Who is a half loaf useful for?

Smaller households packing school lunches

If one or a few people take sandwiches to school, a half loaf may be closer to the amount you get through. Check the storage instructions too if you plan to freeze some of it.

Parents and carers comparing labels

If you’re looking for wholemeal bread, the product name, ingredients and fibre per 100 g tell you more than the colour or the word ‘multigrain’.

Families checking allergens

Check the ingredients, allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings for the loaf you’ve chosen. Also ask what rules your child’s school has for packed lunches.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, work out how much bread your household uses for lunches. Then compare the packaging, label and availability of loaves that suit your needs.

What to consider What should you check? Who is this important for?
Leftover bread Check the pack size and the storage or freezing instructions. If we end up with a whole loaf left over, I’d rather open less at a time. Around 36% of consumers prioritise reducing leftover bread.
Wholemeal and fibre Read the product name and ingredients; compare fibre per 100 g. For school lunches, I want to be able to tell whether the bread is genuinely wholemeal, rather than judge by its colour. Clearly labelled wholemeal bread and fibre content are top priorities for around 29% of consumers.
Allergens and school rules Read the latest allergen information on the packaging and check the school’s rules. When I pack bread for school, it needs to be suitable for the child eating it and comply with classroom rules. This check is the top priority for around 21% of consumers.
Availability Check whether the bread is available from your chosen retailer and compare current prices on a like-for-like weight basis. I want to be able to pick up a half loaf as part of my usual shop, without relying on a product page alone. Local availability and purchase costs matter most to around 14% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming dark or ‘Waldkorn’ bread is wholemeal

    A dark colour and a mix of grains don’t tell you how much wholemeal flour the loaf contains. For example, Albert Heijn lists both wholemeal wheat flour and wheat flour in its half multigrain hearth loaf.

    Look for ‘wholemeal’ in the product name and read the ingredients before comparing fibre per 100 g.

  • Skipping the allergen check

    Multigrain bread can contain several gluten-containing cereals and other allergens. For a school lunch, check the information on the specific pack you’ve chosen, even if you’ve bought bread from the same brand before.

    Read the ingredients and allergen information before packing lunch, and check whether your child’s class has any rules about food.

  • Assuming every loaf contains baker’s salt

    Baker’s salt contains iodine, but according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use it. So you can’t tell what type of salt a loaf contains just from the type of bread.

    Look for ‘baker’s salt’ or ‘iodised salt’ in the ingredients, and ask which salt has been used if you’re buying unpackaged bread.

  • Assuming a product page means an item is in stock

    A loaf shown online won’t necessarily be available from your chosen retailer or through the same shopping channel. Jumbo marked the half multigrain loaves we checked as no longer available in its online range; Lidl lists its Half Dark Multigrain Loaf as an in-store product.

    Check availability shortly before you shop, using the channel you plan to buy through.

Brands to compare

These brands offer some options for comparing half or smaller multigrain loaves. When you buy, always check the latest packaging and availability of the specific loaf.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists, among other options, a half wholemeal Waldkorn loaf and a half multigrain hearth loaf.

  • The half wholemeal Waldkorn loaf lists wholemeal wheat and rye flour, and includes instructions for freezing.
  • According to Albert Heijn, the half multigrain hearth loaf also contains wheat flour; compare the ingredients if wholemeal is your priority.

Jumbo

Jumbo has product pages for a half wholemeal multigrain loaf and a half multigrain loaf with less salt.

  • The product pages show the different options you can look for when comparing labels.
  • The half loaves we checked were no longer available in the online range, so don’t rely on those pages alone when planning a purchase.

Lidl

Lidl lists a 400 g Half Dark Multigrain Loaf as an in-store product.

  • The product page gives the pack size and lists ingredients including wheat, barley and buckwheat.
  • For an allergen check, read all the information on the packaging in store.

Aldi

Aldi lists a Farmers’ Wholemeal Multigrain Half Loaf for in-store purchase.

  • The product name makes clear that it’s a half loaf of wholemeal multigrain bread.
  • Check the latest ingredients, allergen and nutrition information on the packaging.

Plus

Plus lists multigrain loaves and a smaller brown multigrain sourdough loaf.

  • The smaller sourdough loaf gives you another pack size to compare with half loaves.
  • One other product has ‘half’ in its name but is described as a ‘whole’ loaf in its legal product description. Check the pack size of that loaf in store.

Dirk

Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker Bakkers Multigrain Half Loaf and other half multigrain options.

  • The product page confirms that Bakker van der Akker’s loaf comes in a half-size pack.
  • Use the latest packaging to check ingredients, allergens or fibre when choosing a loaf.

Related products at Joybuy

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is dark multigrain bread always wholemeal?

No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ tells you which types of grain are used, but doesn’t automatically mean the bread is made entirely from wholemeal flour. Check the product name and ingredients: a loaf can contain both wholemeal flour and white flour.

What should I check for allergens in bread for school?

Read the allergen information for the specific pack, including any gluten-containing cereals and other allergens or ‘may contain’ warnings. Also check with your child’s school to find out what rules apply to packed lunches.

Does every loaf contain iodised baker’s salt?

No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt isn’t compulsory. Check whether ‘baker’s salt’ or ‘iodised salt’ is listed in the ingredients, or ask if you’re buying unpackaged bread.

Can I freeze a half loaf of multigrain bread for school lunches?

Yes, if the storage advice for the loaf you’ve chosen allows it. Albert Heijn gives freezing instructions for its half wholemeal Waldkorn loaf; follow the guidance on the packaging for each loaf.

Is gluten-free multigrain bread also free from other allergens?

Not necessarily. The words ‘gluten-free’ don’t replace the need to check the other ingredients, allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the packaging.