Canteen teams making sandwiches every day
Consistent slices make it easier to plan portions and prepare sandwiches for lunch. Check the actual slice thickness and the number of slices per loaf before choosing a size for everyday use.
Who is this choice important for?
Lunch shoppers comparing nutritional information
If you’re mainly looking at fibre and salt, you’ll need the figures per 100 g for the exact loaf. A claim on the front of the pack is no substitute for comparing those figures.
Anyone who needs to check ingredients and allergens
Check the allergen information for the people who will be eating the bread. If baker’s salt is a separate buying criterion, check the ingredients list too; according to the Voedingscentrum, its use is not compulsory.
What should you look for when buying?
Start with the sandwich you want to serve: slice thickness and loaf size are separate choices. Then compare the information for the exact product and work out how much bread the canteen can use or freeze.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Slice thickness and suitability for fillings | Try a slice with the filling you have in mind and check the number of slices. Don’t rely on ‘fine’ or ‘sliced’ alone. | When I’m making lots of sandwiches in a short time, I want slices that suit our portions. For around 40% of consumers, practical slice thickness comes first. |
| Fibre and salt | Compare the fibre and salt per 100 g in the nutritional information for the exact loaves. | When I choose bread based on its nutritional values, I want to compare like with like rather than apply one loaf’s claim to another. For around 30% of consumers, comparing products is the main priority. |
| Allergens, ingredients and stock | Check allergens and, if relevant, baker’s salt. Choose a loaf size that suits daily demand, or freeze bread in portions. | I need to know what’s in the bread and avoid opening more than the canteen needs. These checks come first for around 30% of consumers. |
Common pitfalls
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Assuming ‘fine’ or ‘sliced’ means medium-sliced
‘Sliced’ means the loaf has been pre-sliced, not that the slices are a particular thickness. ‘Whole’ and ‘half’ describe the size of the loaf.
First, try a loaf with the filling you have in mind and check the slice thickness and number of slices before choosing it for everyday lunches.
Slices that aren’t suitable may mean extra work cutting or preparing the fillings.
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Assuming all wholemeal bread contains baker’s salt
According to the Voedingscentrum, bread does not have to be made with baker’s salt. So the type of bread alone won’t tell you whether this ingredient has been used.
Check the ingredients list or, for unpackaged bread, ask which salt has been used if baker’s salt matters to your choice.
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Comparing only the word ‘wholemeal’
Nutritional values and allergen information apply to the specific loaf. For example, Jumbo lists 7.6 g of fibre per 100 g for Jumbo Fijn Volkoren; that figure does not apply to other products.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and check the allergens for each product separately.
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Opening more fresh bread than lunch demand requires
Once opened, bread has a limited shelf life. If demand varies, a large opened loaf may be left for longer than intended.
Match the whole or half loaf to demand and freeze spare bread in portions if needed. Also follow the instructions on the packaging.
Brands to compare
These ranges give you a starting point for comparing loaf sizes, ingredients and nutritional information by product; the brand name alone won’t tell you how thick the slices are.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn offers wholemeal bread in a range of formats, including whole, half, sliced and unsliced loaves.
- Compare the range to find a size that suits daily demand.
- Check the slice thickness of your chosen loaf separately.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers fine and coarse wholemeal varieties, as well as whole and half loaves.
- The product information for Jumbo Fijn Volkoren lists details including ingredients, allergens and fibre per 100 g.
- A whole loaf or the word ‘fine’ does not confirm that the slices are medium-sized.
Lidl
Lidl describes Fijn volkoren as an 800 g loaf available in store.
- The stated loaf weight helps you choose a suitable size.
- Check the slice thickness and nutritional information of the loaf you buy in store.
Aldi
ALDI describes Fijn volkoren as a sliced whole loaf and also offers a whole extra-high-fibre wholemeal loaf.
- Fijn volkoren is explicitly described as sliced.
- ‘Sliced’ does not confirm that the slices are medium-sized; assess both loaves separately.
Plus
PLUS offers, among other things, half round wholemeal loaves and a whole Boeren volkorenbrood.
- Half and whole loaves give you options for different levels of daily demand.
- Check the slice thickness and allergen information for your chosen variety; details for the whole loaf do not automatically apply to the half loaf.
Dirk
Dirk offers, among other things, whole and half wholemeal loaves from Bakker van der Akker.
- The different sizes help you match the amount of bread to lunch demand.
- Check the slice thickness and product information for each loaf before making it a regular canteen choice.
Related Joybuy products
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
How can I identify medium-sliced wholemeal bread?
Check the actual slice thickness or ask how thick the slices are; ‘fine’, ‘sliced’, ‘whole’ and ‘half’ are not enough on their own. For a canteen, it’s helpful to start by trying a loaf with the filling and portion size you have in mind.
Do I need to choose extra-high-fibre bread to get more fibre?
No, you don’t need that claim to compare the fibre content of wholemeal loaves. Check the grams of fibre per 100 g in the nutritional information for each loaf; according to the Voedingscentrum, wholemeal bread is high in fibre.
How should I store opened wholemeal bread for several days of lunches?
The Voedingscentrum recommends storing opened wholemeal bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2 to 4 days, or in the freezer for 1 to 3 months. If lunch demand varies, freeze spare bread in portions and follow the instructions on the packaging.
Where can I find allergen information for unpackaged canteen bread?
Ask the seller for the allergen information for the specific loaf before buying. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, information about unpackaged foods must be made available in a way other than on a packaging label.
Does all Dutch wholemeal bread contain iodine from baker’s salt?
No, you can’t tell from the word ‘wholemeal’. According to the Voedingscentrum, using baker’s salt is not compulsory; check the ingredients list or ask whether it has been used if the bread is unpackaged.