Smaller households
If you’re serving bread alongside antipasti, soup or pasta, a half loaf may be a better fit for the amount you need. Albert Heijn, Jumbo, Lidl, ALDI and Dirk each list a half multigrain loaf.
Who is a half loaf useful for?
Label-conscious shoppers
To check whether a loaf is wholemeal and how much fibre it contains, compare the bread description, ingredients and nutritional information. According to the Dutch Consumers’ Association, ‘multigrain’ on its own doesn’t mean a loaf is wholemeal.
Shoppers checking allergens
If someone at the table needs to avoid certain ingredients, check the up-to-date allergen information for the specific loaf. For its Waldkorn Meergranen Brood Half, Jumbo lists wheat, barley, sesame and soya, among other allergens.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, work out how much bread you’ll need for dinner. Then compare the type of bread and its label, and finally check whether a half loaf fits your shopping plans.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity and leftovers | Check that it really is half a loaf, and look at the weight if it’s listed. Think about what you’ll do with any leftovers. | For dinner for one or two, I don’t want to be left with lots of bread; around 33% of consumers prioritise getting the right quantity. |
| Type of bread and nutritional information | Look for the ‘wholemeal’ label if you want wholemeal bread, and compare the ingredients and fibre per 100 g. | If I’m looking for wholemeal bread, the dark colour alone doesn’t tell me enough about the flour; around 27% of consumers prioritise the type of bread and its nutritional information. |
| Allergens and ingredients | Read the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the specific loaf. | If anyone at the table needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know what’s in the bread beforehand; for around 20% of consumers, allergens are their main concern when buying. |
| Shopping convenience | Check where the half loaf is available, and only compare offers on products of a similar size. | I’d prefer to do all my dinner shopping in one shop; around 20% of consumers put this convenience first. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘multigrain’ means ‘wholemeal’
A dark colour or visible seeds don’t tell you whether the bread is made with wholemeal flour. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre distinguishes wholemeal bread from bread made with only some wholemeal flour.
If you want wholemeal bread, look for ‘wholemeal’ in the bread description and check the ingredients and fibre per 100 g.
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Guessing the allergens from the type of bread
Multigrain bread can contain a range of grains and other allergens. For its Waldkorn Meergranen Brood Half, Jumbo lists cereals containing gluten, sesame and soya, among other allergens.
Check the latest allergen information for your chosen loaf every time you buy it. Don’t rely on its colour or on a recipe you’ve bought before.
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Buying a whole loaf without a plan for leftovers
If you only use part of the loaf with dinner, the rest could be left uneaten.
Choose half a loaf if that suits how much you’ll use. If you buy a whole loaf, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises freezing it in portions straight away.
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Assuming every loaf contains baker’s salt
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, not all bread is made with baker’s salt. So if you want to know what kind of salt has been used, don’t rely on the type of bread alone.
Check the label to see whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed in the ingredients.
Brands to compare
These examples show the half loaves and label information you can compare across different retailers. Product names and ingredients vary from loaf to loaf.
Albert Heijn
According to Albert Heijn, AH Vloerbrood meergranen half is a half brown multigrain hearth-baked loaf with sunflower seeds.
- The product information lists ingredients, nutritional values and allergens.
- Check the latest packaging and availability at your shop.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists both Waldkorn Meergranen Brood Half and Jumbo Boeren Donker Volkoren Meergranen Half.
- For its wholemeal version, Jumbo lists 8,0 g of fibre per 100 g and publishes allergen information for both loaves.
- The two loaves have different ingredients, so check the label of the one you choose.
Lidl
Lidl describes Halfje donker meergranenbrood as a 400 g loaf containing wheat, barley and buckwheat, among other ingredients.
- The half-loaf format and weight are listed.
- Check the latest allergen information and availability in store.
ALDI
ALDI offers Boeren volkoren meergranen Half as a sliced half loaf.
- The product name specifies both ‘wholemeal multigrain’ and the half-loaf format.
- Check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging before buying.
PLUS
PLUS Korenlanders Rond licht meerzaden half is a 400 g loaf; ‘multiseed’ isn’t the same product description as ‘multigrain’.
- PLUS publishes the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information for this loaf.
- If you’re specifically looking for half a multigrain loaf, don’t choose it based on the seeds alone.
Dirk
Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker Bakkers meergranen half as a fresh half multigrain loaf.
- The product name clearly indicates the half-loaf format and type of bread.
- Check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging before serving.
Related Joybuy products
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Is multigrain bread always wholemeal?
No. According to the Dutch Consumers’ Association, ‘multigrain’ doesn’t tell you whether the bread is wholemeal. If you want wholemeal bread, look for the ‘wholemeal’ label and check the ingredients too.
Should I always buy a half loaf for a small household?
No. A half loaf can be a good choice if you don’t use much bread, but you can also buy a whole loaf and freeze the rest in portions straight away, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
Can I rely on the word ‘multigrain’ to check for allergens?
No. Ingredients vary from loaf to loaf. For its Waldkorn Meergranen Brood Half, Jumbo lists wheat, barley, sesame and soya, among other ingredients. Check the latest allergen information on the packaging of the loaf you’re buying.
Does every loaf contain baker’s salt?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, not all bread is made with baker’s salt. Check the label to see whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed in the ingredients.