For a special meal, you could choose a rustic multigrain loaf with sourdough or seeds if flavour and presentation are your priorities. For everyday sandwiches, look specifically for ‘wholemeal’ in the product description if that’s your main requirement: a dark colour and seeds on the crust don’t prove that bread is wholemeal. When doing your weekly shop, also consider when you’ll serve the bread and check the ingredients, nutritional information, allergens and storage instructions on each pack.
For a dinner, soup or cheeseboard, a rustic loaf with sourdough or seeds could complement what you’re serving. As well as considering the flavour, check the size and decide whether you’ll use the bread straight away or save some for later.
For regular breakfasts and lunches, you may want to make sure a multigrain bread is wholemeal. Check the product description and compare the fibre per 100 g; colour and seeds won’t tell you that.
Standard multigrain bread may contain cereals containing gluten and sesame. If you need a gluten-free product, look for an explicit gluten-free label and check the other allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the packaging too.
First decide whether the bread is mainly for a meal, everyday sandwiches or another time. Then check the features that matter most to you. If you need a gluten-free product, always check this separately.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Flavour and presentation | Check the shape of the loaf and the listed ingredients, such as sourdough, seeds and kernels. Check separately whether it is wholemeal. | For a special meal, I want to choose bread that goes with what I’m serving, without mistaking its appearance for nutritional information. This meal occasion is the priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Read the product description and ingredients; compare fibre and salt per 100 g. | If I use the bread for breakfast or lunch throughout the week, I want to know whether it’s actually labelled as wholemeal. Around 31% of consumers prioritise this check. |
| Gluten and allergens | Check for a gluten-free label, the allergen list and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the packaging. | I need to be able to check whether a loaf meets my dietary requirements, even if it looks appealing or is labelled gluten-free. This is the top priority for around 23% of consumers. |
| Storage and baking | Read the freezing and storage instructions. For bake-at-home bread, check how it needs to be prepared. | If I’m serving the bread later in the week, I want to know in advance how much preparation it will take. This matters most to around 15% of consumers. |
‘Multigrain’ and seeds don’t tell you how much wholemeal flour a loaf contains. In 2014, the Consumers’ Association (Consumentenbond) pointed out that bread can also get its dark colour from other ingredients.
Look for ‘wholemeal’ in the product description, then read the ingredients and nutritional information.
The examples listed include cereals containing gluten or sesame. An explicitly gluten-free loaf may also contain other allergens.
Check the allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings for each individual loaf, even if the product name sounds familiar.
A whole loaf for one meal may leave you with leftovers. Bake-at-home bread for later, on the other hand, needs to be defrosted and baked.
Plan how much you’ll serve straight away. If you want to freeze bread, follow the instructions for that product and allow time to prepare it for a later meal.
A general statement about baker’s salt doesn’t tell you which ingredients are in the loaf you’re choosing.
If the type of salt used matters to you, read the ingredients list for the specific loaf before you buy it.
Albert Heijn describes its Liefde & Passie Multigrain as a rustic sourdough loaf, baked on a stone oven floor.
Jumbo’s multigrain range includes wholemeal options and loaves in different sizes.
PLUS describes the Korenlanders Donker multigrain loaf reviewed as a wholemeal multigrain loaf. PLUS also sells bake-at-home baguettes labelled wholemeal multigrain.
Lidl describes a 600 g organic rustic multigrain sourdough loaf with seeds and kernels as an option for a meal.
ALDI lists both a pre-sliced premium multigrain hearth loaf and multigrain petit pains to bake at home.
Dirk lists a fresh half multigrain loaf from Bakker van der Akker, a size for anyone who doesn’t need a whole loaf.
These Joybuy products are round multigrain loaves and baguettes for anyone planning to serve bread with a meal at a later date. Choose the size you need and check the preparation instructions before use. Check the packaging for wholemeal status, nutritional information and allergens.
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The pack of two round loaves could be a good choice if you’re planning bread for more than one meal. Check the defrosting and baking instructions before serving.
The product information lists wheat, barley malt extract and sesame. Read the full allergen information and check the packaging for wholemeal status, fibre and salt.
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Four baguettes could suit a planned meal where you want to serve individual loaves. Check the baking time on the pack, as preparation instructions may vary.
Also check whether they’re wholemeal and read the full allergen information; the product information lists wheat and sesame, among other ingredients.
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This round loaf is a different quantity from the pack of two and could suit a single planned meal. Follow the baking instructions on the pack, as preparation details may vary.
Check whether it’s wholemeal, as well as the nutritional information and allergens. The product information lists wheat and sesame.
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The title lists this option as 4 × 135 g × 2, while the description says it contains four baguettes. Check the total pack quantity before planning a meal.
Also read the baking instructions and check whether it’s wholemeal, along with the allergens on the pack; the product information lists wheat and sesame, among other ingredients.
No. Check whether the product description says ‘wholemeal’ and read the ingredients and fibre per 100 g. A dark colour or seeds on the crust aren’t a substitute for this information.
If you won’t use the bread until later, follow the freezing instructions for the option you’ve chosen. Albert Heijn says to freeze the Liefde & Passie loaf mentioned here on the day of purchase; for other bread, always check its own packaging.
No, not based on the name ‘multigrain’. If you need gluten-free bread, look for an explicit gluten-free label and also check the other allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings.
You can’t tell from the bread category alone. If this information matters to you, check the ingredients list for the specific product to see whether it mentions baker’s salt or iodised salt.
