging.
Even a half loaf can go uneaten if you unexpectedly eat out during the holidays.
When you get home, divide the loaf into portions and freeze anything you don’t expect to eat in time.
The colour, crust and visible seeds don’t tell you everything about the ingredients in a loaf. For Jumbo’s Waldkorn Meergranen Brood Half, the listed allergens include gluten-containing cereals, soya and sesame.
Read the latest allergen information for the variety you’ve chosen; if buying unwrapped bread, ask before you buy.
A range overview won’t necessarily show which loaves are available in a half-size format at your local shop.
Check the product size and the range at the branch where you do your shopping.
Albert Heijn describes its AH Vloerbrood meergranen half as a half brown multigrain loaf.
Jumbo describes both Waldkorn Meergranen Brood Half and Boeren Donker Volkoren Meergranen Half.
Lidl describes a 400 g Halfje donker meergranenbrood.
ALDI describes Boeren volkoren meergranen in a half-size format.
PLUS shows a range of multigrain bread and lists delivery and collection as ordering options.
Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker Bakkers meergranen half as a separate product.
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, ‘multigrain’ means that the bread contains at least three types of grain; it’s not the same as being labelled ‘wholemeal’. Check the product name and ingredients if you’re specifically looking for a wholemeal variety.
Freeze any bread you don’t expect to eat soon in portions as soon as possible. The Voedingscentrum recommends storing opened wholemeal bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2–4 days or in the freezer for 1–3 months; for other types of bread, also check the storage instructions on the packaging.
No. The Jumbo varieties mentioned here list gluten-containing cereals. If you’re looking for gluten-free bread, check the label and the latest ingredients and allergen information for the specific loaf.
Ask in the shop for the allergen information before buying, even if there isn’t an ingredients list displayed. If you need to avoid gluten-containing cereals, ask which types of grain have been used; according to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information must be clearly stated.
