For a fibre-conscious meal, start by choosing a loaf that is clearly labelled as wholemeal: multigrain does not automatically mean wholemeal. If you also want sourdough, seeds or a rustic style, compare the fibre and salt per 100 g for each option and check the allergens.
For everyday bread, you’ll want to know whether it’s made with wholemeal flour, rather than judging by its dark colour or the word ‘multigrain’ in the name. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread is made from the entire grain.
For a more substantial breakfast or lunch, you might be looking for sourdough, a rustic loaf or bread with seeds. These features alone don’t tell you whether it’s made with wholemeal flour.
If certain grains or other ingredients matter to you, you’ll need to check the information for the exact loaf you’re considering. Check the current packaging; for unpackaged bread, ask for allergen information.
First decide whether a wholemeal base is your priority. Then choose your preferred bread style and compare the nutritional information and ingredients of the specific options.
Choose this if: you want both a clearly wholemeal base and a mix of grains.
Bear in mind: seeds, grains and allergens vary by recipe, so check the exact ingredients.
Choose this if: a clearly identifiable wholemeal base matters more to you than a multigrain mix.
Bear in mind: it won’t necessarily have the sourdough style or seed mix you’re looking for.
Choose this if: the mix of grains or the bread style is your priority.
Bear in mind: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain means at least three types of grain, not necessarily a wholemeal base.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal base | Look for ‘wholemeal’ in the product name or description and check the ingredients; compare fibre per 100 g. | When I choose everyday bread, I want to be sure it’s made with wholemeal flour, not just that it looks dark. Around 50% of consumers give this certainty top priority. |
| Flavour and bread style | Check whether the option you want is described as sourdough, seeded or rustic. | For a more substantial meal, I’m mainly looking for the crust, texture or grain mix I enjoy. Around 30% of consumers prioritise this style of bread. |
| Ingredients and nutritional information | Check allergens and salt for the exact option; for unpackaged bread, ask for allergen information. | Before buying, I want to be able to check which ingredients the bread contains and how much salt it has. This is the top priority for around 20% of consumers. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain means at least three types of grain. A dark colour or visible seeds don’t confirm that the bread is made with wholemeal flour.
First check for a wholemeal claim and read the ingredients; then choose based on appearance and flavour.
A bread’s style doesn’t tell you how much fibre or salt it contains.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g for the specific loaves, as well as the features you’re looking for in terms of flavour.
A multigrain recipe may contain several grains and other allergens. Even if you choose unpackaged bread, the ingredients in the specific loaf still matter.
Read the label on packaged bread and ask for allergen information when buying unpackaged bread.
Albert Heijn lists products including AH Volkoren heel and AH OerDesem donker meergranen heel gesneden: different bread styles to assess individually.
Jumbo’s multigrain category includes both loaves labelled wholemeal and options without that claim in the name.
Lidl describes its Bio rustiek meergranen desembrood as a brown sourdough loaf with seeds.
Aldi describes Boeren volkoren meergranen as bread with grains and seeds.
Plus lists multigrain sourdough options and publishes nutritional information for Korenlanders Volkoren meergranenbollen.
Dirk lists both Bakker van der Akker Casino meergranen Volkoren half and a multigrain hearth-baked loaf.
These bread options include wholemeal wheat bread, Lebanese wholemeal flatbread and rye bread as alternatives to consider alongside multigrain bread. Not every product name includes a wholemeal claim, so check the grain base, nutritional information and allergens for the option you choose.
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An option if you’re looking for round loaves labelled wholemeal rather than bread explicitly described as multigrain. The product name lists two 550 g loaves; check the packaging for nutritional information and preparation instructions.
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An option if you’re looking for a single round loaf labelled wholemeal rather than bread explicitly described as multigrain. The product name lists 550 g; check the current packaging for fibre, salt and preparation instructions.
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An alternative if you’re looking for Lebanese bread labelled wholemeal rather than specifically multigrain bread. The product name lists six pieces; check the packaging for ingredients and nutritional information.
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An option if you’d also like to try a different type of bread. The product name lists nine pieces but doesn’t mention a wholemeal base; check the packaging for ingredients, fibre and allergens.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread is made with at least three different types of grain, but that doesn’t tell you whether the whole grain has been used. If you’re looking for wholemeal bread, check the claim and ingredients for the exact option.
Compare the stated fibre content on the same basis, preferably per 100 g, and check whether the loaves are explicitly labelled as wholemeal. Nutritional values can vary between options.
Check the allergen information for the bread you’re actually choosing. A multigrain recipe may contain several gluten-containing grains and other ingredients, so don’t assume it has the same ingredients as another loaf from the same brand.
