Who is this choice relevant to?

Parents packing lunch every day

They want to be able to see whether multigrain bread is wholemeal or brown, and check the nutritional information for that product, rather than relying solely on the front of the pack.

Families who need to check allergens

They need clear information about cereals containing gluten and any other allergens, such as sesame, soya or milk, before buying and packing the bread.

Pupils who want a different type of bread

They may consider small sourdough loaves or part-baked rolls as an alternative to sandwiches. In that case, the portion size, preparation at home and storage instructions all matter.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start with the type of bread and the allergens, then choose a format that suits how you’ll prepare and pack the lunch.

What to consider What to check when buying Who is this most important for?
Wholemeal or brown Read the bread description and ingredients: ‘multigrain’ alone doesn’t tell you how much wholemeal flour it contains. If bread goes to school every day, I want to know what kind I’m choosing and compare how much fibre it contains. Around 31% of consumers put this checkable bread choice first.
Allergens Check the current label or ask for allergen information if the bread is sold loose; take school arrangements into account too. If a pupil needs to avoid certain ingredients, I need to know what’s in the bread before packing it. For around 31% of consumers, checking allergens is the top priority.
Preparation and storage Compare sliced bread with rolls that need to be baked at home, and follow the storage instructions. On a busy morning, I want to be able to prepare a lunch that’s practical to eat at school. Ease of use comes first for around 23% of consumers.
Sourdough and bread format Check whether sourdough is mentioned, and choose the bread format separately from your checks for wholemeal flour and allergens. If a pupil would prefer to take a different type of bread, I want to be able to choose between sandwiches and individual rolls. For around 15% of consumers, this variety is the main reason for choosing.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘multigrain’ means ‘wholemeal’

    Bread can be made with wholemeal flour, white flour or a combination of the two. So multigrain sourdough bread doesn’t have to be entirely wholemeal.

    Read the bread description and ingredients list. For example, the Korenlanders sourdough bread described by PLUS contains both 27% wholemeal wheat flour and 23% wheat flour.

  • Assuming sourdough is gluten-free

    Sourdough alone doesn’t mean that a bread is free from gluten or other allergens. Jumbo lists cereals containing gluten and sesame, among other allergens, for its four multigrain sourdough rolls.

    For packaged bread, check the current label. If the bread is sold loose, ask about allergens before buying. When packing lunch, follow any arrangements in place for the pupil and at school.

  • Forgetting to prepare the rolls

    Part-baked rolls need different preparation at home from sliced bread, and the storage instructions may differ too.

    Choose a bread format that suits the time you have before school, and follow the instructions on the packaging.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

A useful starting point if you want to understand what sourdough means in a bread description.

  • Albert Heijn describes sourdough as bread made using a starter of water and flour.
  • That explanation doesn’t tell you whether a particular bread is wholemeal or which allergens it contains.

Jumbo

Worth considering when comparing multigrain bread with part-baked multigrain sourdough rolls.

  • Jumbo lists the ingredients and allergens on its pack of four sourdough rolls.
  • The information for those rolls doesn’t automatically apply to other Jumbo breads; check the preparation and storage instructions for each product too.

PLUS

An example to consider if you want to assess the ingredients in a smaller brown multigrain sourdough loaf.

  • For its Korenlanders Kleintje desembrood bruin meergranen, PLUS lists, among other ingredients, 27% wholemeal wheat flour, 23% wheat flour, 9% sourdough and baker’s salt.
  • Check the current allergen information for this product too; these percentages don’t describe other PLUS breads.

Lidl

Worth considering if you’re looking at an organic brown multigrain sourdough bread with seeds.

  • Lidl describes the bread in question as organic and gives its weight as 600 g.
  • Organic status alone doesn’t tell you whether it’s made with wholemeal flour, uses baker’s salt or contains allergens; check these separately.

ALDI

An option to look at if a half loaf of sliced wholemeal multigrain bread suits your lunch routine.

  • ALDI describes the Boeren volkoren meergranen Half in question as sliced wholemeal bread.
  • This product description doesn’t confirm that the bread is made with sourdough; check the current packaging for ingredients and allergens.

Dirk

Worth considering if you’re looking at a whole multigrain hearth loaf for lunch.

  • Dirk describes its whole multigrain hearth loaf as bread containing grains and seeds.
  • That description doesn’t confirm whether the bread is wholemeal or contains sourdough; check the nutritional information and allergens for each product too.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is multigrain sourdough bread automatically wholemeal?

No. The words ‘multigrain’ and ‘sourdough’ don’t confirm that. According to the Voedingscentrum, bread can be made with wholemeal flour, white flour or a combination of the two, so check the bread description and ingredients.

Can a pupil who needs to avoid gluten take sourdough bread to school?

Don’t assume that sourdough bread is gluten-free. Jumbo’s product with four multigrain sourdough rolls lists cereals containing gluten, among other ingredients; for an individual dietary requirement, always check the allergen information for the specific bread.

How do I check allergens in bread sold loose?

Ask the seller for allergen information about the bread before buying it. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority lists cereals containing gluten, soya and milk among the allergens that consumers must be informed about.

Why should I check for baker’s salt in bread?

If iodine is a factor in your choice, check the ingredients list to see whether baker’s salt is listed. The Voedingscentrum identifies bread made with baker’s salt as a source of iodine; the terms ‘multigrain’ and ‘sourdough’ don’t tell you which salt was used.

Should I pack sandwiches or part-baked rolls in a lunchbox?

Sliced bread works well for a lunch that needs to be prepared without baking; part-baked rolls offer a different portion size if baking them at home is practical. Check the pack for baking and storage instructions for rolls too.