Who is this relevant to?

Lunch shoppers who want to avoid waste

You’re buying bread for a limited number of lunches. Half a loaf may suit your plans; according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, you can also freeze a larger loaf in portions as soon as you buy it.

Lunch shoppers looking for wholemeal bread

You want multigrain bread that is also labelled as wholemeal. Check for that claim separately and compare the nutritional information, including fibre per 100 g.

Shoppers with practical needs or dietary requirements

You need bread that’s ready to eat, or you have the time and equipment to finish baking a roll. If you need to avoid certain ingredients, also check the claims and allergens on the specific product’s label.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide how many lunches you want to make with the bread. Then check whether it’s labelled wholemeal, how it needs to be prepared and whether it contains any ingredients you need to avoid.

What to consider What to check when buying Who is this important to?
Size and waste Compare the number of rolls or the size of the loaf with your lunch plans. Consider whether you can freeze any leftover bread. If I’m only planning a few lunches, I don’t want to be left with bread I haven’t used. Around 33% of consumers are thought to see reducing waste as their main concern.
Wholemeal or just multigrain Look for an explicit wholemeal claim and read the ingredients. Compare fibre on a like-for-like basis, for example per 100 g. When I’m looking for wholemeal bread, a dark colour isn’t enough to go on. For around 33% of consumers, verifiably wholemeal bread is thought to be the main requirement when choosing.
Time until it’s ready to eat Check whether the bread is ready to eat or needs to be baked. For bake-off bread, check what equipment and preparation are required. If I don’t have an oven at lunchtime, I want a roll I can eat straight away. Around 20% of consumers are thought to prioritise this convenience at lunchtime.
Ingredients and allergens Read the latest ingredients list, allergen information and any explicit gluten-free claim. If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I need to be able to tell whether this particular bread is suitable. For around 14% of consumers, this check is thought to be their main concern when buying.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘multigrain’ means ‘wholemeal’

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread is made with at least three types of grain. That doesn’t automatically mean it’s wholemeal.

    If this matters to you, look separately for a wholemeal claim in the product name or on the label.

  • Buying a larger loaf without a plan for the rest

    A whole loaf may not be the best fit for just a few lunches if some of it is left uneaten.

    Choose a size you can finish, or follow the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice and freeze a whole loaf in portions as soon as you buy it.

  • Taking bake-off bread for a lunch without an oven

    Part-baked rolls need an extra step before they’re ready to eat. According to the product information, PLUS’s wholemeal multigrain baguettes need to be baked in an oven or air fryer.

    Check the preparation instructions before buying, and choose ready-to-eat bread if you can’t bake it at lunchtime.

  • Mistaking a multigrain name for an allergen claim

    The grains used in multigrain bread vary from product to product. The name alone doesn’t tell you whether a loaf is suitable if you need to avoid gluten or other ingredients.

    Check the explicit claims, ingredients and allergen warnings on the current packaging.

Brands and shops to consider

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists a range of multigrain breads online, alongside separate corn breads, in sizes including whole and half loaves.

  • The range of sizes gives you options for shorter or longer lunch plans.
  • Not every loaf in the range is explicitly labelled wholemeal, so check each product individually.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists, among other products, whole and half Boeren Donker wholemeal multigrain loaves, as well as Waldkorn varieties.

  • You can choose between a whole and a half wholemeal multigrain loaf from the range shown.
  • Check the size and product information for each variety; a range name doesn’t describe every loaf individually.

Lidl

Lidl lists a 400 g half loaf of dark multigrain bread made with ingredients including wheat, barley and buckwheat.

  • The half-loaf size is a practical option if you don’t need much bread for lunch.
  • Check the current label in store, including whether it’s labelled wholemeal if that’s what you’re looking for.

ALDI

ALDI lists a half boeren wholemeal multigrain loaf and a separate multigrain baguette.

  • The half boeren loaf is explicitly labelled wholemeal in the product name.
  • The multigrain baguette is a different product, so don’t assume the wholemeal claim on the half loaf also applies to it.

PLUS

PLUS sells fresh and bake-off multigrain bread, including wholemeal multigrain baguettes, and also lists a gluten-free product from Schär.

  • The baguettes are explicitly labelled wholemeal multigrain, while the Schär product is separately labelled gluten-free.
  • The baguettes need to be baked. Also check the other ingredients and allergens in the Schär product.

Dirk

Under the Bakker van der Akker name, Dirk lists a half multigrain loaf, among other products, as well as separate wholemeal varieties.

  • The half loaf is a handy size for a limited number of lunches.
  • If you want wholemeal bread, check the claim for the variety you choose rather than assuming it from the word ‘multigrain’.

Multigrain rolls on Joybuy

This pack of four multigrain rolls may suit you if you only need bread for a few lunches. Compare the pack size with what you actually need, and read the latest label if wholemeal claims or allergens matter to your choice.

g'woon Multigrain Rolls, pack of 4

g'woon Multigrain Rolls, 4 pieces

A pack of four rolls may suit you if you’re looking for bread for just a few lunches.

Check the latest product information if a wholemeal claim or specific allergens matter to your choice.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is multigrain bread automatically wholemeal?

No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread contains at least three types of grain, but that doesn’t automatically mean it’s wholemeal. Look for an explicit wholemeal claim and read the label of the bread you want to buy.

When is half a loaf a better fit for my lunch plans?

Half a loaf may suit you if you’re only buying bread for a few lunches and wouldn’t finish a whole loaf. If you can use a whole loaf, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends freezing it in portions as soon as you buy it.

Can I eat bake-off multigrain bread straight away for lunch?

Check the preparation instructions first: bake-off bread still needs to be cooked. According to the product information, PLUS’s wholemeal multigrain baguettes need 8–10 minutes in an oven at 220 °C or 5–6 minutes in an air fryer at 200 °C.

What should I look for if I’m looking for gluten-free multigrain bread?

Look for an explicit gluten-free claim and check the full allergen information for the product you choose. The Schär Meesterbakker Mehrkorn listed by PLUS is labelled gluten-free and wheat-free, but contains soya and may contain lupin, mustard and sesame.

Does all multigrain bread contain iodised salt?

Don’t assume it does. Check the ingredients for the specific loaf for wording such as ‘iodised salt’ or ‘baker’s salt’; PLUS’s wholemeal multigrain baguettes list iodised salt.