Fibre-conscious bread buyers
You’re looking for wholemeal multigrain bread for your sandwiches, not just bread made with different grains or seeds. Look for the wholemeal label, then compare the fibre per 100 g on the packaging.
Who is this relevant to?
Households that don’t need much bread
For a small top-up shop, half a loaf or a pack of rolls may suit how much bread you use better than a whole loaf. If you do want a whole loaf, check the freezing advice for that particular variant.
Buyers who need to check ingredients
If you have an allergy or are choosing bread based on whether it contains iodised salt, the information for the exact variant matters. Check the ingredients and allergen information again if you switch brand or pack size.
What should you look for when buying?
For a small top-up shop, first decide whether wholemeal bread is your priority and how much bread you need. Then check the ingredients and nutritional information for the variant you’re planning to buy.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for the wholemeal label and compare the fibre per 100 g. | If I’m looking for wholemeal bread, I don’t want to rely on the word ‘multigrain’ alone. For around 36% of consumers, verified wholemeal content would be the top priority. |
| Pack size and storage | Choose between half a loaf, a whole loaf and rolls; if freezing, follow the product instructions. | I don’t want to buy more bread than I’ll use soon, unless I can freeze the rest. The right pack size would be the priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Allergens | For the exact variant, check both ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ information. | When I’m buying bread for someone with an allergy, I need to be able to check the ingredients on that pack. Around 21% of consumers would put allergen checks first. |
| Iodised salt | Check the ingredients list for baker’s salt or iodised salt. | If I want to know whether this bread is made with iodised salt, I can’t tell from the type of bread alone. For around 14% of consumers, checking this ingredient would be the main concern. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘multigrain’ means ‘wholemeal’
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread contains at least three types of grain. The name doesn’t tell you whether the grain ingredients are wholemeal.
Look for the wholemeal label on the packaging, then compare the fibre per 100 g.
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Assuming every loaf contains iodised salt
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that using baker’s salt isn’t compulsory. So the type of bread alone won’t tell you which salt has been used.
Check the ingredients list for iodised salt or baker’s salt; if you’re buying unpackaged bread, ask which ingredients have been used.
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Applying the allergen information from one variant to another
Ingredients vary between breads and pack sizes. For example, the product information for specific wholemeal multigrain products from Jumbo and PLUS lists different gluten-containing grains and other allergens.
Check the allergen information for the exact variant every time you buy it, including ‘may contain’ details.
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Buying a whole loaf without a storage plan
If you only need a little bread over the next few days, you may have some of a whole loaf left over before you can use it.
Choose half a loaf or rolls, or check whether you can freeze the whole loaf on the day you buy it, following the product instructions.
Brands with relevant bread options
Compare the size and details of the specific bread variant; a brand name alone tells you nothing about the ingredients or nutritional value of a different loaf.
Albert Heijn
AH OerDesem donker meergranen heel gesneden is a whole loaf of wholemeal multigrain bread, pre-sliced. It’s a suitable size if you use plenty of bread or freeze the rest according to the product instructions.
- For this variant, Albert Heijn lists 6,6 g of fibre and 0,85 g of salt per 100 g, iodised salt, and says the bread can be frozen on the day of purchase.
- Check the current packaging: the ingredients of this variant may change, and the details don’t automatically apply to other AH bread.
Jumbo
Jumbo Boeren Donker Volkoren Meergranen Half is a half loaf for anyone who doesn’t need a whole loaf for a small top-up shop.
- For this half loaf, Jumbo lists 8,0 g of fibre and 0,98 g of salt per 100 g.
- Check the allergens on the exact pack; don’t assume this variant’s details apply to another Jumbo multigrain loaf.
PLUS
PLUS Korenlanders Volkoren meergranen bollen are an alternative if you’d rather buy rolls than a sliced loaf.
- For these rolls, PLUS lists 7,8 g of fibre and 0,93 g of salt per 100 g, and provides instructions for freezing them on the day of purchase.
- The listed allergens include wheat, rye, barley, oats, soya, milk and sesame. Another PLUS multigrain product may have different ingredients.
Dirk
Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker Casino meergranen Volkoren half as a half-loaf option for a smaller top-up shop.
- The product name distinguishes this half loaf of wholemeal multigrain bread from other types of bread at Dirk.
- Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information on the packaging before comparing this variant for fibre or salt.
Joybuy products
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Is multigrain bread automatically wholemeal?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ means bread made with at least three types of grain, not that those grains are wholemeal. So if wholemeal is what you’re looking for, check separately for the wholemeal label.
How can I check whether multigrain bread is wholemeal?
Check the label and ingredients on the current packaging. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, a product can only be called wholemeal if all its grain ingredients are wholemeal flour. If you also want to compare nutritional values, use the fibre per 100 g for both breads.
Does multigrain bread always contain iodised baker’s salt?
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list for the bread you’ve chosen for baker’s salt or iodised salt, or ask which ingredients have been used if you’re buying unpackaged bread.
For a small top-up shop, should I choose half a loaf or a whole one?
Half a loaf or rolls are a good choice if you only need a little bread. A whole loaf can also work if you use it in time or freeze it according to the instructions for that variant; Albert Heijn and PLUS recommend freezing specific products on the day of purchase.