For everyday sandwiches, don’t choose bread based on the word ‘multigrain’ alone: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, this means the bread contains at least three types of grain, not that it is wholemeal. If you want wholemeal bread, check the product description and compare the ingredients and fibre per 100 g. For a special meal, the shape, sourdough or baking instructions may matter more, provided the portions, allergens, storage instructions and preparation fit your family’s plans.
If you get through plenty of sandwiches, the word ‘multigrain’ alone tells you little about whether a loaf is wholemeal. Compare the type of bread, ingredients and fibre per 100 g, and check the salt and allergens too.
For dinner or brunch, a whole hearth loaf, sourdough loaf or bake-at-home product may suit the way you want to share the bread. Check whether it’s ready to eat or needs to go in the oven first.
If you’re doing a big shop, the number of loaves or rolls and the storage instructions matter. Check whether each product can be frozen at home before relying on it as extra stock.
First decide whether the bread is mainly for everyday sandwiches or a meal shared with the family. Then choose a size you can use within the stated storage period.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who this matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal base and fibre | Check the type of bread and the ingredients; compare fibre per 100 g. | For everyday lunches, I want to see whether the bread suits my preference for wholemeal, rather than relying on the word ‘multigrain’. For around 40% of consumers, choosing wholemeal bread and fibre is the top priority. |
| Bread to serve with a meal | Choose a suitable whole loaf or roll size, and check whether it needs to be baked. | For dinner, I want bread I can share and to know how much preparation it needs. Around 30% of consumers prioritise presentation at the meal. |
| Storage and portioning | Check the quantity, portions and specific storage and freezing instructions. | When I’m shopping for several meals, I want to avoid having some bread left unused. That’s why around 30% of consumers prioritise portioning and storing what they buy. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ means a bread contains at least three types of grain. It doesn’t tell you what proportion is wholemeal flour and what proportion is white flour.
If wholemeal is what you’re looking for, check the type of bread and the ingredients, and compare fibre per 100 g.
The baking method and an organic label don’t tell you whether a bread is wholemeal. For example, Albert Heijn describes the organic sourdough hearth loaf reviewed here as white multigrain bread.
Assess the specific bread against what matters for your meal, and check the ingredients and nutritional information separately.
A larger size is only useful for several meals if you can use the bread in time or store it according to the product instructions. Not every multigrain bread can be frozen at home.
Check the instructions for the loaf you’ve chosen before deciding how much to buy for your family.
Ingredients vary from one product to another. For example, according to Jumbo, the Jumbo Stevig Meergranen reviewed here lists gluten, soya and sesame as allergens, and contains 0.96 g of salt per 100 g.
Check the current allergen information and always compare salt on the same basis: per 100 g.
The product range reviewed includes a whole multigrain hearth loaf and an organic sourdough hearth loaf.
The Stevig Meergranen variant reviewed is described as a wholemeal multigrain loaf with seeds and kernels.
Describes a 600 g organic brown sourdough multigrain loaf with seeds and kernels.
Describes a whole farmhouse wholemeal multigrain loaf with grains and seeds.
Offers Korenlanders multigrain products, including sourdough multigrain bread and wholemeal multigrain rolls.
Describes a whole multigrain hearth loaf from Bakker van der Akker, made with grains and seeds.
These products include whole multigrain loaves and individual rolls to serve with a shared meal. Choose a size to suit the number of people eating, and check the preparation and storage instructions for each product.
Image unavailable
Two round loaves give you the option to spread the bread across more than one meal. Check the preparation instructions on the packaging before planning to serve it with a meal.
Only compare fibre and salt when the nutritional information is clearly given on the same basis, and check the current allergen information too.
Image unavailable
This 550 g round loaf is an alternative when one whole loaf is better suited to the meal. Check the preparation and storage instructions on the packaging.
For a choice based on fibre, salt or allergens, read the current nutritional and ingredient information.
Image unavailable
Four individual baguettes make it easier to match the number of pieces to the meal than one whole loaf. Factor in the preparation step when planning, and follow the instructions on the packaging.
Check the current allergen information and the basis used for the nutritional values.
Image unavailable
Four individual multigrain rolls are a handy option if you want to serve one roll per person with a meal. Don’t assume this product is sourdough or wholemeal based on the name alone.
Check the ingredients, allergens and storage instructions on the current packaging.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain means the bread is made with at least three different types of grain. If you want wholemeal bread, check the type of bread and the ingredients. For example, the Albert Heijn hearth loaf reviewed here lists both 31% wholemeal wheat flour and 30% wheat flour.
It depends on the specific product. Albert Heijn says the organic sourdough hearth loaf reviewed here is not suitable for freezing at home, while PLUS provides freezing instructions for the wholemeal multigrain rolls reviewed here. Always follow the instructions on the packaging you buy.
Always check the allergen declaration for the bread you choose. The products reviewed list cereals containing gluten and, depending on the recipe, soya, sesame or milk. The ingredients in one product won’t necessarily be the same as those in another loaf.
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that iodine compounds may be present in bread and other bakery products because baker’s salt has been added. This doesn’t tell you how much iodine is in a specific loaf; check the information on the current packaging for that.
