Students keeping an eye on fibre
You’re looking for genuinely wholemeal bread as the basis for a simple evening meal. Compare the labelling and fibre per 100 g rather than relying on the colour or seeds.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Students who don’t eat much bread at once
If you’re cooking for one or two people, half a loaf or a pack of individual rolls may suit the way you eat better. Also check how and for how long you can store the product you choose.
Students who need to check allergens
If you or someone you live with has an allergy, the product name isn’t enough. Wholemeal multigrain products may contain soya, milk or sesame as well as gluten-containing grains; read the allergen information for the specific loaf.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start by checking for a wholemeal label if that’s your main requirement. Then choose a quantity that suits how much you eat, and check the storage and allergen information for that product.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for the label ‘wholemeal’, read the ingredients and compare the fibre per 100 g. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ on its own doesn’t mean the bread is wholemeal. | If I’m specifically looking for wholemeal multigrain bread, I don’t want to have to rely on a dark colour or seeds; for around 42% of consumers, being sure it’s wholemeal comes first. |
| Practical portions | Check how much bread or how many rolls you get and how many meals you can make with them. Half a loaf and a pack of rolls don’t necessarily contain the same number of portions. | When I only eat a few slices at a time, I want to be able to use up a pack without throwing bread away; around 33% of consumers prioritise the number of practical portions. |
| Storage and allergens | Read the storage instructions and, if you have an allergy, check the current ingredients and allergen information. Ingredients vary from product to product. | I want to store bread in a way that suits my eating habits, and if I have an allergy, I need to know exactly what’s in it; for around 25% of consumers, this practical check is the main consideration. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming dark bread or lots of seeds means it’s wholemeal
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ means that the bread contains at least three types of grain; it doesn’t mean the whole grain has been used. Colour and seeds don’t answer that question either.
Look for the label ‘wholemeal’ and read the ingredients of the bread you want to buy. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that the wholemeal label is based on the grain ingredients.
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Assuming multigrain bread is allergen-free
The wholemeal multigrain rolls described by Jumbo and PLUS contain gluten-containing grains and sesame; these products also list soya and, in the case of PLUS, milk.
Check the current allergen information for the specific product every time you buy it, even if you’ve eaten similar bread before.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn offers several types of wholemeal bread, including full and half loaves.
- You can look for a size that suits the number of people you’re feeding.
- For a multigrain or Waldkorn variety, check separately whether the loaf you’ve chosen is labelled wholemeal.
Jumbo
Jumbo provides product information for packaged wholemeal multigrain rolls.
- For its wholemeal multigrain rolls, Jumbo lists ingredients, storage instructions and 7,4 g of fibre per 100 g, among other details.
- Don’t assume these details apply to another Jumbo loaf without checking its label.
Lidl
Lidl describes wholemeal products and also lists a multigrain loaf.
- These two product descriptions give you a specific question to check on the label: is this multigrain loaf wholemeal too?
- Check the ingredients and fibre on the packaging of the specific loaf.
Aldi
Aldi describes a whole Boeren wholemeal multigrain loaf and a separate extra-high-fibre wholemeal loaf.
- Both terms appear in the product name of the Boeren wholemeal multigrain loaf.
- The separate extra-high-fibre wholemeal loaf isn’t automatically multigrain too, so check each product separately.
PLUS
PLUS describes packaged Korenlanders wholemeal multigrain rolls and provides ingredients and nutritional information.
- PLUS lists 7,8 g of fibre per 100 g for these rolls and provides storage instructions.
- The listed ingredients include gluten-containing grains, soya, milk and sesame; check the current label if allergens matter to your choice.
Dirk
Dirk lists products including Bakker van der Akker Casino multigrain wholemeal bread as a half loaf.
- A half loaf is worth considering if you don’t eat many slices at once.
- For ingredients, allergens and fibre, read the information for the exact variety you choose.
Related Joybuy products
Related products coming soon.
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 tell you whether the whole grain has been used. To choose wholemeal bread, look for the label ‘wholemeal’ and check the ingredients.
How do I compare the fibre in two multigrain loaves?
Compare the fibre per 100 g so that both figures are based on the same quantity. Jumbo lists 7,4 g per 100 g for its wholemeal multigrain rolls, while PLUS lists 7,8 g per 100 g for its Korenlanders wholemeal multigrain rolls; check the information on the current packaging when you buy.
How do I choose an amount of bread I can use up?
Choose half a loaf or packaged rolls if that better suits how much you eat, and follow the storage instructions for the product you choose. PLUS recommends freezing its wholemeal multigrain rolls on the day of purchase and using them within a month; Jumbo provides instructions for storing its packaged rolls after opening.
Can I rely on the word multigrain if I have a gluten or sesame allergy?
No. The wholemeal multigrain rolls described by Jumbo and PLUS contain gluten-containing grains and sesame. If you have an allergy, always read the current allergen information for the specific product.
Does all Dutch bread contain iodised salt?
Don’t assume it does without checking the label. The Dutch government lists bread with added iodine as a possible source of iodine, and Jumbo lists iodised salt in its wholemeal multigrain rolls. If this ingredient matters to your choice, read the ingredients list on the bread you buy.