For a weekend breakfast with plenty of fibre, don’t rely on the word ‘multigrain’ alone: look for bread explicitly labelled wholemeal, then compare the fibre content per 100 g. Check the allergens too, and choose an amount you can eat in time or freeze according to the storage instructions. Seeds and kernels alone don’t tell you whether the bread is wholemeal.
When you’re sharing a weekend breakfast, you’ll want to know whether a multigrain loaf is wholemeal too. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre distinguishes between bread made from several types of grain and bread made with a wholemeal base.
If one or two people will be eating the bread, a half loaf, a pack of rolls or freezing it in portions may be a better fit for what you need that weekend. Check the storage instructions for each product.
Bread made with different grains, kernels or seeds calls for a close look at the ingredients in the exact variant. If you have an allergy, check both the declared allergens and any information about possible cross-contamination.
If wholemeal is your main reason for buying, start by checking that the bread is labelled wholemeal. Then choose the right size and check the nutrition information and allergens for the loaf you’re actually buying.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for the wholemeal label and compare the fibre content per 100 g across similar bread products. | For a shared breakfast, I want to know whether the multigrain bread is wholemeal too, rather than simply containing several grains. Around 42% of consumers put wholemeal and fibre at the top of their list. |
| Allergens | Read the allergen information for the exact variant, including relevant details about possible presence. For unpackaged bread, ask the shop. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I can’t rely on the name of the bread or the seeds I can see. For around 25% of consumers, checking allergens is the top priority. |
| Quantity and storage | Choose between a whole loaf, half a loaf or rolls, and check the storage and any freezing instructions. | When there are only a few of us at breakfast, I don’t want to be left with a whole loaf. Portion size and storage come first for around 17% of consumers. |
| Baker’s salt and salt information | Check whether baker’s salt has been used and, if you wish, compare the salt content per 100 g. | If I want to know whether my bread was made with baker’s salt, I can’t tell from the word ‘multigrain’ alone. Around 16% of consumers prioritise this information. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ means that bread is made from at least three different types of grain; the word doesn’t automatically mean that it is wholemeal. Kernels and seeds can change the composition, but they don’t replace the need to check the wholemeal base. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also says that baker’s salt is not compulsory, so check the label or ask which salt was used if you’re buying unpackaged bread.
Bread made with different types of grain doesn’t necessarily have the wholemeal base you’re looking for. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre treats multigrain and wholemeal as separate labels.
Look for ‘wholemeal’ in the product information first, then compare the ingredients and fibre content per 100 g.
With bread containing several grains and seeds, you can’t identify every relevant ingredient just by looking at the outside. Information about possible allergens may also be important when making your choice.
Check the latest allergen information for the exact variant, even if you’ve bought the bread before. If it’s unpackaged, ask the seller for the information.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that baker’s salt is not compulsory. So a mention of salt alone doesn’t tell you whether iodised baker’s salt has been used.
Check the ingredients on the packaging or ask the baker or shop if this distinction matters for your purchase.
A whole loaf may be more than a small household can get through over the weekend. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s Storage Guide, opened wholemeal bread has a limited shelf life in a kitchen cupboard.
If necessary, choose a smaller size or freeze the bread in portions, following the product instructions.
These supermarkets offer types of bread you can compare for this breakfast. Always check the information for the specific variant rather than relying on the shop’s name alone.
Has separate categories for products including wholemeal bread and multigrain bread.
Has a multigrain bread category, including Jumbo Boeren Donker Volkoren Meergranen.
Offers multigrain bread and a fresh-from-the-oven bread range for shoppers buying their weekend loaf in store.
Offers, among other options, a whole Boeren volkoren meergranenbrood in its bread range.
Offers wholemeal multigrain rolls and wholemeal multigrain part-baked bread as alternatives to a whole loaf.
Offers Bakker van der Akker Boeren volkoren heel, among other products, for anyone looking for a wholemeal loaf.
These are bread alternatives for weekend breakfast, not a selection of wholemeal multigrain breads. The wholemeal wheat breads offer a different type of loaf. Check separately whether the rye bread meets your requirements for wholemeal bread.
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An option if you’re looking for individual pieces of rye bread for breakfast; this is not multigrain bread. If you’re looking for wholemeal bread, check the label on the packaging and read the allergen information.
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A wholemeal wheat option if flatbread suits your breakfast better than a whole loaf. The pack contains six pieces. Check the storage instructions after opening and read the latest allergen information.
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A round wholemeal wheat loaf for anyone who wants to bake a single loaf for weekend breakfast; it isn’t a multigrain variant. The loaf weighs 550 g. Plan when to defrost and bake it using the instructions on the packaging, and check the latest allergen information.
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The pack of two round wholemeal wheat loaves is a good choice if you need more bread or can store the rest; these aren’t multigrain variants. Each loaf weighs 550 g and needs to be defrosted and baked. Check the preparation, storage and allergen information for this pack.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain refers to bread made with at least three different types of grain; it doesn’t automatically mean the bread has a wholemeal base. So look for the wholemeal label, then compare the ingredients and fibre content per 100 g.
Ask the shop or baker before you buy. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information must also be available for unpackaged products. For prepacked bread, you’ll find it on the label. Always check the exact variant.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt is not compulsory. Check the ingredients on the label or ask whether baker’s salt has been used if you’re buying unpackaged bread.
If you won’t eat the bread in time, it’s best to freeze it in portions and follow the storage instructions on the packaging. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s Storage Guide recommends keeping opened wholemeal bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2–4 days or in the freezer for 1–3 months. Product-specific instructions may differ.
