If you have a food allergy, only choose multigrain sourdough bread after checking the current ingredients, allergens and any warnings for that specific loaf; ‘sourdough’ and ‘multigrain’ don’t tell you which allergens it contains. If you need to avoid gluten-containing grains, choose a product explicitly labelled gluten-free, but check for other allergens too. Once you’ve done that, you can also consider the style of bread and whether it contains iodised baker’s salt.
If you avoid, for example, wheat, rye, spelt, sesame, milk, eggs, soya or nuts, you’ll need information about the exact bread. Multigrain sourdough bread may contain different grains and seeds, as well as warnings about the possible presence of other allergens.
Regular sourdough isn’t automatically gluten-free. An explicit gluten-free label can help you choose a product, but you should still check its ingredients and other allergens.
Even if the allergens are suitable for you, you may want to know which grains and seeds are used and whether the bread contains iodised baker’s salt. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that using baker’s salt in bread isn’t compulsory.
Start by checking the allergens in the exact product. If these are suitable for you, you can then consider whether it’s labelled gluten-free, its style and the salt used, wherever these are relevant to your choice.
| What to consider | What to check | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens and possible cross-contamination | Read the current ingredients and allergen information for the exact bread, along with any ‘may contain’ warnings for allergens that are relevant to you. | If I need to avoid several ingredients, I want to know what’s in this bread before choosing it. For around 50% of shoppers with this question, checking specific allergens would be the first priority. |
| Gluten-free options | Look for an explicit gluten-free label, then check for other allergens and warnings. | If I need to avoid gluten-containing grains, I can’t rely on the word ‘sourdough’ alone. For around 30% of shoppers, choosing an explicitly gluten-free product would come first. |
| Bread style and baker’s salt | Check which grains and seeds are used and whether iodised baker’s salt is listed in the ingredients. | If the allergens are suitable for me, I want to choose based on the sourdough style and find out whether the bread contains baker’s salt. For around 20% of shoppers, this would be the main follow-up question. |
These words don’t tell you whether a bread is suitable for your allergies. The standard products described by Albert Heijn and Jumbo contain several gluten-containing grains; the Jumbo product also contains sesame.
Read the ingredients, allergen information and any ‘may contain’ statements for the product you’re actually buying.
A gluten-free label doesn’t tell you about all the other allergens. The Schär Meesterbaker Mehrkorn listed by Jumbo contains soya and may contain lupin, mustard and sesame.
Use the gluten-free label as your first filter, then check for any other allergens that are relevant to you.
Albert Heijn and PLUS warn that product information can change. An online listing is therefore no substitute for checking the information on the bread you receive or find in store.
Check the current packaging again, even if you’ve bought the same bread before.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that using baker’s salt isn’t compulsory. Bread made without baker’s salt may therefore contribute less iodine to your diet.
Check whether iodised baker’s salt is listed in the ingredients if it matters to your choice.
The AH Biologisch OerDesem bio meergranen heel gesneden listed online shows why the details of a specific loaf matter more than the type of bread.
Jumbo lists allergen information for products including Jumbo Desem Broodjes Meergranen, and also provides information about allergens in products sold in store.
Jumbo describes Schär Meesterbaker Mehrkorn as gluten-free and wheat-free.
PLUS lists a Korenlanders Desem Meergranen Boekweit product for shoppers considering a multigrain sourdough option.
Lidl lists an organic rustic multigrain sourdough loaf and directs shoppers to a separate ingredients and allergen guide for freshly baked bread.
No. The labels ‘multigrain’ and ‘sourdough’ don’t mean that a bread is gluten-free. The standard products described by Albert Heijn and Jumbo contain wheat, rye and/or spelt. Look for a product explicitly labelled gluten-free and check for other allergens too.
For pre-packed bread, allergen information is shown on the label. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, information about the 14 legally recognised allergens must also be available before purchase for unpackaged bread. If you’re buying unpackaged bread, ask for the information for the exact variety you want.
A ‘may contain’ statement is relevant if the allergen listed could pose a risk to you: it warns of possible cross-contamination in that product. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, rules have applied in the Netherlands since 1 January 2026 on how and when businesses must provide this warning on the label. Consider the current statement alongside the advice that applies to your allergy.
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that using baker’s salt in bread isn’t compulsory. If iodised baker’s salt is important to your choice, check the ingredients of the specific loaf; the label ‘organic’ doesn’t tell you either way.
