Organic Bread: Wholemeal, Multigrain or White? Fibre Checks

Who should consider this bread choice?

Households looking for bread that’s both organic and wholemeal

If you buy bread every day, don’t rely on a brown colour, seeds or the word ‘multigrain’ alone. The organic label and the wholemeal claim answer two different questions.

Shoppers who compare labels

If you want to look beyond the type of bread and compare fibre, salt, ingredients and allergens, or find out whether your chosen variety contains iodised salt or baker’s salt.

Shoppers who care about taste and texture

If you’re looking for a soft slice, a sourdough crust or bread with seeds, for example, but don’t want to assume that your preferred option is automatically wholemeal.

What to look for in organic bread

If fibre is your priority, first check for both the organic and wholemeal labels. Then compare the nutritional information and ingredients of breads that suit your taste.

Organic wholemeal bread

A good fit if: you want to buy organic and an explicit wholemeal claim matters more to you than a particular colour or crust.

What to consider: compare the nutritional information, ingredients and allergens for this bread too; the labels don’t tell you what these are.

Organic brown, multigrain or sourdough bread

A good fit if: taste, crust or texture matters more to you and an explicit wholemeal claim isn’t your first requirement.

What to consider: these names don’t, on their own, confirm that the bread is wholemeal; you can only tell from the specific product information.

Organic white bread

A good fit if: you specifically want the texture of white bread for a meal or personal preference.

What to consider: organic production doesn’t make white bread wholemeal, so it isn’t the right choice if you’re looking for wholemeal bread.

What to consider	What to check when buying	Who should consider this?
Both organic and wholemeal	Look for the wholemeal claim and check the organic label separately. According to Skal Biocontrole, prepacked organic consumer products in the EU should carry the EU organic logo.	I want organic bread without mistaking brown or multigrain bread for wholemeal. For around 34% of consumers, confirming both characteristics comes first.
Nutritional value	Compare fibre and salt per 100 g using the nutritional information for the specific breads, rather than judging by colour alone.	If bread is a daily staple, I want to be able to check its fibre content. For around 33% of consumers, nutritional information is the top priority.
Taste and texture	Think about whether you’d prefer a soft slice, a sourdough crust or seeds; if you’re unsure, consider buying a smaller loaf.	I want to choose bread that will actually be eaten at home, even if I’m tempted by a different texture. Taste and acceptance matter most to around 20% of consumers.
Salt and allergens	Check the ingredients for iodised salt or baker’s salt, and check the salt content and allergen information for the variety.	For my usual bread, I want to know what salt it contains and which allergens are present. For around 13% of consumers, checking these details for the specific product is their main concern.

Common mistakes when choosing bread

Assuming organic means wholemeal

Organic bread can be white, brown or multigrain without being wholemeal. So the organic label doesn’t answer the question that matters when you’re looking for wholemeal bread.

Check for the organic label and the word ‘wholemeal’ separately on the specific loaf.
Relying on ‘multigrain’, colour or sourdough

According to the Voedingscentrum, multigrain means that bread contains at least three types of grain. It doesn’t, by itself, tell you how much wholemeal flour has been used; a dark crust or sourdough doesn’t answer that question either.

Look for an explicit wholemeal claim and check the ingredients. If there’s no such claim, choose the bread for its other qualities without assuming it’s wholemeal.
Assuming organic bread contains iodised salt

The Voedingscentrum reports that organic bread usually doesn’t contain baker’s salt. However, some organic varieties do contain iodised salt: Albert Heijn lists it in its Biologisch Batard volkoren zonnepit gesneden.

Check the ingredients for your chosen bread rather than assuming it contains iodised salt based on the type of bread.
Trying a new bread in a loaf that’s too large

If the crust, seeds or sourdough flavour aren’t a hit at home, some of the loaf may go to waste.

If you’re unsure, choose a smaller size if one is available, and follow the storage instructions for your chosen variety.

Brands to help you choose

Check whether each loaf is both organic and wholemeal: a claim made by a brand or for a bread category won’t necessarily apply to every variety.

Albert Heijn

A specific example if you want to see both claims on one product.

For AH Biologisch Batard volkoren zonnepit gesneden, Albert Heijn lists both wholemeal and the EU organic logo, along with the ingredients and nutritional information.
The details for this bread don’t describe other Albert Heijn loaves; check each variety separately.

Jumbo

A brand where you can check the claims for a specific wholemeal variety separately.

Jumbo has a wholemeal bread category and displays product information for an organic wholemeal multigrain bread.
Jumbo says that this specific organic wholemeal variety is no longer available in its online range. Check which variety you can actually buy.

PLUS

A starting point if you want to explore different types of wholemeal bread.

PLUS features several varieties of bread in its wholemeal bread category.
Being listed in that category doesn’t confirm that a variety is also organic; check the product information to find out.

Lidl

An example if you’re considering organic sourdough bread with seeds and kernels.

Lidl describes its Bio rustiek woutkorn desembrood as organic brown wheat sourdough bread weighing 600 g.
The product description doesn’t call this bread wholemeal. Check the label if wholemeal is a deciding factor for you.

Aldi

A brand with information about fine wholemeal bread and a separate organic range.

ALDI describes Fijn Volkoren as sliced wholemeal bread.
The separate page for its organic range doesn’t confirm that this particular bread is organic.

Dirk

A brand that lists wholemeal bread and has a separate organic bread category.

Dirk lists a wholemeal floor loaf and has a category for organic bread, spreads and biscuits.
These two listings don’t confirm that a bread is both organic and wholemeal; check both claims for the specific variety.

Joybuy products for this bread choice

Frequently asked questions about organic bread

Is organic white bread wholemeal too?

No, organic white bread isn’t wholemeal. Organic describes how it’s produced, while wholemeal refers to the grain used. So if wholemeal is a requirement for your purchase, look for an explicit wholemeal claim.

How can I identify organic bread?

According to Skal Biocontrole, prepacked organic consumer products in the EU must carry the EU organic logo. If you’re buying packaged bread, check the logo on the variety you’ve chosen; for unpackaged bread, ask the shop or bakery for the product information.

Is organic multigrain bread always wholemeal?

No. According to the Voedingscentrum, multigrain means bread made with at least three types of grain; it doesn’t automatically mean that wholemeal flour has been used. If you’re specifically looking for wholemeal bread, check for a wholemeal claim and read the ingredients.

Does organic bread always contain iodised salt?

No, it varies from one loaf to another. The Voedingscentrum reports that organic bread usually doesn’t contain baker’s salt, while Albert Heijn lists iodised salt in its Biologisch Batard volkoren zonnepit gesneden. Check the ingredients for the exact variety.

How can I try bread with a different taste or texture?

If you’re unsure, choose a smaller size if one is available, so you don’t have to buy a whole loaf of an unfamiliar variety. Follow the storage or freezing instructions on the packaging of the bread you buy.