Who is this bread suitable for?

Small households looking to waste less bread

If you eat only a few slices a day, a half loaf may suit your needs better. If you’d rather buy a whole loaf, the Voedingscentrum recommends freezing it in portions as soon as you buy it.

Shoppers who want to check a product’s organic status

A range of organic products doesn’t tell you anything about a particular loaf. Skal Biocontrole states that the EU organic logo is compulsory on pre-packed organic food in the EU, so check the packaging of the loaf you choose.

Shoppers specifically looking for wholemeal bread

According to the Voedingscentrum, the term ‘multigrain’ confirms that bread contains at least three types of grain; it doesn’t mean the bread is wholemeal. If wholemeal is a priority, check the product name and ingredients of the loaf you choose.

What should you look for when choosing?

First work out how much bread you get through. Then compare the organic claim, any wholemeal wording and the label information for the specific product.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Loaf size Compare the amount of bread with how much you eat, and consider whether you can freeze slices. In a small household, I don’t want to be left with bread I can’t use in time; for around 36% of consumers, choosing the right portion size matters most.
Organic claim Check the organic claim and, for pre-packed organic bread in the EU, the EU organic logo on the product. I want to be able to see that this particular half loaf is organic, not just that the shop sells organic products. This is the top priority for around 29% of consumers.
Wholemeal and fibre Check whether ‘wholemeal’ appears on the loaf; compare fibre per 100 g using only the nutritional information for the products in question. If I’m looking for wholemeal, I don’t want to rely on a dark colour or the word ‘multigrain’; around 21% of consumers put this first.
Ingredients and allergens Read the current allergen information and check whether baker’s salt has been used if that matters to your choice. I want to know which allergens are listed and whether baker’s salt has been used before I buy; for around 14% of consumers, checking the label comes first.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘multigrain’ means ‘wholemeal’

    According to the Voedingscentrum, multigrain means the bread contains at least three types of grain. It doesn’t mean it’s made from 100% wholemeal flour.

    If wholemeal is what you’re looking for, choose a loaf specifically labelled ‘wholemeal’ and check the ingredients for that product.

  • Confusing an organic range with an organic loaf

    A supermarket may show both organic products and a standard half multigrain loaf. That doesn’t mean the half loaf itself is organic.

    Check the claim and the EU organic logo on the packaging of the specific loaf.

  • Assuming all organic bread is made with baker’s salt

    The Voedingscentrum points out that organic bread can also be made without baker’s salt. The organic claim alone doesn’t tell you either way.

    If baker’s salt matters to your choice, read the ingredients list or ask the baker.

  • Buying a half loaf without thinking about how much you’ll eat

    You can still have slices left over from a half loaf if you eat less than you expected.

    Choose the loaf size to suit how much you eat, and freeze any bread you won’t use soon in portions, as the Voedingscentrum recommends.

Brands to start with

The loaves mentioned use different product descriptions. Check each one to see whether ‘organic’, ‘half’ and, where relevant, ‘wholemeal’ genuinely apply.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists products including AH Biologisch Zaans meergranen bruin half for shoppers looking for a half loaf explicitly labelled organic.

  • The product name includes both organic and half.
  • Albert Heijn warns that ingredients, nutritional values and allergens may change, so check the current packaging.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists a biologisch bruin meergranenbrood half and a biologisch volkoren meergranenbrood half.

  • If you’re also looking for wholemeal, you can identify the relevant loaf by its product name.
  • Check the current ingredients, nutritional information and allergens on the packaging of the product you choose.

PLUS

In 2022, PLUS announced organic boerenwit and boerenbruin multigrain bread.

  • According to the announcement, the brown version contained wholemeal flour.
  • That announcement doesn’t confirm that a current half multigrain loaf is organic; check the claim on the loaf you want to buy.

Lidl

Lidl lists a Halfje donker meergranenbrood.

  • The product name makes the half-size format clear.
  • A separate organic range doesn’t confirm that this loaf is organic; check the label on the specific product.

ALDI

ALDI lists Boeren volkoren meergranen Half.

  • The product name includes both wholemeal and half.
  • Don’t assume it’s organic just because ALDI has a separate organic range; check the loaf itself.

Dirk

Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker Bakkers meergranen half as a half multigrain option.

  • The half-size format is included in the product name.
  • Check whether the specific loaf has an organic claim; don’t rely on a shop category.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is multigrain bread the same as wholemeal bread?

No. According to the Voedingscentrum, multigrain bread contains at least three types of grain, while wholemeal bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour. Check the product name and ingredients if you’re looking for wholemeal bread.

How can I recognise a pre-packed organic half loaf?

Check the organic claim and the EU organic logo on the specific product. Skal Biocontrole states that this logo is compulsory on pre-packed organic food in the EU; a shop’s organic range alone doesn’t tell you anything about a particular loaf.

Is organic bread always made with baker’s salt?

No. The Voedingscentrum says that organic bread can also be made without baker’s salt. If this matters to your buying decision, read the ingredients list or ask the baker.

What if even a half loaf is too much?

Freeze the bread in portions as soon as you buy it, then take out what you need. This is the storage method recommended by the Voedingscentrum when you won’t be using the bread straight away.

Can I tell which allergens a loaf contains from the word ‘multigrain’?

No. The name doesn’t tell you which types of grain or other ingredients the specific loaf contains. Always check the current ingredients and allergen information for the product you want to buy.