For a weekday breakfast with fibre in mind, first look for the explicit ‘wholemeal’ label. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ means that bread contains at least three types of grain, but on its own it tells you nothing about whether the bread is wholemeal. Then choose a whole loaf, half loaf or rolls to suit your household’s consumption, and check the ingredients and allergens for the variety you choose.
You regularly eat bread on weekdays and want to know whether the grain ingredient is actually wholemeal. So check the product description, not just the words ‘multigrain’, ‘seeds’ or a dark colour. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, a product can only be labelled wholemeal if all the grain ingredient is wholemeal flour.
If you won’t get through a whole loaf in time, a half loaf or a pack of rolls may be a better fit for your needs. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends freezing bread in portions straight after buying it if you want to keep it for later.
The name of the bread doesn’t tell you which seeds and other ingredients a particular variety contains. Check the latest allergen information; for example, PLUS also lists soya, milk and sesame for its Korenlanders Wholemeal Multigrain rolls.
First, check whether the bread is explicitly labelled wholemeal. Then compare the ingredients, the shape of the bread and what’s available at your usual shop.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal status | Look for the explicit ‘wholemeal’ label and check which types of flour appear in the ingredients list. A dark colour or the name ‘multigrain’ is no substitute. | If I eat multigrain bread on weekdays because I’m mindful of fibre, I want to be able to see that the grain ingredient is wholemeal. For around 36% of consumers, this reassurance comes first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the latest ingredients and allergen information for the variety you choose, even if you’ve bought the same type of bread before. | In my household, I need to know which grains and other ingredients are in the bread before I serve it. Around 29% of consumers give this check top priority. |
| Size and storage | Choose a whole loaf, half loaf or rolls to suit how much you use. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends freezing bread in portions straight after buying it if you want to keep it for later. | We don’t always get through a whole loaf during the working week, so a smaller size or frozen portions suit us better. For around 21% of consumers, this planning matters most. |
| Availability in store | Check whether your usual shop stocks the wholemeal multigrain variety and shape you want. | I want to be able to choose a loaf in the right shape at my regular shop. This practical consideration comes first for around 14% of consumers. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ means that bread contains at least three types of grain. The term doesn’t confirm that the grain ingredient used is wholemeal.
Use the explicit wholemeal label as your first filter, then read the ingredients list.
A dark colour and seeds don’t confirm that bread is wholemeal. Albert Heijn explains that Waldkorn is a brand name and that Waldkorn bread can be made with wholemeal flour, white flour or a combination of the two.
Check the product description for the specific variety instead of relying on its appearance or brand name.
In a smaller household, some of a whole loaf may be left uneaten.
Consider a half loaf or rolls, or freeze a whole loaf in portions straight after buying it, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
The name ‘wholemeal multigrain’ doesn’t give you a complete ingredients or allergen list. Allergens vary from product to product.
Check the latest packaging for every variety you choose, even if you’re already familiar with a similar loaf.
These brands give you options for comparing bread names and product shapes. Always check the wholemeal status and ingredients for the specific product you choose.
Worth considering if you want to compare Waldkorn with bread explicitly labelled wholemeal.
Worth considering if you want to compare a whole or half loaf of wholemeal multigrain bread.
Worth considering if you’re looking for a whole or half loaf of farmhouse wholemeal multigrain bread.
Worth considering if a half loaf of wholemeal multigrain bread suits your household.
Worth considering if you’re thinking about wholemeal multigrain rolls as individual breakfast portions.
Worth considering if you want to check out multigrain bread during your usual shop.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ means that bread contains at least three different types of grain. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that all the grain ingredient must be wholemeal flour for a product to be labelled wholemeal, so look for that explicit label.
No. Albert Heijn describes Waldkorn as a brand name: the bread can be made with wholemeal flour, white flour or a combination of the two. Check the wholemeal label and ingredients for the bread you want to buy.
Check the allergen information for the specific variety, not just the type of bread. For its Korenlanders Wholemeal Multigrain rolls, PLUS lists, among other things, cereals containing gluten, soya, milk and sesame; that list doesn’t automatically apply to other breads.
If you want to keep bread for later, freeze it in portions straight after buying it, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, and take out what you need. Also follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the bread you choose.
Don’t assume that every loaf contains the same amount of iodine. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that iodine compounds may only be present in bread and other baked goods through baker’s salt. Check the product information or ask the baker which salt was used in the bread you choose.
