Shoppers comparing wholemeal bread and fibre
You want to choose a bread for lunch that is clearly wholemeal, and compare the fibre per 100 g. A dark colour or visible seeds aren’t enough to tell you what it contains.
Who might find these choices useful?
Shoppers checking ingredients
Alongside the product description, you check the salt, allergens and whether baker’s salt is used. This is particularly useful if you need to avoid certain ingredients or want to know what kind of salt has been added to the bread.
Shoppers planning lunches ahead
You choose between a whole or half loaf, rolls and bake-off bread to suit your lunch plans. The storage and preparation instructions on the packaging are also important.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start with the product description: wholemeal multigrain bread combines a wholemeal base with several types of grain, while ordinary wholemeal bread is also an option if grain variety matters less to you. Then compare the nutritional information for specific products and choose a size you can use or store as directed.
| What to look for | What to check before buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal base | Look for ‘wholemeal’ in the product description and read the ingredients list. Don’t judge the base by its colour, seeds or the word ‘multigrain’ alone. | If I mainly want wholemeal bread for lunch, I don’t want to rely on a dark crust. Around 50% of shoppers would make a wholemeal base their first consideration. |
| Fibre and salt | Compare fibre and salt on the same basis, preferably per 100 g. If a comparative claim is made, check what the product is being compared with. | If I regularly have bread for lunch, I want to be able to compare two specific products, even if both are labelled wholemeal. For around 30% of shoppers, comparing fibre and salt would come first. |
| Size and storage | Choose a whole or half loaf, rolls or bake-off bread to suit your lunch plans, and follow the storage and preparation instructions on the packaging. | If I don’t eat bread every day, I want a size that suits my plans. Around 20% of shoppers would consider convenience at lunchtime and storage their main priorities. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘multigrain’ or a dark colour means wholemeal
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread contains at least three types of grain. This doesn’t mean that it is made exclusively with whole grains; seeds and a dark colour don’t prove that either.
Look for an explicit wholemeal label, then check the ingredients and nutritional information for the variety you want to buy.
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Judging a fibre or salt claim without checking the comparison
Fibre and salt levels vary from one product to another. A claim such as ‘less salt’ only means something in relation to the product it is being compared with.
Put the nutrition tables for the breads you’re considering side by side and compare them on the same basis, such as per 100 g.
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Assuming all bread contains baker’s salt
Baker’s salt contains iodine, but according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use it. The type or colour of the bread won’t tell you which salt has been added.
Check the ingredients for baker’s salt, or ask your baker what kind of salt was used in the bread.
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Choosing a loaf size without thinking about your lunch plans
Whole or half loaves, rolls and bake-off bread suit different occasions. A large loaf is less practical if you can’t use it in time.
Choose a size that suits your lunch plans, and follow the instructions on the specific packaging for freezing or baking.
Bread that isn’t used in time may go to waste.
Brands to compare
These supermarket ranges give you a starting point for comparing product descriptions, nutritional information and bread types. Always check the specific variety: information about one loaf doesn’t necessarily apply to the rest of the range.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn has separate online categories for multigrain and corn bread, and for wholemeal bread.
- The category layout makes it easier to search for the type of bread you want.
- Albert Heijn says that ingredients and nutritional values may change, so check the latest information for the variety you choose.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists nutritional values online for specific wholemeal multigrain breads.
- According to Jumbo, its half wholemeal multigrain loaf contains 7.8 g of fibre per 100 g. For its farmhouse-style dark wholemeal multigrain variety, Jumbo lists 8.0 g of fibre and 0.98 g of salt per 100 g.
- These values apply to the products named and don’t tell you anything about all Jumbo breads.
Lidl
Lidl offers fresh-from-the-oven multigrain bread, including a 400 g half loaf of dark multigrain bread.
- Lidl provides an ingredients and allergens overview for its fresh-from-the-oven bread range.
- Before choosing a specific loaf as a wholemeal option, check its description, nutritional information and allergens.
ALDI
ALDI lists both wholemeal multigrain bread and a separate extra-high-fibre wholemeal bread.
- According to ALDI, its extra-high-fibre wholemeal loaf contains 30% less salt and 30% more fibre than ordinary wholemeal bread, using NEVO-Online 2021 7.0 as the reference.
- This comparison applies to this specific variety and isn’t a comparison with all multigrain breads.
PLUS
PLUS offers wholemeal multigrain products in different forms, including rolls and bake-off baguettes.
- PLUS lists 7.8 g of fibre and 0.93 g of salt per 100 g for its wholemeal multigrain rolls. The ingredients list for its wholemeal multigrain baguettes names iodised salt.
- Compare the nutritional information and allergens for each product type; the values for the rolls don’t automatically apply to the baguettes.
Dirk
Dirk sells both breads labelled multigrain and varieties specifically labelled wholemeal multigrain.
- The different product descriptions make it worthwhile to search specifically for a wholemeal variety.
- To compare nutritional values, check the information for the bread you’re actually choosing.
Bread options on Joybuy
These bread options include wholemeal products if you’re mainly looking for a wholemeal base, and multigrain products if the type or shape of the bread matters to you. The word ‘multigrain’ on its own doesn’t confirm that the bread is wholemeal, so check the latest product description.
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Souq Lebanese wholemeal flatbread 6 pcs
An option for lunch if you’re looking for wholemeal flatbread rather than multigrain bread. Check the latest ingredients and allergen information on the packaging.
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Bolletje rye bread 500 g
An alternative to consider if you’d like rye bread for lunch rather than bread explicitly labelled multigrain. Check the packaging for the exact product type, ingredients and basis used for the nutritional values.
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Lekhaven Bakery round wholemeal wheat bread 550 g
An option if a wholemeal base matters more to you than a multigrain label. The bread needs to be thawed and baked before use; follow the baking time on the packaging and only compare nutritional values on the same basis.
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g'woon multigrain rolls, 4 pieces
Four multigrain rolls could work well for separate lunch occasions. If you specifically want wholemeal bread, check the latest product description, and read the packaging for allergens and comparable nutritional values.
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Lekhaven Bakery Multigrain Rustic Baguette 4 x 135 gx 2
A multigrain option if you’d like to bake baguettes for lunch. They need to be thawed first; check the packaging for the quantity, preparation instructions, allergens and any wholemeal labelling.
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 is used. If you want a wholemeal base, look for an explicit wholemeal label.
Which nutritional values should I compare in wholemeal multigrain breads?
At the very least, compare the fibre and salt per 100 g in the specific products. Jumbo lists 7.8 g of fibre per 100 g for its half wholemeal multigrain loaf; PLUS lists 7.8 g of fibre and 0.93 g of salt per 100 g for its wholemeal multigrain rolls. Also check the ingredients and allergens for both varieties.
Does bread always contain iodine from baker’s salt?
No. Baker’s salt contains iodine, but according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers don’t have to use it. Check the label or ask your baker what kind of salt was used in the bread.
Can I freeze wholemeal multigrain rolls for lunches later on?
Follow the instructions on the packaging for the variety you choose. PLUS recommends freezing its wholemeal multigrain rolls on the day of purchase and using them within one month; these instructions don’t automatically apply to other breads.
Are the allergens the same in all multigrain breads?
No, check the allergens for each variety. PLUS lists wheat, rye, barley, oats and wheat gluten among the ingredients in its wholemeal multigrain baguettes, and warns that they may contain milk, soya and sesame. Another bread may have a different composition.