If you want to serve quickly
Pre-sliced bread saves you the effort of cutting it for toast with your Sunday roast or sandwiches with leftover roast. ALDI and Albert Heijn show examples of sliced multigrain bread.
Which option is best for you?
If you want to compare wholemeal options and fibre
The term ‘multigrain’ is no substitute for the word ‘wholemeal’. Check the product name, ingredients and nutritional information, and compare fibre values on the same basis, for example per 100 g.
If you’re buying for a small gathering
A half loaf may be a better fit when bread is served as a side. If you do have slices left over, you can freeze them in portions; the Voedingscentrum provides storage advice.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want to serve the bread straight away or cut it yourself. Then compare the label and the amount of bread you need.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Slicing | Look for ‘sliced’ or ‘pre-sliced’; ‘medium sliced’ on its own doesn’t clearly indicate the thickness. | If I want to serve toast straight away or get bread ready for sandwiches with leftover roast, I don’t want to have to slice it myself first. An estimated 40% of consumers put convenience first. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Check for the word ‘wholemeal’ and compare the fibre value per 100 g. | If I’m mainly concerned with the ingredients, the term ‘multigrain’ doesn’t tell me enough about the flour used. An estimated 30% of consumers prioritise wholemeal and fibre. |
| Salt and allergens | Check the ingredients list for the type of salt and the grains and allergens listed. | If I want to know whether the bread contains iodised salt or need to avoid certain ingredients, I need to be able to check the label. An estimated 20% of consumers put this check first. |
| Quantity and storage | Compare half and whole loaves, and read the storage instructions on the packaging. | If I’m catering for a small gathering, I don’t want to buy more bread than I can use or store. For an estimated 10% of consumers, choosing the right quantity matters most. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘multigrain’ means ‘wholemeal’
Using several types of grain or adding seeds doesn’t automatically make bread wholemeal. This distinction matters if you’re specifically looking for wholemeal bread or a particular fibre value.
Check the product name and ingredients list, and compare fibre per 100 g. The Voedingscentrum highlights the dietary fibre content of wholemeal bread in particular.
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Assuming all bread contains iodised salt
Not all bread has to be made with iodine-containing bakers’ salt; the Dutch bakery sector says its use is not required by law.
If the type of salt matters to you, look for ‘bakers’ salt’ or an explicit mention of iodised salt in the ingredients list.
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Taking ‘medium sliced’ to mean a set slice thickness
Shops use terms such as ‘sliced’, ‘half’ and ‘whole’, but these don’t specify how thick each slice is.
Choose bread that’s explicitly labelled as sliced if you want to avoid cutting it yourself. If you want to choose the thickness, look for a loaf you can slice yourself.
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Buying a whole loaf without a plan for leftovers
If bread is only a small part of dinner, a whole loaf may be more than you’ll use in the short term.
Consider a half loaf or freeze any leftover slices in portions. Follow the storage advice for the bread you buy.
Brands and shops compared
Albert Heijn
An example product for anyone wanting to compare the ingredients, nutritional information and allergens in sliced multigrain bread.
- According to Albert Heijn, AH Liefde & Passie Meergranen gesneden comes in a 550 g pack and contains 5,7 g of fibre per 100 g.
- These details apply to that specific loaf, not to all Albert Heijn multigrain breads.
ALDI
Offers examples for anyone considering pre-sliced or half multigrain bread.
- ALDI describes its luxury multigrain hearth bread as pre-sliced and also lists Boeren volkoren meergranen Half.
- ‘Pre-sliced’ doesn’t specify the thickness of the slices, so check that each product comes in the form you want.
Dirk
Offers options for comparing half and whole multigrain loaves.
- Dirk’s search results include Bakkers meergranen half and heel.
- Check the ingredients, allergens and slicing on the packaging or product page for the version you choose.
PLUS
Worth considering if you’d also like to browse multigrain breads made with sourdough or other grain blends.
- The PLUS category includes PLUS Korenlanders Desem Meergranen Boekweit and Soma Haverkorn multigrain bread.
- Check whether each loaf is sliced; the category name doesn’t tell you how thick the slices are.
Lidl
An example product for anyone wanting to find out which grains and seeds are used.
- Lidl lists wheat, barley and buckwheat among the ingredients in its multigrain bread.
- For this bread, check separately how it’s sliced, whether it’s labelled wholemeal, and the full ingredients and allergen information.
Multigrain bread on Joybuy
This round multigrain loaf is a good choice if you want to cut your own slices to serve with a Sunday roast. If you’re looking for bread that comes pre-sliced straight from the pack, check how it’s sliced separately.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Country Bread Round, 550 g
For anyone who wants to choose the slice thickness when serving. Remember to allow time for defrosting, baking and cooling before slicing the bread.
Check the latest ingredients and allergen information if wheat or sesame is relevant to your choice. Look on the packaging for a wholemeal label or iodised salt if you want to choose based on either of these.
Frequently asked questions
Is multigrain bread automatically wholemeal?
No. ‘Multigrain’ and ‘wholemeal’ don’t mean the same thing, so check the product name and ingredients list if wholemeal matters to you. Compare the nutritional information per 100 g to check the fibre value.
Does all Dutch bread contain iodised bakers’ salt?
No, don’t assume that it does. The Dutch bakery sector says the use of iodine-containing bakers’ salt is not required by law. Check the ingredients list for the type of salt in the bread you choose.
How should I store bread left over after dinner?
Freeze slices in portions if you won’t use them soon. For opened wholemeal bread, the Voedingscentrum’s storage guide recommends 2–4 days in a kitchen cupboard and 1–3 months in the freezer; for an unopened pack, follow the information on the label.
What should I look out for if I have to avoid gluten or other allergens?
Check the ingredients list and allergen information for the specific loaf. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, the type of grain used must be clearly stated for cereals containing gluten; the term ‘multigrain’ doesn’t tell you which allergens a product contains.