If you want to cater for different bread preferences at a wedding buffet, serve a clearly labelled wholemeal multigrain bread alongside a variety made with a mix of wholemeal flour and white flour. The name ‘multigrain’ does not prove that a loaf is wholemeal: compare the ingredients, fibre per 100 g and allergens for each variety. Guests who need gluten-free bread will need a separate product labelled as gluten-free.
Want to offer a bread with a different composition alongside a wholemeal option. According to Albert Heijn, multigrain bread can be made with wholemeal flour, white flour or both; the ingredients list shows which combination you are actually buying.
Need to know which allergens are in every type of bread being served. Multigrain products may contain cereals containing gluten, soya or sesame, among other allergens. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, information about the 14 allergens must be available for non-prepacked foods.
Need a separate bread labelled as gluten-free, rather than regular multigrain bread made with cereals containing gluten. Check for other allergens in gluten-free products too, and keep them separate from regular bread when displaying and serving them.
First decide whether the composition, guests’ bread preferences or a specific allergen requirement will guide your choice. Then choose a bread format that suits the way you plan to serve it; rolls and whole loaves need different preparation.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal content and fibre | Check for wholemeal flour in the ingredients and compare fibre per 100 g. | If I want wholemeal bread to have a clear place on my buffet, I need to be able to identify its composition rather than judge it by its colour. This is the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Mix of flours | Look for a variety that lists both wholemeal flour and white flour; the name ‘multigrain’ alone is not enough. | I don’t want to offer guests with different bread preferences only a wholemeal option. A mix is the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Allergens in each variety | Check the latest allergen information and make sure product names are easy to identify next to the bread being served. | When I serve several breads without their packaging, I need to be able to tell guests which allergens each one contains. This is the most important consideration for around 21% of consumers. |
| Gluten-free option | Check that it is labelled gluten-free and look for other allergens too; use a separate display and serving tongs. | If any guests need gluten-free bread, I want to prevent their option from being mixed up with regular bread. Around 21% of consumers prioritise having this separate option. |
Multigrain bread can contain wholemeal flour, white flour or a combination of the two. The colour and product name won’t tell you what the bread you’re buying for the buffet is made with.
Read the ingredients list and choose bread explicitly labelled wholemeal if that’s what you want. If you want a mix of white and wholemeal flour as an additional option, choose it deliberately.
As well as cereals containing gluten, multigrain bread may contain other allergens. Similarly, a gluten-free label does not mean a product is free from all other allergens.
Check the information for each variety separately. Keep gluten-free bread and its serving utensils separate, and make sure guests can tell the different breads apart.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt when baking bread is not compulsory. You cannot tell where the salt comes from just by looking at the type of bread.
If iodised baker’s salt matters to your choice, check the ingredients of the exact bread or ask the baker.
The ingredients and storage instructions apply to a specific variety of bread. A description of a different size or an earlier package is no substitute for the information on the bread you are serving.
Before serving, check the latest ingredients, allergens and preparation or storage instructions for every variety you have chosen.
The range reviewed includes whole multigrain loaves and smaller bread formats, so you can weigh up the serving style alongside the ingredients.
An option to consider if you’re looking at both whole loaves and multigrain rolls for your buffet.
The smaller bread format reviewed is a good example of how a multigrain variety can combine wholemeal and white flour.
The bread range offers different formats to compare for a buffet, including multigrain bread and bake-at-home bread.
A supermarket option for multigrain bread, if the loaf you choose is available locally.
These multigrain rolls, baguettes and whole loaves offer a range of formats for your buffet. If you’re specifically looking for a combination of wholemeal and white flour, check the ingredients of each product; its shape or name does not confirm the mix.
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Four individual rolls are a handy option if you want to serve bread by the piece at your buffet.
If you’re looking for a mix containing wholemeal flour, check the ingredients, and check the latest allergen information before serving.
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The smaller baguette format works well for a buffet where you want to serve bread individually.
Allow time and space in the oven to defrost and bake. Check the preparation instructions, ingredients and allergens on the packaging.
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Two whole loaves are a good option if you want to slice the bread yourself for the buffet.
Allow time for defrosting, baking and cooling before slicing. Also check the ingredients and allergens on each pack.
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A 550 g whole loaf is a good fit for a buffet where you plan to slice the portions yourself.
Allow time for defrosting, baking and cooling. Check the latest packaging for the correct baking time and allergen information.
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Four smaller baguettes offer a different way to serve bread from a whole loaf that you slice yourself.
Allow time to defrost and bake this variety. Check the baking time on the packaging, along with the ingredients and allergens.
No. According to Albert Heijn, multigrain bread can be made with wholemeal flour, white flour or a mix of the two. Read the ingredients if you specifically want to choose wholemeal bread or a blend of flours for your buffet; a dark colour won’t tell you which it is.
According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, information about the 14 allergens must be available for non-prepacked foods. Make sure you can provide up-to-date information for every type of bread, even if you don’t place the original packaging next to it.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt when baking bread is not compulsory. If this ingredient matters to your choice, check the bread label or ask the baker.
That depends on the storage and preparation instructions for the bread you choose. For example, Albert Heijn says to freeze AH Zaans whole multigrain bread on the day of purchase; don’t assume the same instruction applies to rolls or bake-at-home bread from another range. Check the packaging before planning your shopping and preparation.
