A rustic multigrain loaf is a good choice for an Italian evening if you want one loaf to share at the table. Choose a loaf explicitly labelled wholemeal if wholegrains are your priority. If you’d like to serve warm bread just before eating, a bake-at-home multigrain baguette is an option if you have the time and oven space. According to the Voedingscentrum, multigrain means a loaf contains at least three types of grain; it doesn’t automatically mean it’s wholemeal. Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging, too.
If you’re serving bread alongside antipasti, pasta or soup, its shape and size matter. A rustic loaf with visible kernels or seeds can add to the presentation. Check whether it’s already sliced or needs preparing, too.
If you want to check that a loaf is wholemeal and compare its fibre content, look beyond the word ‘multigrain’. According to the Voedingscentrum, multigrain bread isn’t automatically wholemeal. Check the product name, ingredients list and nutritional information.
If you’re serving a meal to others, the packaging of the specific loaf you choose matters more than its rustic appearance. Check the ingredients, allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings, for example for cereals containing gluten or sesame.
When choosing bread for an Italian meal, first decide what matters most to you: presentation, wholemeal ingredients, allergen information or preparation just before serving.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Presentation and sharing | Check the loaf’s shape and size, and whether it’s ready to serve. | I want to serve bread alongside antipasti that suits the meal and is easy to share. For around 30% of consumers, presentation is the top priority. |
| Wholemeal ingredients and fibre | Look for an explicit wholemeal label and compare the fibre per 100 g in the nutritional information. | I want to be able to check that the loaf is wholemeal, not just see the word ‘multigrain’ on the packaging. Around 30% of consumers prioritise wholemeal ingredients and fibre information. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients list, allergen information and any ‘may contain’ warnings for the bread you’ve chosen. | If a guest has an allergy, I need to know exactly what’s in this particular loaf. For around 20% of consumers, this check is the top priority. |
| Preparation and portions | Check whether it needs baking, follow the instructions on the packaging and look at the number of items or the weight. | Just before eating, I want to know how much preparation is needed and whether there’s enough bread to share. For around 20% of consumers, timing and portions are key. |
According to the Voedingscentrum, multigrain means a loaf contains at least three types of grain. The name alone doesn’t confirm that it’s wholemeal.
Look for an explicit wholemeal label and read the ingredients list if this matters to you.
A rustic loaf may contain ingredients that aren’t suitable for every guest. Albert Heijn lists sesame and cereals containing gluten, among other ingredients, in AH Liefde & Passie Meergranen.
Ask about any relevant allergies in advance and check the current packaging, including any ‘may contain’ warnings.
A bake-at-home multigrain baguette needs to be prepared before you can serve it warm. PLUS gives oven instructions for its multigrain sourdough baguette.
Allow time and space in the oven, and follow the instructions on the packaging you buy.
According to the Voedingscentrum, bread doesn’t have to be made with baker’s salt. So the name of the bread won’t tell you whether it’s been used.
Check the ingredients list for baker’s salt or iodised salt if you want to know.
Albert Heijn stocks AH Liefde & Passie Meergranen, a brown multigrain loaf made with wheat sourdough, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds and sprouted rye grains.
At Jumbo, you can compare different types of multigrain bread, including wholemeal and Waldkorn varieties.
PLUS stocks a multigrain sourdough baguette, among other options. It’s a handy size for sharing with a meal.
ALDI describes both a premium multigrain hearth loaf and a farmhouse wholemeal multigrain loaf.
Lidl lists an organic rustic multigrain sourdough loaf, among other options, for anyone looking for that particular type of bread.
Dirk lists various multigrain products, including a whole loaf and a bake-at-home baguette.
These breads suit different ways of serving bread at an Italian evening: small baguettes to share, round loaves for the table and individual rolls. Choose a size to suit your guests, and always check the packaging for wholemeal ingredients, allergens and preparation instructions.
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For anyone who wants to share smaller baguettes alongside antipasti or pasta. The pack contains four 135 g baguettes. Follow the preparation instructions and check the allergens on the packaging.
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For anyone who wants to put a round loaf on the table to share. The pack contains two 550 g loaves. Check the storage and preparation instructions, as well as the allergen information on the packaging.
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For anyone who would rather serve individual rolls than one large loaf to share. The pack contains four rolls. Check the label for allergen information and serving or preparation instructions.
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, multigrain bread contains at least three different types of grain, but it isn’t automatically wholemeal. Look for an explicit wholemeal label and check the ingredients list if the type of grain is important to your choice.
A bake-at-home multigrain baguette is a good option if you have enough oven space and time to prepare it. PLUS gives oven instructions for its multigrain sourdough baguette. Follow the instructions on the packaging of the bread you buy.
Yes. A rustic appearance or a sourdough label says nothing about whether the bread is suitable for someone with an allergy. AH Liefde & Passie Meergranen, for example, lists sesame and cereals containing gluten, among other ingredients. Check the current allergen information and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the packaging for your guests.
No, you can’t assume that every loaf does. According to the Voedingscentrum, bread doesn’t have to be made with baker’s salt. Check the label of the loaf you choose to see whether baker’s salt or iodised salt has been used.
Choose a whole loaf, individual rolls or a baguette based on the number of people eating and how you want to share the bread. Check the number of items or the weight on the packaging, and allow time to follow the preparation instructions if you’re buying bake-at-home bread.
