For a small household, half a white loaf is a sensible choice for a sweet breakfast if you can eat the slices in time. If you eat less, freeze portions straight away. Don’t choose based on the bread’s name alone: compare the fibre per 100 g and check the ingredients, allergens and storage instructions on the packaging.
If you live alone or with one other person and only eat a few slices of bread a week, a half loaf may suit your eating habits better. If you still can’t finish it in time, freezing it in portions is another option; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises freezing bread in portions as soon as you buy it.
If you want a soft slice for jam, chocolate sprinkles or peanut butter, check both the product description and the label. Albert Heijn describes its Extra lang lekker casino wit half as soft; ingredients and allergens can vary between loaves.
If you want to keep eating white bread but are also keeping an eye on fibre, compare the nutritional information per 100 g. For a balanced diet, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises replacing white bread with wholemeal or brown bread as often as possible.
First, choose an amount of bread that suits your eating habits. Then compare the type of slice you want for sweet toppings with the nutritional information on the current packaging.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is it important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Size and storage | Check that it’s a half loaf and that you can freeze any unused slices in portions straight away. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises freezing bread as soon as you buy it. | If I don’t eat many slices, I don’t want the rest to go stale. Around 33% of consumers put choosing a suitable amount and reducing waste first. |
| Softness for sweet toppings | Look at the description of the bread’s texture and check the ingredients; the type of bread alone doesn’t tell you what a slice is made from. | For breakfast, I mainly want a soft slice that’s easy to spread toppings on. This is a priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Fibre and type of bread | Compare the fibre per 100 g and decide whether you want white, brown or wholemeal bread. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises replacing white bread with brown or wholemeal bread as often as possible. | I enjoy white bread, but want to compare its nutritional value with other types of bread. For around 20% of consumers, this is the main consideration. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the current packaging for ingredients, allergens, any ‘may contain’ warning and the salt content per 100 g. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I need to know what’s in the bread before I buy it. Checking the label is the top priority for around 20% of consumers. |
A name such as casino wit or boeren wit doesn’t tell you enough about allergens. PLUS lists wheat, soya and milk, among other ingredients, in its Boeren wit half.
Before buying, check the ingredients list, allergen information and any ‘may contain’ warning on the current packaging.
A smaller size doesn’t automatically prevent waste. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists bread as one of the products that is often thrown away.
Choose an amount that suits your eating habits, and freeze any slices you won’t eat soon in portions as soon as you buy them.
A white loaf with added fibre is still a different type of bread from wholemeal. For a balanced diet, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises replacing white bread with wholemeal or brown bread as often as possible.
Compare the fibre per 100 g and choose the type of bread that best fits your dietary preferences.
The Dutch 2008 Bakers’ Salt Use Covenant describes efforts to promote the use of iodised salt. It doesn’t tell you which type of salt has been used in an individual loaf.
If iodised salt is a requirement for you, check the ingredients list for the specific loaf.
Albert Heijn lists, among other options, a half white square loaf and a high-fibre white half loaf.
Jumbo lists, among other products, Boeren Wit Half and Casino Wit Brood Half.
Lidl lists white bread and provides an overview of ingredients and allergens for oven-fresh bread.
Aldi lists both half and whole white loaves among its freshly baked bread.
Plus lists several half white loaves, including Korenlanders Rond wit half at 400 g.
Dirk lists bread in half and whole sizes, including Bakker van der Akker Casino wit half.
No. A half loaf helps mainly when the amount suits your eating habits. If you can’t finish a half loaf in time either, follow the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice and freeze portions as soon as you buy it. This can also be a solution if you buy a whole loaf.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging rather than automatically putting the bread in the fridge. For longer storage, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises freezing bread in portions as soon as you buy it and taking out what you need.
The Dutch 2008 Bakers’ Salt Use Covenant doesn’t require it in every loaf; it describes efforts to promote the use of iodised salt. The Commodities Act Decree on Flour and Bread sets a salt limit, but to find out which type of salt is in a specific loaf, you need to check the ingredients list.
Yes, it varies by product: Plus lists both milk and soya in Boeren wit half. Check the current allergen information and any ‘may contain’ warning on the packaging every time you buy it.
