If you’re thinking of making multigrain bread a regular choice for breakfast or lunch, first check whether it’s explicitly labelled as wholemeal. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread generally contains more fibre than bread made with refined flour. For a fussy eater, a milder flavour or softer texture can make a good first purchase; check whether it’s wholemeal, its fibre content and any allergens separately on the packaging.
If the flavour or texture makes switching difficult, you could start with a small pack of a variety the eater might enjoy. Check separately whether it’s wholemeal; the colour or the word multigrain won’t tell you that.
If you buy bread every day and want to keep an eye on fibre, check whether it’s labelled wholemeal first, then compare the nutritional information per 100 g. That way, you’re assessing the bread itself, not just the grains or seeds on top.
When you’re doing your first shop, you might not yet know how much bread you’ll get through or which flavour you’ll prefer. Half a loaf, rolls or bread frozen in portions as soon as you buy it can make it easier to match the amount to what you use.
For your first purchase, start by choosing a type and size of bread that’s likely to be eaten. Then check the wholemeal labelling, nutritional information and allergens on the specific packaging.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Check whether it’s labelled wholemeal and compare the fibre content per 100 g in the nutritional information. | If I eat bread every day, I want to know how much fibre my choice contains. For around 33% of consumers, this focus on fibre comes first. |
| Flavour and texture | Check the ingredients for kernels and seeds, and if you’re unsure, choose a smaller pack to try the flavour. | If I’m buying for a fussy eater, I want to know whether they’ll enjoy the flavour and texture of the bread first. Around 27% of consumers give this top priority. |
| Allergens | Read the latest ingredients list and allergen information on the packaging, even if you’ve bought the product before. | If I need to take a food allergy into account, I need to be able to check the ingredients in this particular bread. For around 20% of consumers, this is their main concern. |
| Size and waste | Choose a whole or half loaf, or rolls, to suit how much you use; check whether you can freeze the bread in portions. | If I don’t yet know how much bread we’ll get through, I don’t want to be left with a lot going spare. For around 20% of consumers, this is the main consideration. |
The colour, crust and visible seeds don’t confirm that the bread is wholemeal. You could end up buying something different from what you had in mind.
Read the product description and ingredients list. If fibre matters to you, compare the nutritional information per 100 g too.
Ingredients vary from one product to another. For example, the ingredients list for PLUS Korenlanders Volkoren meergranen bollen includes wheat, soya, milk and sesame seeds; this doesn’t tell you anything about other multigrain breads.
If you have a relevant allergy, always check the latest packaging of the bread you’re buying before eating it.
When you’re buying for the first time, you may not know what flavour you’ll prefer or how much bread you’ll get through. You could end up with a large loaf that’s only partly eaten.
You could try half a loaf first, or freeze the bread in portions soon after buying it if you won’t use it quickly.
The range can vary from one type of bread to another. Use the product description as a starting point, then check the latest packaging for ingredients, allergens and nutritional information.
Has product pages for different types of multigrain bread, including artisan-style loaves and triangular rolls.
Offers, among other things, wholemeal multigrain bread and dark varieties with kernels and seeds.
Stocks multigrain bread and multigrain sourdough bread.
Offers, among other things, a farmhouse-style wholemeal multigrain loaf.
Offers, among other things, Soma Haverkorn multigrain bread and Korenlanders wholemeal multigrain rolls.
Its range includes half loaves of multigrain bread and a wholemeal multigrain variety.
No. Check whether the specific bread is explicitly labelled as wholemeal and read the ingredients list; the word multigrain or a dark colour isn’t enough. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread generally contains more fibre than bread made with refined flour.
Yes, if a food allergy or dietary restriction is relevant to your choice. The grains and other allergens present vary from one loaf to another, so always read the latest ingredients list and allergen information on the packaging.
Choose a size that suits how much you expect to use and, if needed, freeze the bread in portions soon after buying it. For wholemeal bread, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping it in the kitchen cupboard for 2–4 days or in the freezer for 1–3 months; follow the storage instructions for the bread you buy too.
