If you eat bread regularly, choose a half multigrain loaf that is explicitly labelled wholemeal, and compare the fibre, salt and allergens on the label. If you only have a few slices now and then, a smaller loaf or one you can freeze in portions straight away may suit how much you eat better. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ on its own does not mean that a loaf is wholemeal.
You have bread with a meal a few times a week and want to avoid leaving the rest uneaten. A half loaf may suit how much you eat; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises freezing any bread you won’t use straight away in portions.
You’re looking for a compact loaf but don’t want to rely on the word ‘multigrain’ alone. Check that the option is explicitly labelled wholemeal and compare the fibre per 100 g on the label.
You want to know which grains and other allergens are in the exact product. The bread’s name, colour and seeds don’t give you the full picture, so check the current packaging.
First work out how many slices you use, then compare the ingredients and check whether the half loaf you’ve chosen is available in your shop.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Freshness and waste | Check the loaf size and storage advice. Freeze any slices you won’t use soon in portions straight away, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. | If you only eat bread a few times a week, you don’t want the rest of a half loaf to go uneaten; for around 46% of consumers, reducing waste is the most important consideration. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Check for a ‘wholemeal’ label, the ingredients and the fibre per 100 g. Also compare the salt per 100 g on the labels. | If you eat bread every day, you’ll want to know whether a multigrain option is wholemeal too; around 36% of consumers put ingredients first. |
| Availability | Check whether the exact option is available in your shop or through your usual ordering method on the day you buy it. | If you buy bread from the same supermarket, you’ll want to be able to pick up or order a suitable half loaf there; availability is the top priority for around 18% of consumers. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain means that several types of grain are used; it doesn’t tell you whether the loaf is made entirely from wholemeal flour.
If you specifically want wholemeal bread, look for the ‘wholemeal’ label and compare the ingredients and fibre per 100 g.
Even a half loaf can go uneaten if you don’t eat bread every day. A smaller size won’t necessarily suit how much you use.
Freeze the slices you’ll use later in portions as soon as you get home, following the storage advice from the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
A dark, seed-rich multigrain loaf may contain gluten-containing grains and other allergens. The exact ingredients vary from product to product.
If you have a relevant allergy or dietary restriction, check the ingredients, allergen information and any warnings on the exact packaging.
A bread option shown online may not be available from every shop or ordering method.
Check that the exact option is available on the day you buy it, and read the label on the loaf you purchase.
Albert Heijn offers options including AH Vloerbrood meergranen half and an organic multigrain sourdough half loaf.
Jumbo offers Boeren Donker Volkoren Meergranen as a half loaf.
Lidl offers a 400 g dark multigrain half loaf as an alternative if you’re looking for a smaller loaf.
ALDI offers Boeren volkoren meergranen as a half loaf.
PLUS offers Korenlanders Kleintje desembrood bruin meergranen. A separate option is called Korenlanders Rond licht meerzaden half and weighs 400 g.
Dirk offers two different half loaves from Bakker van der Akker: Bakkers meergranen and Casino meergranen Volkoren.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread must contain at least three types of grain, but that doesn’t mean it’s made entirely from wholemeal flour. Check the wholemeal label, ingredients and fibre per 100 g for the option you’re considering.
Freeze any slices you won’t use soon in portions as soon as you get home. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises taking only what you need out of the freezer.
No. The name doesn’t tell you which grains or other allergens are in the exact option. So read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging, even if you’ve bought the bread before.
No. Multigrain bread may contain gluten-containing grains; the half-loaf size makes no difference. If gluten-free is essential for you, check that the exact packaging is explicitly labelled gluten-free and read the rest of the allergen information too.
Read the ingredients list on the exact packaging and look for ‘baker’s salt’ or ‘iodised salt’. You can’t tell whether salt has been used from the word multigrain or the size of a half loaf.
