Who is this choice relevant to?

Parents of a fussy bread eater

You’re looking for bread with a familiar enough taste and texture to encourage them to try it. If baker’s salt matters to you, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises checking whether the bread is made with it.

Label readers looking for wholemeal bread

You want more than just a few different grains listed on the pack. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘wholemeal’ bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour. You can also compare the fibre per 100 g.

Shoppers for whom allergens are a deciding factor

You check the ingredients and allergens for the specific loaf before buying. Product information from Jumbo and PLUS shows that the ingredients vary between multigrain products.

What should you look for when choosing?

When choosing multigrain bread for a fussy eater, first decide which feature will make the switch easier. Then check that the type of flour and the latest product information also meet your other requirements.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Taste and texture Check whether the bread has visible seeds, kernels or coarse grains. If needed, try a smaller loaf first. If bits or a strong flavour make it harder to eat, I want to start with bread that feels familiar. This is the top priority for around 42% of consumers.
Wholemeal flour and fibre Look for the word ‘wholemeal’ and compare the fibre per 100 g on the packaging. I want to know whether the flour is genuinely wholemeal, rather than judging by the dark colour. This reassurance matters most to around 33% of consumers.
Allergens and ingredients Read the latest allergen information and, if needed, check whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed in the ingredients. When the ingredients determine what I can buy, the information for that loaf needs to be accurate at the time of purchase. Checking the label is the top priority for around 25% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming dark or multigrain bread is wholemeal

    According to Albert Heijn, multigrain or waldkorn bread can contain white flour, wholemeal flour or both. So neither the name nor the colour tells you whether it’s made entirely with wholemeal flour.

    Look for the word ‘wholemeal’, then read the ingredients and nutritional information per 100 g.

  • Choosing seeds and kernels without considering the texture

    Visible seeds or a coarse texture can make bread feel less familiar to someone who is particularly sensitive to texture.

    If available, try a smaller pack first, and avoid changing the crust and filling at the same time.

    If the bread is left uneaten, buying a larger pack could mean more waste.

  • Assuming every loaf contains baker’s salt

    The name ‘multigrain’ doesn’t tell you whether the bread is made with baker’s salt.

    If this ingredient matters to you, look for baker’s salt or iodised salt on the label.

  • Relying on out-of-date allergen information

    Albert Heijn and PLUS point out that ingredients and allergen information can change. A product page you viewed earlier may no longer match the packaging.

    Check the current packaging when you buy, especially if you need to avoid a particular ingredient.

Brands to compare

Albert Heijn

Provides online product information for various types of bread, including waldkorn bread.

  • Albert Heijn explains that waldkorn bread can be made with wholemeal flour, white flour or a combination of the two.
  • The retailer warns that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change, so check the packaging of the loaf you choose.

Jumbo

Provides product information for multigrain bread, making it easier to compare individual loaves.

  • The Jumbo Wholemeal Multigrain Bread described included information about the types of flour, fibre and baker’s salt.
  • Check the information and availability for the loaf you actually want to buy. A previously described variety may have different ingredients.

Lidl

Provides information about the ingredients and allergens in its freshly baked bread range.

  • Lidl’s overview helps you check the ingredients in different types of bread.
  • Check the details for the specific loaf, as a picture doesn’t tell you enough about its ingredients.

ALDI

Describes a Farmer’s Wholemeal Multigrain Bread made with grains and seeds.

  • The product name makes the wholemeal variety easy to identify if that’s what you’re looking for.
  • The grains and seeds listed mean that texture is an important factor to consider for a fussy eater.

PLUS

Offers wholemeal multigrain rolls, among other options, as an alternative to a whole loaf.

  • For the Korenlanders Wholemeal Multigrain Rolls described, PLUS provides the fibre per 100 g and storage instructions.
  • According to PLUS, these rolls contain several allergens, including cereals containing gluten, soya, milk and sesame. Check the current packaging.

Dirk

Lists multigrain and wholemeal products, including Bakker van der Akker Casino half loaf, multigrain wholemeal.

  • The individual product names make it easier to look for the wholemeal label within the range.
  • Check the label or the latest full product information for the ingredients and allergens in the variety you choose.

Related products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is multigrain bread automatically wholemeal?

No. According to Albert Heijn, multigrain bread can be made with white flour, wholemeal flour or a combination of the two. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bread labelled ‘wholemeal’ is made from 100% wholemeal flour.

Can I assume that every multigrain loaf contains baker’s salt?

No, check the ingredients for the specific loaf. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre highlights the importance of choosing bread made with baker’s salt if you’re looking to get iodine from bread. The name ‘multigrain’ doesn’t tell you which salt has been used.

Which allergens should I check in multigrain bread?

Read all the allergen information for the bread you’re buying, including any ‘may contain’ statements. Product information from Jumbo and PLUS lists different combinations of cereals containing gluten and other allergens. The product name alone won’t tell you which allergens are present.

Can I freeze a small amount of bread to try it gradually?

That depends on the storage instructions for the product you choose. PLUS says its Korenlanders Wholemeal Multigrain Rolls can be frozen on the day of purchase and should then be used within one month. Don’t assume the same instructions apply to other bread.