Who is this choice relevant for?

If you’re serving bread with dinner

Planning to make topped toast or serve bread with soup? Pay attention to the thickness and texture of the slices, and how many you’ll need. Freeze any slices you won’t use soon individually.

If you also eat the same bread every day

If you eat the multigrain bread outside dinner, too, look beyond the name. Check whether it’s wholemeal and compare the fibre per 100 g on the packaging.

If you need to consider ingredients or allergens

Check the latest ingredient and allergen information for both the bread and the toppings. Ingredients vary from product to product; for example, a Jumbo product lists wheat, barley, oats, rye, sesame and soya as allergens.

What should you look for when choosing?

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Everyday use Check whether the bread is wholemeal and compare the fibre per 100 g. If I eat this bread on ordinary days, too, I want to know what ‘multigrain’ actually means. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this everyday nutritional choice.
How you’ll serve it Check whether the bread is sliced and whether the slices are the right thickness for your toppings or toast. For topped toast, I want slices that work with what I’m serving. Ease of serving comes first for around 27% of consumers.
Ingredients and allergens Read the ingredient list and allergen information for the bread you choose; check the toppings separately. If one of us needs to avoid an ingredient, I want to be able to check the whole meal in advance. Around 20% of consumers prioritise checking ingredients.
Quantity and storage Compare a half loaf with a whole loaf and read the storage advice on the packaging. If we’re only eating a few slices, I don’t want lots of bread left over. Around 20% of consumers prioritise buying the right amount.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘multigrain’ means ‘wholemeal’

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread contains at least three types of grain. The name doesn’t tell you whether the bread is wholemeal.

    If wholemeal is important to you, check the product name and ingredients. Also compare the fibre per 100 g.

  • Checking only the bread’s allergens

    Both the bread and the toppings determine which ingredients you’re serving. Multigrain recipes also vary in the grains and seeds they contain.

    Before putting your dinner together, read the latest allergen information and ingredient list for both products.

  • Buying a whole loaf when you only need a few slices

    For dinner for two, you may have bread left over that goes stale before you can use it.

    Choose half a loaf if that suits your plans, or freeze the unused slices in portions after you buy it. Follow the storage advice on the packaging.

  • Assuming every loaf contains iodised salt

    The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the conditions under which iodine may be added to bread through bakers’ salt. That doesn’t mean every individual loaf contains iodised salt.

    Check the ingredient list of the bread you choose; for example, Albert Heijn lists iodised salt in AH Liefde & Passie Meergranen gesneden.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

AH Liefde & Passie Meergranen gesneden is a sliced multigrain bread from Albert Heijn.

  • The ingredient information includes wholemeal wheat flour, sesame seeds and iodised salt.
  • Before choosing this variety, check the latest packaging for slice thickness, nutritional information and allergens.

Jumbo

Jumbo stocks products including Waldkorn Bruin Meergranenbrood.

  • This product lists wheat, barley, oats, rye, sesame and soya as allergens.
  • The product described is a whole loaf; check whether your chosen variety is sliced and how thick the slices are.

PLUS

The Korenlanders range at PLUS includes products such as Desem Meergranen Boekweit.

  • The name makes it easy to search for this particular multigrain variety.
  • Before choosing this bread for dinner, check the ingredients, nutritional information and whether it’s sliced.

Dirk

Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker Bakkers meergranen half.

  • A half loaf is worth considering if you only want to eat a few slices together.
  • Check the packaging of your chosen loaf for slice thickness, ingredients, allergens and nutritional information.

Joybuy products

Matching products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is multigrain bread automatically wholemeal?

No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread contains at least three different types of grain, but the label alone doesn’t tell you whether it’s wholemeal. Check the name and ingredients of the bread you’re considering.

Should I choose half a loaf or a whole loaf for two people?

Half a loaf may be a good choice if you only need a few slices for dinner. If you want to use a whole loaf, freeze any leftover slices in portions and follow the storage information on the packaging.

Which allergens should I check in multigrain bread?

Check the allergen information for the exact bread you’re buying, as recipes vary. For Waldkorn Bruin Meergranenbrood, Jumbo lists wheat, barley, oats, rye, sesame and soya, among other allergens. Remember to check the information for the toppings you’re serving, too.

Does all bread in the Netherlands contain iodised salt?

You can’t tell from the type of bread. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority describes a permitted way of adding iodine through bakers’ salt, but that doesn’t mean every loaf contains it. Check the ingredient list for the product you choose.

How can I serve multigrain bread with a simple dinner?

You could use it to make topped toast or a toasted sandwich, or serve it alongside soup. Choose a slice thickness and quantity to suit how you’re serving it, and check the ingredients and allergens for the bread and toppings separately.