For a late-night snack, choose an amount of bread you can eat or store, rather than automatically buying a whole loaf. Check separately whether it’s wholemeal: the name ‘multigrain’ doesn’t tell you that. If you need to avoid gluten or other allergens, the label for the specific variety you choose takes priority over everything else.
If you’re looking for bread for one or a few late-night snacks, half a loaf or a pack of individual rolls may be a better fit for what you’ll use. For example, ALDI and Dirk list multigrain bread in a half-loaf size.
The term ‘multigrain’ doesn’t tell you whether a loaf is wholemeal. Check the product description and compare the stated fibre per 100 g if this distinction matters to your choice.
Check the ingredients, allergens and any ‘may contain’ statement for the exact variety you’ve chosen. A product labelled ‘gluten-free’ may still contain other allergens.
If you need to avoid an allergen, start with the label. Otherwise, first decide how much bread you’ll need for your late-night snack, then check whether it’s wholemeal, its fibre content and the storage instructions.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Small portion | See whether half a loaf or a few individual rolls will suit the number of times you expect to eat them. | If I only need a few slices, I don’t want to be left with lots of bread. Around 38% of consumers prioritise a small portion. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for the term ‘wholemeal’ and compare fibre on the same basis: per 100 g. | I want to know what’s in my multigrain bread without assuming from the name that it’s wholemeal. Around 31% of consumers give wholemeal and fibre their highest priority. |
| Storing it without waste | Read the storage instructions and check whether you can store the bread in portions you’ll find practical to use. | If I only fancy a late-night snack occasionally, I want to have bread ready without needing to eat a whole fresh loaf quickly. For around 23% of consumers, ease of storage matters most. |
| Gluten and other allergens | Check the allergen list, any ‘may contain’ statement and, if needed, an explicit ‘gluten-free’ label. | If I need to avoid an allergen, the label determines which variety I can consider. Around 8% of consumers put this check first. |
According to Voedingscentrum, multigrain bread contains at least three different types of grain. This doesn’t tell you whether the flour used is wholemeal.
Look for the term ‘wholemeal’, read the ingredients and, if you wish, compare the fibre per 100 g.
If you only use a few slices, you may be left with a large fresh loaf.
Choose an amount that suits how you’ll use it, or follow the specific bread’s freezing instructions and store it in portions.
Half a loaf, a whole loaf and a pack of rolls won’t necessarily contain the same amount of bread.
Check the weight or number of pieces and think about how much you’ll actually use.
Standard multigrain bread may contain grains that contain gluten. A gluten-free variety may contain other allergens or carry a ‘may contain’ warning.
Check the allergen information for the variety you’ve chosen every time you buy it.
Albert Heijn provides online product information for specific multigrain breads.
Jumbo offers, among other options, a whole wholemeal multigrain loaf with seeds.
The Lidl multigrain bread described here is a bakery product sold in store.
ALDI lists Boeren volkoren meergranen in both half and whole-loaf sizes.
PLUS provides detailed product information for Korenlanders Donker meergranen rond heel.
Dirk lists, among other options, a half multigrain loaf and other types of bread.
These rolls and loaves are suited to a planned late-night snack. Choose between individual portions and a whole loaf, for which you’ll need to decide in advance how you’ll use it.
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The four individual baguettes are handy for planned snack times. The product description says to store them in the freezer and defrost them before baking; check the current pack for baking times. The listed ingredients include wheat, sesame and malted barley.
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Four multigrain rolls give you a set number of pieces for a few meals. Check the weight on the pack and, if you have an allergy, pay particular attention to the current information about sesame.
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This 550 g round multigrain loaf is suited to anyone planning to use a whole loaf over several occasions. The description mentions freezer storage and baking; if you only use it occasionally, plan what to do with the rest. The listed wheat flour doesn’t confirm that this bread is wholemeal.
No. According to Voedingscentrum, ‘multigrain’ means the bread contains at least three different types of grain. If you want a wholemeal option, look for the term ‘wholemeal’ and check the ingredients. Compare fibre only on the same basis, such as per 100 g.
Half a loaf or a few rolls may be suitable if you don’t expect to use much bread. Check the weight too, and see whether you can store any leftovers according to the product instructions.
You can, if the storage instructions for that variety say it’s suitable for freezing. PLUS says to freeze Korenlanders Donker meergranen rond heel on the day of purchase and use it within one month. For other breads, follow the instructions on the pack.
Don’t assume it is: multigrain bread may contain grains that contain gluten. Check that the variety you’ve chosen is explicitly labelled gluten-free, and read the other allergen information and any ‘may contain’ statement on the current packaging.
Don’t assume so from the name ‘multigrain’. The ingredients for AH Boeren donker meergranen heel list iodised salt, while PLUS lists baker’s salt for Korenlanders Donker meergranen rond heel. Check the ingredients list for the bread you’re buying, or ask about the ingredients if it’s sold unwrapped.
