For a sweet breakfast every day, don’t choose bread based on the word ‘multigrain’ alone. Check the label to see which flour has been used and compare the fibre per 100 g. Then check whether the bread is actually medium-sliced and whether the ingredients and allergens suit you. The word ‘sliced’ alone doesn’t tell you how thick the slices are.
The word ‘multigrain’ doesn’t tell you whether a bread is wholemeal. So check the flour in the ingredients list and the fibre per 100 g, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre when assessing bread.
If you want bread that’s easy to top, you’ll need to check the thickness of the slices. Words such as ‘sliced’, ‘half’ and ‘whole’ don’t indicate slice thickness. Check the packaging or ask in store.
Recipes containing several grains and seeds can vary considerably. Check the current ingredients and allergen information for the specific loaf, including whether it contains iodised salt.
Start with the flour and nutritional information, then check the slice thickness, the label and availability for your daily sweet breakfast.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Flour and fibre | Check whether wholemeal flour is listed in the ingredients and compare the fibre per 100 g. | For a sweet breakfast every day, I want to know what lies behind the word ‘multigrain’. Around 40% of consumers prioritise ingredients and fibre. |
| Slice thickness and storage | Confirm that the slices are medium-thick and read the storage advice for the bread. | If I want bread that’s easy to top and don’t plan to eat the whole loaf straight away, slice thickness and storage options matter most. Around 30% of consumers prioritise these practical points. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients and allergen information, including details about grains, seeds and salt. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to be able to check the recipe for this bread before choosing it. This is the main concern for around 20% of consumers. |
| Availability | Check whether your chosen variety is available in your shop and is medium-sliced. | I want to be able to buy bread that meets my requirements, without relying on an old product listing. Around 10% of consumers prioritise local availability. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread contains at least three types of grain. The name alone doesn’t mean that the bread is wholemeal.
Check which flour has been used and compare the fibre per 100 g in the nutritional information.
A product description may say that the bread is sliced without specifying the thickness of each slice. This matters most when ease of topping is your main priority.
Check the packaging or ask in store about the slice thickness before you choose.
A loaf listed on a product page may not be available in your shop. The product varieties we checked at Jumbo were no longer part of its online range.
Confirm the current variety and its availability with the shop where you plan to buy the bread.
The grains, seeds and allergens used vary from loaf to loaf. You can’t tell whether a bread contains iodised salt just from the multigrain category, either.
Read the label on the specific product. Lidl directs customers to check in-store information for the ingredients, allergens and nutritional values of its food products.
AH Liefde & Passie Meergranen is listed as sliced multigrain bread.
Jumbo has product information for a range of multigrain breads, including wholemeal varieties.
Lidl lists a multigrain bread that is only sold in store.
ALDI lists a Boeren volkoren meergranenbrood made with grains and seeds.
Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker Bakkers meergranen half.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread contains at least three types of grain, but the name doesn’t guarantee that it’s made with wholemeal flour. Check the flour used in the ingredients list and, if you like, compare the fibre per 100 g.
Read the ingredients list for the specific loaf. For example, Albert Heijn lists iodised salt in AH Liefde & Passie Meergranen; this doesn’t tell you anything about other recipes.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping wholemeal bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2 to 4 days, or in the freezer for 1 to 3 months. Also check the storage advice on the packaging of the bread you buy.
Check the current ingredients list and allergen information for the bread you choose. For AH Liefde & Passie Meergranen, Albert Heijn lists, among other things, cereals containing gluten and sesame, and warns that it may contain milk, soya and lactose. Other breads may use a different recipe.
