Who is this choice important for?

Parents who make packed lunches every day

If you often pack bread for school, check that it is labelled wholemeal rather than assuming that all multigrain bread is wholemeal. The Voedingscentrum recommends wholemeal bread for school lunches.

Parents looking for easy-to-handle slices

Pre-sliced bread saves preparation time, but ‘sliced’ doesn’t tell you how thick the slices are. Check the slices on the packaging or in store if medium-sliced bread is what you need.

Parents who need to consider allergens or school guidelines

Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the bread you buy. Make sure your packed lunch also follows any relevant guidelines set by the school or after-school childcare (BSO).

What should you look for when choosing?

The Voedingscentrum recommends wholemeal bread for school lunches. Also check allergens and school guidelines before deciding whether the slice thickness and loaf size are practical for you.

What to consider What to check when buying Who is this most important for?
Wholemeal labelling Look specifically for ‘wholemeal’ and, if in doubt, compare the ingredients and fibre per 100 g. I regularly make school lunches and don’t want to rely on the name ‘multigrain’. For around 40% of consumers, wholemeal labelling is the top priority.
Allergens and school guidelines Read the latest ingredients and allergen information, and take account of any school or BSO guidelines. If I need to consider allergens or school rules when packing lunch, those checks come before taste or size. Around 30% of consumers put this first.
Slicing Check whether the bread is pre-sliced and whether the actual slice thickness suits the sandwiches you want to make. I want slices that are easy to top and pack in a lunchbox; ‘sliced’ on its own doesn’t tell me enough. For around 20% of consumers, the slicing is the main priority.
Size and storage Compare a half loaf and a whole loaf with how much bread your household gets through, and check the storage advice. If we don’t eat much of this bread at home, I want to avoid having some left over. This is the main consideration for around 10% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘multigrain’ means ‘wholemeal’

    Multigrain refers to different types of grain; it doesn’t automatically mean the bread is made with wholemeal flour. The Voedingscentrum says that multigrain bread is therefore not necessarily the same as wholemeal bread.

    Look for an explicit wholemeal label, then compare the ingredients and nutritional information of the breads you’re considering.

  • Relying on the bread’s name to check allergens

    Ingredients vary from one loaf to another. For example, Jumbo’s product information lists several gluten-containing grains for its Boeren Donker Volkoren Meergranen Half; the name alone won’t tell you which allergens are present in a different bread.

    Read the packaging of the bread you buy, including any warnings, and follow relevant school or BSO guidelines.

  • Buying a whole loaf without a plan for the rest

    If you only use a few slices, there may be bread left over before you finish the loaf.

    Consider buying half a loaf or freezing portions in line with the storage advice for the product you’ve bought.

  • Assuming ‘sliced’ means ‘medium-sliced’

    Calling bread sliced doesn’t tell you how thick the slices are. That matters when you’re looking for a particular thickness for a lunchbox.

    Check the slices and packaging in store, or ask the bakery counter what slicing options are available.

Brands compared

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists AH Liefde & Passie Meergranen as sliced brown multigrain bread, weighing 550 g.

  • The product information includes details such as ingredients and allergens, so you can compare them.
  • Check the current packaging for the slice thickness you want; ‘sliced’ doesn’t confirm that the slices are medium-thick.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists Boeren Donker Volkoren Meergranen as half a loaf with seeds and kernels.

  • The product information includes ingredients and allergen details for this variety.
  • Check the slicing separately if medium-sliced bread is essential.

Lidl

Lidl lists a 400 g half loaf of dark multigrain bread and names wheat, barley and buckwheat among its ingredients.

  • The half-loaf size may suit households that want to see how much bread they get through first.
  • Read the full allergen information on the packaging and check the slice thickness in store.

Aldi

Aldi lists Boeren Volkoren Meergranen Half as sliced bread.

  • The labels ‘wholemeal’, ‘sliced’ and ‘half’ make it clear which features you can compare for this variety.
  • Refer to the current packaging for slice thickness, ingredients and allergens.

Plus

Plus lists products in its multigrain category including PLUS Korenlanders Desem Meergranen Boekweit and Brood van Soma Haverkorn.

  • These individual loaves give you options to compare when choosing the type of bread you want.
  • Check the slicing and allergens for each loaf; the category name doesn’t tell you these details.

Dirk

Dirk lists products including Bakker van der Akker Bakkers meergranen half and Multikorn volkoren half.

  • The names distinguish between a multigrain variety and one that is also labelled wholemeal.
  • Check the ingredients, allergens and slice thickness on the packaging of the loaf you choose.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is multigrain bread always wholemeal?

No, the name ‘multigrain’ doesn’t automatically mean that the bread is wholemeal. For everyday school lunches, look for an explicit wholemeal label; the Voedingscentrum recommends wholemeal bread for school lunches.

How can I check for gluten and other allergens?

Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging of the bread you buy. For example, Jumbo lists wheat, barley, oats and rye among the ingredients of its Boeren Donker Volkoren Meergranen Half; don’t assume that another multigrain bread has the same ingredients.

Can I tell from the name whether multigrain bread contains iodised salt?

No, the name ‘multigrain’ doesn’t tell you what type of salt has been used in the bread. Check the current ingredients list if iodised salt is important to your choice.

How should I store bread for school lunches?

Buy an amount that suits how much bread you get through, and freeze portions if you like. For opened wholemeal bread, the Voedingscentrum’s Storage Guide recommends 2 to 4 days in a kitchen cupboard and 1 to 3 months in the freezer. Also check the storage advice on the packaging of the bread you buy.