For a special meal, you can choose between a rustic sourdough loaf to serve straight away and rolls that you bake shortly before the meal. Check the organic label on the bread itself, look for ‘wholemeal’ if that matters to you, and read the allergen information and details of whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is used.
You might be looking for a rustic sourdough loaf for brunch, a sharing board or dinner, or rolls to bake just before serving. If you’re buying fresh bread in store, check how you can purchase it: Jumbo says its rustic sourdough loaves, baked fresh in store, aren’t available to order online.
You’ll want to check that both qualities apply to the same loaf. According to the Voedingscentrum, the ‘wholemeal’ label on bread means it’s made from 100% wholemeal flour; ‘multigrain’ or a rustic appearance doesn’t mean the same thing.
Check the ingredients and allergen information for the bread you choose, including any gluten-containing cereals. If you also want to know whether baker’s salt is used, check this separately: according to the Voedingscentrum, its use isn’t compulsory.
First decide how you want to serve the bread. Then check each product for its organic label, any wholemeal claim, and information about allergens and salt.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Type of bread and when you’ll serve it | Choose between bread you can serve straight away and bread you bake at home. For bread to bake at home, check the oven instructions. | For brunch or dinner, I want bread that suits the moment it’s served; for around 31% of consumers, when the bread is served is the main consideration. |
| Organic label | Check the organic label on the specific product; words such as ‘rustic’ and ‘artisan’ aren’t a substitute. | If organic provenance is my first priority, I want to be able to see that on the bread itself. This matters most to around 25% of consumers. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for the ‘wholemeal’ label. If you want to compare the nutritional value of packaged loaves, check the fibre per 100 g. | As well as choosing organic, I mainly want a wholemeal loaf and don’t want to judge by its dark colour; around 25% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Allergens and salt | Read the current ingredients and allergen information. Check separately whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed. | If I need to check a label or follow a particular diet, I need to know what the bread contains before serving it; for around 19% of consumers, this is their main concern. |
Seeds, a dark crust and several types of grain don’t tell you whether a loaf is made from 100% wholemeal flour.
If you want wholemeal bread, look for the ‘wholemeal’ label, then compare the type of bread, seeds and size. The Voedingscentrum says this label means the bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour.
According to the Voedingscentrum, baker’s salt isn’t compulsory, and organic bread can be baked without it. So organic provenance doesn’t tell you which salt has been used.
Check the packaging for details of baker’s salt or iodised salt, or ask the baker.
Sourdough bread can contain gluten-containing cereals. Other allergens or ‘may contain’ warnings may also be relevant to a particular product.
Read the current allergen information for the exact loaf you’re buying; don’t infer its ingredients from its name or colour.
Jumbo says its rustic sourdough loaves, baked fresh in store, aren’t available to order online. Bread to bake at home, on the other hand, needs an extra step in the oven before you can serve it.
Check how to buy fresh bread in store, and read the instructions for bread to bake at home before planning your meal.
AH Liefde & Passie Biologisch OerDesem blond is a specific organic sourdough product to consider for a special meal.
Jumbo describes its rustic sourdough loaves as an option for serving bread with a meal. The separate YAM sourdough loaf is a gluten-free alternative.
Lidl’s 600 g Bio rustiek meergranen desembrood is a specific product to consider.
The Dutch Bakery Bio Desem Pompoenbroodjes at PLUS are an example of organic rolls that you bake at home.
ALDI is one place to compare bread for a meal, with a range that includes bread baked fresh daily, packaged bread and speciality loaves.
Dirk offers a range of bread types to compare, including wholemeal, multigrain, sourdough, rye and spelt bread.
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, using baker’s salt isn’t compulsory. Check whether the bread you choose lists baker’s salt or iodised salt, or ask the baker.
Look for both the organic and ‘wholemeal’ labels on the same loaf. According to the Voedingscentrum, bread labelled ‘wholemeal’ is made from 100% wholemeal flour; ‘multigrain’, ‘dark’ and ‘rustic’ aren’t substitutes for this label.
Read the latest ingredients list and allergen information for the specific loaf. If you need to avoid gluten, simply seeing ‘sourdough’ on the label isn’t enough: check for an explicit gluten-free label, and also look for any other allergens and ‘may contain’ warnings.
Not necessarily: sourdough, proving time and appearance are different from organic provenance. Check the organic label on the specific loaf; organic production and labelling in the EU are covered by Regulation (EU) 2018/848.
