Who might find half a loaf handy?

If you’re serving bread at a small dinner

If bread is an accompaniment to the meal, half a loaf makes it easier to serve the right amount. If you do have any slices left over, you can freeze them in portions.

If you’re specifically looking for wholemeal bread

The name ‘multigrain’ doesn’t tell you whether a loaf is wholemeal. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that multigrain bread can also be made with refined flour, so check the product name and ingredients.

If you need to take guests’ allergies into account

For this group, it’s important to know which ingredients and allergens are in the bread you choose. Check the latest packaging or, for unpackaged bread, ask for the allergen information.

What should you check before buying?

Decide how much bread you want to serve with dinner, then compare the half loaves available by their wholemeal labelling, serving style and ingredients.

What to consider What to check when buying Who should consider this?
Portion size and leftovers Check that it’s a half loaf and estimate how many slices you’ll serve. If bread is just an accompaniment, I don’t want to be left with lots of leftovers. Getting the portion size right is the top priority for around 33% of consumers.
Wholemeal and fibre Look for an explicit wholemeal label and, if you’re comparing products, check the fibre per 100 g on the latest labels. I want more than just a multigrain label: the loaf I choose must actually be wholemeal. This is the top priority for around 27% of consumers.
Flavour and presentation Choose a style that suits how you plan to serve it and check that it’s sold as a half loaf. When serving bread with soup or on a sharing board, I focus on what I want to offer my guests. This is the top priority for around 20% of consumers.
Ingredients and allergens Read the latest ingredients and allergen information; for unpackaged bread, ask for the allergen information. If a guest has an allergy or specific dietary requirements, I need to know what’s in the bread before serving it. This is the deciding factor for around 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘multigrain’ means ‘wholemeal’

    Bread made with several types of grain can still be made with refined flour. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholegrain products usually contain more fibre than comparable products made with refined flour.

    If wholemeal is important to your choice, look for ‘wholemeal’ in the product name or on the packaging, then compare the nutritional information for the specific loaves.

  • Buying a whole loaf without a plan for the leftovers

    If bread is just a side dish, you may have a lot left after dinner. For opened wholemeal bread, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping it for 2–4 days in a kitchen cupboard or 1–3 months in the freezer.

    Choose half a loaf if that’s enough for your needs, or divide a whole loaf into portions and freeze them in good time.

  • Relying on the bread’s name when guests have allergies

    The name of a multigrain loaf doesn’t tell you which grains, seeds and other ingredients the specific product contains. That information is essential if you’re catering for a guest with an allergy.

    Check the latest label. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information for unpackaged products must be made available in another way, so ask in store.

  • Assuming ‘multigrain’ tells you how much iodine it contains

    The type of bread alone doesn’t tell you which salt was used in the product or how much iodine it contains.

    Check the ingredients list for the loaf you’ve chosen to see whether it lists iodised salt or baker’s salt.

Brands and shops to explore

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists products including AH Vloerbrood meergranen half and AH Zaans meergranen half.

  • A useful place to start if you want to compare different half multigrain loaves.
  • Albert Heijn says that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information may change, so check the latest packaging.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists half multigrain loaves, including Jumbo Volkoren Meergranen Brood Half.

  • For this specific wholemeal product, Jumbo lists 7,8 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • This nutritional value doesn’t necessarily apply to other Jumbo half loaves, so compare the labels for each product.

Lidl

Lidl includes Halfje donker meergranenbrood in its bread range.

  • A specific product name to look for if you want to serve a dark half multigrain loaf.
  • ‘Dark’ doesn’t confirm that the bread is wholemeal, so check the packaging and ingredients.

ALDI

ALDI lists Boeren volkoren meergranen with ‘Half’ in the product title, as well as a whole multigrain artisan loaf.

  • The wholemeal label makes it easier to compare this specific variety.
  • Check the size on the packaging so you don’t confuse the half loaf with the whole artisan loaf.

PLUS

PLUS has a multigrain bread category and also lists Korenlanders Rond licht meerzaden half.

  • You can browse the range in advance if delivery or collection works for your dinner plans.
  • A half multiseed loaf isn’t necessarily the same as the half multigrain loaf you’re looking for, so compare the product name and ingredients.

Dirk

Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker Bakkers meergranen half.

  • This half multigrain variety has a specific product name you can look out for when shopping.
  • Before your dinner, check the current range and the ingredients of the loaf you choose.

Related products at Joybuy

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is multigrain bread automatically wholemeal?

No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread can be made with refined flour. If you want to choose wholemeal bread, check that ‘wholemeal’ is clearly stated in the product name or on the packaging.

Is half a loaf enough for a small dinner?

Half a loaf may be enough if you’re serving just a few slices as a side dish. Work out how many slices you’ll need for your guests in advance. If you expect to need more, you could choose a whole loaf and freeze the rest in portions.

Does multigrain bread always contain iodine?

You can’t tell from the name ‘multigrain’. Check the ingredients list for the specific loaf to see whether it lists iodised salt or baker’s salt; the bread’s name won’t tell you how much iodine that particular product contains.

How can I check allergens in unpackaged bread?

Before buying, ask for the allergen information for the specific loaf and don’t rely on the name alone. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, this information must also be provided to consumers in another way for unpackaged products.

Is an online product description enough if guests have allergies?

Use the product page to shortlist a loaf, but before serving it, check the latest packaging or allergen information for the specific product. Albert Heijn itself warns that ingredients and allergen information may change.