A half loaf of multigrain bread is useful for a small household if a whole loaf would be open for too long. If you’re buying bread to last longer, freezing it in portions matters more than the loaf size: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises freezing bread in portions as soon as you buy it. If you’re looking for wholemeal bread, check that the loaf really is wholemeal; ‘multigrain’ doesn’t automatically mean ‘wholemeal’.
If you don’t eat the same amount of bread every day, a half loaf means you’ll have less open at once. If you want to keep a supply for longer, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises freezing bread in portions as soon as you buy it.
If you specifically want wholemeal bread, check the product name and ingredients. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ refers to the types of grain used; it doesn’t automatically mean the bread is made with wholemeal flour.
Recipes vary from loaf to loaf. Check the current allergen information for the product you’ve chosen before buying, even if you’ve bought a different multigrain loaf before. For example, Jumbo lists cereals containing gluten, soya and sesame among the allergens in its Waldkorn Meergranen Brood Half.
First decide how much bread you want to keep out of the freezer and how you’ll store the rest. Then compare the type of bread and the label on the exact variety you’re buying.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity and storage | Compare the half-loaf size with how much you use and check the storage advice. For a longer-lasting supply, freeze bread in portions as soon as you buy it, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. | If I only eat a little bread at a time, I don’t want to leave a whole loaf open. For around 50% of consumers, reducing the amount of bread left open would be the main reason to choose a half loaf. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Check for the ‘wholemeal’ description and read the ingredients; compare fibre content on the same basis, for example per 100 g. | I want to know whether my multigrain bread is really wholemeal, rather than judging by its dark colour. Around 30% of consumers would put choosing wholemeal first. |
| Allergens and type of salt | Read the current ingredients and allergen information for the bread you’ve chosen. Check separately which type of salt is listed in the ingredients. | If I need to avoid an allergen or want to know which type of salt is used, the bread’s name isn’t enough. For around 20% of consumers, checking the label would be the first priority. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread contains at least three types of grain. The term alone doesn’t tell you whether the bread is wholemeal.
If you want wholemeal bread, look for it in the product name and check the ingredients. When comparing products, compare the stated fibre content per 100 g.
A half loaf means you have less bread open at once, but it doesn’t automatically keep for longer.
For a longer-lasting supply, freeze bread in portions as soon as you buy it and take out what you need, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Also follow the storage advice on the packaging.
Ingredients vary from recipe to recipe. For its half Waldkorn multigrain loaf, Jumbo lists wheat, barley, oats, rye, soya and sesame among the ingredients.
Before buying, read the current allergen information and any warnings on the packaging or product page.
According to NBC / Brood.net Professionals, using iodine-enriched baker’s salt is not a legal requirement in the Netherlands. The type of salt can therefore vary from loaf to loaf.
Check the ingredients list of the bread you want to buy to see which type of salt is listed.
These examples can help you compare half loaves. Always check the label on the variety you’ve chosen before buying.
Albert Heijn lists, among other products, a half multigrain artisan loaf and AH Zaans meergranen half, which is described as a half wholemeal multigrain loaf.
Jumbo lists both Waldkorn Meergranen Brood Half and Boeren Donker Volkoren Meergranen Half.
Lidl lists a 400 g Halfje donker meergranenbrood, described as containing wheat, barley and buckwheat, among other ingredients.
ALDI lists a half Boeren volkoren meergranenbrood.
PLUS lists Korenlanders Donker Meergranen Rond 1/2 as a 400 g loaf.
Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker Bakkers meergranen half and a Casino meergranen Volkoren half.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ means that a loaf contains at least three types of grain; it doesn’t automatically mean it’s wholemeal. Check the product name and ingredients if you’re specifically looking for wholemeal bread.
For a longer-lasting supply, freeze bread in portions as soon as you buy it, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Take out only the portion you need and follow the storage advice for the loaf you’ve chosen.
No. According to NBC / Brood.net Professionals, using iodine-enriched baker’s salt is not a legal requirement in the Netherlands. The Commodities Act Decree on the Addition of Micronutrients to Foodstuffs sets conditions for adding iodine to bread through baker’s salt; check the ingredients list to see which type of salt is used in a particular loaf.
No. The name ‘multigrain’ doesn’t mean that a loaf is gluten-free or wheat-free. Check the current ingredients, allergen information and any warnings for the specific product. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, gluten is found in wheat, rye and barley, among other grains.
