If you want to make a conscious choice of wholemeal bread for a savoury breakfast, look for multigrain bread that is also labelled wholemeal. According to the Voedingscentrum, ‘multigrain’ on its own only means that the bread contains at least three types of grain. If the taste or texture makes the switch difficult, you could consider brown or mixed multigrain bread, but compare the ingredients, fibre, salt and allergens for each product. Also check your savoury toppings, which the Voedingscentrum says can add salt and saturated fat.
If you don’t enjoy a firm wholemeal slice, you could compare brown or mixed multigrain bread with wholemeal multigrain bread. The Voedingscentrum points out that ‘multigrain’ doesn’t automatically mean ‘wholemeal’, so check the label on the bread.
If you want to make bread a regular part of your savoury breakfast, first check whether it is labelled wholemeal. Then compare the stated fibre and salt per 100 g across the breads you’re considering.
If someone needs to avoid certain ingredients or doesn’t like kernels and seeds, the product name isn’t enough. Check the ingredients and allergen information for the variant you choose; standard multigrain bread isn’t automatically gluten-free.
Choose this if: you specifically want wholemeal bread and would like to compare the fibre content of specific products.
Bear in mind: kernels, seeds or a firm texture may not appeal if you’re looking for a soft slice.
Consider this if: you’re looking for bread made with several types of grain, but still want to weigh up the taste or texture of wholemeal bread.
Check: ‘multigrain’ doesn’t prove that bread is wholemeal. PLUS describes its Korenlanders Rond Waldkorn half loaf as brown multigrain bread and lists both wholemeal wheat flour and wheat flour.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for the label ‘wholemeal’ and compare fibre per 100 g. | If I use bread as a regular breakfast staple, I want to know whether it’s wholemeal and how much fibre it contains. This is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Taste and texture | Check whether the bread is labelled brown, mixed or wholemeal, and see if it contains kernels or seeds. | If a firm slice isn’t popular at home, I’d rather find bread that everyone will eat. This consideration is the deciding factor for around 29% of consumers. |
| Toppings and allergens | Check the bread’s allergen information and the nutritional information for your savoury toppings. | I want to top a slice without overlooking an ingredient we need to avoid, and I also pay attention to what the toppings add. Around 21% of consumers put this at the top of their list. |
| Size and storage | Choose a suitable whole or half loaf and read the storage advice on the packaging. | If I only eat bread a few days a week, I want a size that we’ll finish or that’s suitable for freezing. This is the most important consideration for around 14% of consumers. |
According to the Voedingscentrum, ‘multigrain’ refers to at least three types of grain, not bread made entirely with wholemeal flour. You could therefore pick up a loaf that doesn’t suit your preference for wholemeal bread.
If you want wholemeal, look specifically for that label on the product, then compare the fibre per 100 g.
Dark bread can contain some refined flour. PLUS lists both wholemeal wheat flour and wheat flour for Korenlanders Rond Waldkorn half, and describes it as brown multigrain bread.
Read the product description and ingredients list rather than taking the colour as proof that it’s wholemeal.
Your savoury toppings also affect what ends up on your breakfast slice. The Voedingscentrum points out that some toppings are high in salt or saturated fat.
As well as comparing the bread, check the nutritional information for the toppings you usually choose.
Multigrain breads can vary in the grains, seeds and other ingredients they contain. A familiar product name is no substitute for checking the information on the packaging of the variant you choose.
Check the ingredients, allergens and any ‘may contain’ statement each time you choose a different variant.
A brand to consider when comparing wholemeal Waldkorn and other multigrain options by product description and nutritional information.
A brand with half-loaf options of wholemeal multigrain bread included in the research.
A brand to look out for in store if you want to consider multigrain bread made with ingredients including wheat, barley and buckwheat.
A brand with a whole loaf of Boeren volkoren meergranenbrood made with grains and seeds.
A brand where the product description helps you distinguish brown multigrain bread from wholemeal options.
A brand to consider if you’re looking for a half loaf of multigrain bread for breakfast or lunch.
These multigrain rolls are an option if you’d rather buy individual rolls than a whole loaf for a savoury breakfast. If you specifically want wholemeal, check the product description separately.
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The pack of four multigrain rolls is a handy choice if you want to buy individual rolls for breakfast.
If wholemeal is important to you, check the current packaging for the wholemeal label. Also check the nutritional information and allergens there.
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, ‘multigrain’ means that bread contains at least three types of grain; it doesn’t mean the flour is entirely wholemeal. If wholemeal is your main requirement, look for the ‘wholemeal’ label and then compare the nutritional information.
You can’t tell from the colour or name. PLUS describes Korenlanders Rond Waldkorn half as brown multigrain bread made with both wholemeal wheat flour and wheat flour. To compare fibre, check the amount listed per 100 g on the products themselves.
Not if it contains gluten-containing grains such as wheat, rye or barley. If you need to eat gluten-free, check the specific bread for a ‘gluten-free’ label, its ingredients and its allergen information.
Read the bread’s ingredients list; don’t assume based on the ‘multigrain’ label. For example, Albert Heijn lists iodised salt for AH Extra lang lekker waldkorn volkoren heel.
A half loaf may better suit how much you eat; if you buy a whole loaf, check the freezing instructions. For the breads included in the research, Albert Heijn and PLUS recommend freezing on the day of purchase and using within one month. Follow the storage advice for the variant you buy.
