Who is this choice important for?

Families who eat bread every day

If several family members take bread with them or eat it at home, how quickly you get through it and whether you have room to freeze it will determine whether a whole loaf or a multipack is convenient.

Shoppers checking wholemeal content and fibre

If you pay attention to the type of grain and nutritional value, don’t rely on the name ‘multigrain’ alone. The product description and fibre content per 100 g give you a clearer picture.

Households with dietary requirements or allergies

If someone needs to avoid certain ingredients, the current ingredients and allergen information for the specific type of bread matter more than its general name.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, work out how much bread your family actually gets through. Then check the loaf size, the slice thickness you want and the product information for the variety you’re planning to buy.

What to consider What to check when buying Who is this most important for?
Stock and consumption Compare a whole loaf, a half loaf and a multipack with how much bread your household uses. If you plan to freeze it, check the storage advice for the bread you choose. If we need lots of sandwiches every day, I want to have enough in the house without ending up with leftover bread. Around 31% of consumers prioritise having the right amount in stock.
Wholemeal content and nutritional value Look for an explicit wholemeal description and compare the fibre and salt content per 100 g of similar breads. For our family, I want to know what grains the bread is made from rather than relying on ‘multigrain’. Around 25% of consumers put this check first.
Ingredients and allergens Read the current ingredients and allergen information, including any ‘may contain’ statements, for the exact variety. If someone at home needs to avoid certain ingredients, I need to be able to check whether this particular bread is suitable. This is the main concern for around 19% of consumers.
Size and shopping convenience Check whether the size and slice thickness you want are available through the shop or ordering method you use. When doing a big shop, I want to be able to pick up bread in the right size without having to make a separate trip to another shop later. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this convenience.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘multigrain’ means ‘wholemeal’

    According to the Voedingscentrum, multigrain bread is made with at least three types of grain. The name alone doesn’t tell you whether the bread is wholemeal.

    If you’re looking for wholemeal bread, check for an explicit wholemeal description and compare the ingredients and nutritional values per 100 g.

  • Buying more loaves than you can use

    A multipack may not be the best choice if you won’t get through the bread in time and don’t have room to freeze some of it.

    Choose the number of loaves to match how much you’ll use over the next few days, and check the storage and freezing advice for the product you choose.

  • Assuming ‘sliced’ means ‘medium-sliced’

    A label such as ‘sliced’ doesn’t confirm how thick the slices are. This matters if your family is used to a particular slice thickness.

    Check the packaging or ask the bakery counter about the slice thickness before buying several loaves.

  • Relying on the bread’s name to check for allergens

    Ingredients and allergens can vary between multigrain breads. A gluten-free label also tells you nothing about the presence of other allergens.

    Check the current information for the exact variety every time you buy it, including any statements about possible allergen presence.

Brands to compare

These bread ranges give you a starting point for choosing between whole, half and sliced loaves. Check each product to see whether the slice thickness and label meet your needs.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists sliced multigrain bread, a 4-pack and sliced OerDesem multigrain bread.

  • The listed Liefde & Passie Meergranen gesneden weighs 550 g; the 4-pack contains four loaves.
  • Check whether ‘sliced’ also means the slice thickness you want for the variety you choose.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists both a half multigrain loaf and a whole wholemeal multigrain loaf.

  • These sizes make it possible to choose a loaf that suits how much bread your household uses.
  • Compare the ingredients and allergens for each variety; loaf size tells you nothing about these.

ALDI

ALDI describes a pre-sliced whole multigrain hearth loaf and a sliced half wholemeal multigrain loaf.

  • This gives you two different loaf sizes to consider.
  • Ask about the slice thickness for the variety you want.

Dirk

Dirk lists a half multigrain loaf from Bakker van der Akker and a whole multigrain hearth loaf.

  • A half loaf may suit days when your family eats less of that type of bread.
  • Check the slice thickness of the specific loaf before buying.

PLUS

PLUS lists Korenlanders Desem Meergranen Boekweit among its multigrain breads.

  • The product name makes it easy to look for that specific variety and check its label.
  • Check whether the bread you want is sliced and what slice thickness it comes in.

Lidl

Lidl describes a multigrain bread containing ingredients such as wheat, barley and buckwheat as an in-store product.

  • The separate ingredients list for oven-fresh bread gives you another source to check for product information.
  • In store, check the size, slice thickness and allergens of the bread you’re buying.

Joybuy products related to this topic

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is multigrain bread automatically wholemeal?

No. According to the Voedingscentrum, ‘multigrain’ means the bread contains at least three different types of grain; the name doesn’t confirm that it’s wholemeal. Check the product description and ingredients to find out.

Does ‘sliced’ mean the bread is medium-sliced?

No, ‘sliced’ doesn’t tell you how thick the slices are. Check the packaging or ask the shop if medium-sliced bread is important for your family shop.

Can I freeze multigrain bread for later?

It depends on the bread and its storage advice. Albert Heijn says that Liefde & Passie Meergranen gesneden can be frozen at home on the day of purchase; for another variety, check its own label.

Does bread always contain iodised baker’s salt?

No. The Voedingscentrum says that using baker’s salt isn’t compulsory and that you can check the label to see whether it has been used. So check the ingredients of the bread you choose.

Is gluten-free multigrain bread also free from other allergens?

No, a gluten-free label tells you nothing about other allergens. For example, the listing for Consenza Meergranenbrood gesneden at Albert Heijn mentions sesame; always check the current allergen information for the exact variety.