If you’re looking for a balanced option you can check for a family dinner, brown multigrain bread made with both wholemeal flour and white flour is one possibility. The name ‘multigrain’ alone tells you nothing about whether it’s made with wholemeal flour. If wholemeal is your priority, choose a loaf labelled as wholemeal and compare fibre per 100 g and the allergen information. Only you can judge whether fussy eaters in your family will enjoy the taste.
If you want a mix of wholemeal flour and white flour, you can check the ingredients list alongside the brown or wholemeal label. For example, Albert Heijn lists both types of flour for its AH Vloerbrood meergranen heel.
If you’re mainly concerned with the wholemeal content, check the product label and compare fibre per 100 g. Fine wholemeal bread is a different choice from brown multigrain bread made with white flour.
For bread containing different grains or seeds, it’s important to check the allergen information for the specific product. Product information from Jumbo and PLUS shows that the allergens listed vary from one loaf to another.
First decide whether you want a verifiable mix of flour types or a fully wholemeal loaf. Then compare the nutritional information and check that the size and allergen information suit your meal.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Type of flour | Check whether the bread is labelled white, brown or wholemeal, and which types of flour are listed in the ingredients. | I’m looking for bread that demonstrably combines white flour and wholemeal flour, rather than relying on the name ‘multigrain’. Around 27% of consumers prioritise this kind of balanced option they can check. |
| Wholemeal content and fibre | Check the wholemeal label and compare fibre per 100 g across the breads you’re considering. | For our dinner, I prefer a fully wholemeal loaf and want to be able to compare its fibre content. This is the most important consideration for around 33% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Read the latest allergen information, including any relevant statements about the possible presence of other allergens. | If someone at the table needs to avoid certain ingredients, whether this particular bread is suitable determines my choice. This is the top priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Size and storage | Choose a suitable whole or half loaf, or individual rolls, and check the storage or freezing instructions. | I want to serve enough bread without being left with more fresh bread than we can use. This practical consideration is also the main one for around 20% of consumers. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain refers to bread made with at least three types of grain. It doesn’t tell you whether the flour is wholemeal.
Check whether it’s labelled white, brown or wholemeal, then read the types of flour on the label.
The allergens listed vary from product to product. Jumbo lists sesame and soya, among other allergens, for Waldkorn Volkoren Brood; PLUS also lists milk for its wholemeal multigrain rolls.
Before buying, check the latest allergen information for the bread you plan to serve.
Slices and rolls can vary in weight, so comparing them per portion isn’t the same as comparing the products themselves.
First compare fibre per 100 g, then consider which portion you want to serve.
A whole loaf may be more than you’ll use for one dinner. The size and storage instructions help determine whether you can make use of the rest.
Choose an amount that suits the number of people eating. PLUS says its Korenlanders Volkoren meergranenbollen can be frozen at home on the day of purchase and used within one month.
AH Vloerbrood meergranen heel is an example of brown multigrain bread with a specified mix of flour types.
The product information reviewed from Jumbo includes both fine wholemeal bread and Waldkorn Volkoren Brood.
Lidl describes its Meergranenbrood as containing wheat, barley and buckwheat, among other ingredients.
ALDI includes Boeren volkoren meergranen in its fresh bread range, available as a whole or half loaf.
PLUS includes wholemeal multigrain rolls and multigrain bread among its products.
Dirk’s range includes both multigrain breads and varieties specifically labelled as wholemeal.
If you’d rather serve individual rolls than a whole loaf, these multigrain rolls could be a convenient way to serve portions. Check the types of flour on the packaging if you’re specifically looking for a mix of wholemeal flour and white flour.
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A pack of four individual rolls for serving one per person at a family dinner.
Check the types of flour and allergens on the current packaging before choosing them as a wholemeal mix.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain means the bread is made with at least three different types of grain; the name alone says nothing about whether it’s made entirely with wholemeal flour. Check the product label and ingredients list to find out.
Look for both types of flour in the ingredients list rather than relying on the front of the packaging. For AH Vloerbrood meergranen heel, Albert Heijn lists 31% wholemeal wheat flour and 30% wheat flour. This mix doesn’t automatically make it equivalent to a fully wholemeal loaf.
Follow the storage advice for the specific rolls. PLUS says its Korenlanders Volkoren meergranenbollen can be frozen at home on the day of purchase and used within one month; don’t assume the same instructions apply to other products.
You can’t assume this is the case for every individual loaf. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that, for bread, bread substitutes and other bakery products, iodine compounds may only be added via baker’s salt, with a maximum of 65 mg of iodine per kg of salt. If the type of salt used matters to your choice, check the bread’s ingredients list.
No. The Dutch government advises comparing Nutri-Scores for products of the same type; the score doesn’t replace the wholemeal label or the ingredients list. Check those separately if the type of flour is important to your choice.
