Families who have bread for breakfast every day
Parents who consider loaf size and how much the family actually eats, so a large loaf doesn’t go to waste.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Parents who choose wholemeal with care
Parents who don’t rely on the word ‘multigrain’ alone. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that multigrain bread can also be made with white flour.
Families who need label information
Parents who check allergens before packing bread for school or childcare, or want to know whether baker’s salt was used in its preparation.
What should you look for?
Start with the ‘wholemeal’ label and the ingredients list. Then consider how much bread your household eats. Check the allergens and baker’s salt on the packaging of the variety you choose if that information is relevant to your family.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Multigrain or wholemeal | Look for ‘wholemeal’ in the product description and check the ingredients list if in doubt; colour and seeds don’t tell you for sure. | If I choose bread for my toddler every day, I want to know whether ‘multigrain’ really means it’s wholemeal. For around 46% of consumers, choosing wholemeal comes first. |
| Size and waste | Compare a half loaf and a whole loaf with how much you actually eat; check the storage instructions if needed. | In a household that eats only a few slices of bread, I want to avoid a whole loaf going stale. For around 36% of consumers, reducing waste is their main concern. |
| Allergens and baker’s salt | Check the latest allergen and ingredient information for the exact variety; ask for this information if buying unpackaged bread. | Before packing bread for childcare, I want to know which allergens it contains and what rules apply there; baker’s salt may also be relevant to my choice. For around 18% of consumers, these checks matter most. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘multigrain’ means ‘wholemeal’
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread can be made with white flour. A dark colour or visible seeds don’t tell you what it’s made from.
Look for an explicit wholemeal label and check the ingredients of the variety you choose.
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Choosing a whole loaf without considering how much you eat
With smaller breakfast portions, some of a whole loaf may be left over before it’s eaten.
Consider a half loaf, or check whether you can freeze the bread in portions according to the storage instructions.
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Guessing allergens from the name of the bread
Multigrain bread may contain cereals that contain gluten. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) lists these cereals as allergens that consumers must be informed about.
Check the allergen information on the exact pack and ask for details before buying unpackaged bread. If you’re packing it for school or childcare, also check what rules they have in place.
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Assuming all bread is made with baker’s salt
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt is not compulsory; the type of bread alone doesn’t tell you whether it’s been used.
Check the ingredients list or ask the baker which salt was used if this matters to your choice of bread.
Brands to consider
These bread varieties show why the exact product description and label matter more than the name used in the shop.
Albert Heijn
AH Vloerbrood multigrain whole loaf is described as brown multigrain bread, not wholemeal bread.
- Albert Heijn provides ingredients, allergen and nutritional information for this variety.
- The ingredients include both wholemeal wheat flour and wheat flour; don’t judge the variety by the word ‘multigrain’ alone.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers Boeren Donker Volkoren Meergranen, among other products, as both a whole and half loaf, as well as bread described simply as multigrain.
- The product names make it easier to search specifically for a variety labelled as wholemeal.
- Check the information for the individual variety or its packaging for ingredients and allergens.
Lidl
Lidl offers, among other products, a half loaf of dark multigrain bread, which may suit households that don’t eat much bread.
- The description of the half loaf lists wheat, barley and buckwheat.
- ‘Dark multigrain’ doesn’t confirm that it’s wholemeal; check the latest allergen information too.
ALDI
ALDI explicitly describes its Boeren volkoren meergranen whole loaf as both ‘wholemeal’ and ‘multigrain’.
- The product name makes it clear which variety to look for if wholemeal is your main priority.
- Check the packaging for the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information of the loaf you take home.
PLUS
PLUS describes Korenlanders Donker meergranen rond heel as a wholemeal multigrain loaf.
- PLUS provides ingredients, allergen and nutritional information for this variety; the ingredients also include baker’s salt.
- Don’t assume the label information for this specific variety applies to other multigrain bread from PLUS.
Dirk
Dirk offers Bakker van der Akker Bakkers multigrain bread as both a half and a whole loaf.
- With two sizes available, you can choose based on how much bread your household gets through.
- The name ‘multigrain’ doesn’t confirm that it’s wholemeal; check the bread label for allergens and ingredients.
Multigrain products on Joybuy
These multigrain rolls and loaves come in a range of sizes for breakfast. Check the wholemeal label, packaging and storage instructions for each product; the word ‘multigrain’ in the product name doesn’t tell you everything.
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g'woon multigrain rolls, 4 pack
Four individual rolls may be a good choice if you don’t want to cut into a whole loaf every time. Check the packaging to see whether this variety is wholemeal and which allergens it contains.
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Lekhaven Bakery round multigrain loaf, 550 g
A 550 g round loaf may suit a household that can spread it across several meals. Check the packaging for wholemeal status, allergens, and storage and preparation instructions.
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Lekhaven Bakery rustic multigrain baguettes, 4 × 135 g
Four separate 135 g baguettes offer a different size option from one whole loaf. If you plan to use them at different times, check the storage and preparation instructions on the packaging, as well as the wholemeal label and allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
Is multigrain bread automatically wholemeal?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread can also be made with white flour. Look for an explicit wholemeal label and check the ingredients list if in doubt; a dark colour or seeds aren’t proof that it’s wholemeal.
How much bread does a toddler eat in a day?
For children aged 1 to 3, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends around 2 to 3 slices of bread a day, usually split between breakfast and lunch. This is a general guideline, not a set amount for every child. When choosing a loaf size, consider how much your household actually eats.
What should I check before packing bread for school or childcare?
Check the allergen information for the exact bread variety and ask about the school or childcare setting’s rules. The NVWA says allergen information must appear on the label of pre-packed foods. If you’re buying unpackaged bread, you can ask for this information before you buy.
Is all bread made with iodised baker’s salt?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, baker’s salt isn’t compulsory. Check the ingredients list on packaged bread or ask the baker which salt was used if this matters to your choice.