If you want to make a conscious choice about wholemeal bread and fibre when shopping, choose a loaf clearly labelled as wholemeal and compare the fibre per 100 g. ‘Multigrain’ on its own doesn’t mean the bread is wholemeal. Also check the size, allergens and, if iodine is a concern for you, which salt has been used.
For breakfast or lunch, you’ll want to know whether a multigrain loaf is also wholemeal. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ only tells you how many types of grain are used, so be sure to check the product description and label too.
You’re comparing full-size and smaller loaves or rolls, and want to avoid buying more than you can use in time. Check each product’s size and storage or freezing instructions.
If you need to avoid certain allergens or gluten-containing grains, the current ingredients and allergen information is essential. If the type of salt used matters to you, also check whether the ingredients list mentions baker’s salt or iodised salt.
Start by understanding the difference between multigrain and wholemeal. Then compare the details that matter most for how you’ll use the bread.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for a wholemeal label and compare the fibre per 100 g on the pack. | If wholemeal is my main reason for choosing this bread, I don’t want to rely on the word ‘multigrain’ alone. For around 39% of shoppers, choosing wholemeal and fibre comes first. |
| Size and storage | Compare the number of pieces or the size of the loaf, and read the storage or freezing instructions. | For my weekly food shop, I want a size I can finish before the bread goes stale. For around 31% of shoppers, practical shopping and storage are the top priorities. |
| Allergens and grains | Read the current ingredients and allergen information, including any warnings about possible allergen traces. | If I need to avoid an ingredient, I need to be able to check what’s in each loaf. For around 15% of shoppers, this check matters most. |
| Baker’s salt | Check whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed in the ingredients. | If the type of salt used matters to my dietary choices, I don’t want to assume anything based on the type of bread. Around 15% of shoppers ask about this first. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread contains at least three types of grain. This doesn’t tell you whether the flour is wholemeal; Albert Heijn explains that the bread can also be made with white flour or a combination of white and wholemeal flour.
If you prefer wholemeal, look for a clear wholemeal label, then compare the ingredients and fibre per 100 g.
A dark colour or visible seeds don’t confirm that a loaf is wholemeal. Waldkorn is a brand name, not a substitute for the product description.
Use the appearance to find loaves that appeal to you, but base your wholemeal choice on the label and ingredients list.
The words ‘wholemeal’ or ‘multigrain’ don’t tell you which allergens a particular loaf contains or may contain.
Read the current label every time you buy. For unpackaged bread, ask the shop or bakery for the allergen information.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt in bread isn’t compulsory. So you can’t tell whether it’s present just from the type of bread.
Check the ingredients for baker’s salt or iodised salt if the distinction matters to you.
Albert Heijn offers multigrain and wholemeal bread, and explains the difference between the two.
Jumbo provides product information for wholemeal multigrain bread and rolls.
Lidl sells multigrain bread and publishes ingredients and allergen information for its fresh-from-the-oven range.
ALDI sells a country-style wholemeal multigrain loaf, among other products.
PLUS offers a range of multigrain products with product-specific information on ingredients, nutritional values and storage.
Dirk offers several multigrain and wholemeal multigrain options.
These two products are wholemeal wheat breads: one flatbread and one round loaf. If you’re specifically looking for multigrain bread, check the label to see which grains have been used.
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A good choice if you’re looking for wholemeal flatbread rather than standard multigrain bread. Check the current label for allergens and the type of salt used if that information matters to you.
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A 550 g round wholemeal loaf for anyone who can defrost and bake it at home. Read the preparation instructions before adding it to your shopping plan. Only compare fibre and salt when the nutritional information is based on the same quantity.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread contains at least three different types of grain, but that doesn’t tell you whether wholemeal flour has been used. Check the wholemeal label and ingredients if that’s what you’re looking for.
The colour alone doesn’t show whether Waldkorn bread is wholemeal. Its dark colour may partly come from malt powder, so check the product description and ingredients.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, baker’s salt isn’t compulsory when making bread. If the type of salt used matters to your choice, check whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed in the ingredients.
Read the current ingredients and allergen information for the specific bread, including any warnings about possible allergen traces. For unpackaged bread, you can ask the shop or bakery for this information. Don’t rely on the words ‘multigrain’ or ‘wholemeal’.
Follow the storage instructions for the bread you buy. PLUS says its wholemeal multigrain rolls can be frozen on the day of purchase and recommends using them within one month. Other products may have different instructions.
