Who is a half loaf useful for?

Small households choosing organic

You’re looking for an organic loaf in a quantity you can finish or partly freeze. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists bread as a food that is often wasted.

Shoppers comparing labels

You want to know how much wholemeal flour a multigrain loaf contains, and compare fibre and salt per 100 g. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread contains at least three types of grain; the name doesn’t mean it’s entirely wholemeal.

Shoppers checking for iodised salt

You want to check which salt has been used in an organic loaf. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers are not required to use baker’s salt.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start with the organic certification and the size. Then use the ingredients list and nutritional information to compare loaves.

What to check Check when buying Who is this most important for?
Organic certification Look for the EU organic logo and the control code on the packaging. If organic is a must for me, I want more than packaging that simply looks natural. Around 26% of consumers prioritise verified organic origins.
Half loaf and storage Check the weight and the storage or freezing instructions. In a small household, I don’t want to keep opening a whole loaf that I can’t finish in time. A suitable quantity is a priority for around 26% of consumers.
Wholemeal flour, fibre and salt Read the ingredients and compare fibre and salt per 100 g; also check whether the proportion of wholemeal flour is stated. The name ‘multigrain’ doesn’t tell me enough about the ingredients, so I want to be able to compare the nutritional information. This is the main concern for around 21% of consumers.
Iodised salt and allergens Look for ‘iodised salt’ or ‘baker’s salt’, and read the allergen information for the specific loaf. I want to know which salt has been used and which allergens the loaf contains before I choose it. Checking the label is the top priority for around 16% of consumers.
Current product and size Check that the exact organic half-loaf version is available and compare the packaging when you buy it. A product page is only helpful if I can actually buy the same version. For around 11% of consumers, this practical check before buying is the priority.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming multigrain means wholemeal

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ refers to at least three types of grain, not to the amount of wholemeal flour.

    Read the ingredients list and compare any stated proportion of wholemeal flour, along with the fibre per 100 g.

  • Assuming organic bread contains iodised salt

    Bakers are not required to use baker’s salt, according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. So the word ‘organic’ doesn’t tell you which salt is in the loaf.

    Check the ingredients for ‘iodised salt’ or ‘baker’s salt’, or ask the baker which salt has been used.

  • Confusing a product page with current availability

    Jumbo has product pages for organic half multigrain loaves that say the products are no longer available online. Finding a version doesn’t necessarily mean you can buy it.

    Check the status of the exact version just before you buy, and compare the label on the loaf you’re purchasing.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn has product pages for an organic Zaans brown multigrain half loaf and an organic Oerdesem multigrain half loaf.

  • The pages list the EU organic logo, NL-BIO-01 and iodised salt for both loaves.
  • The Zaans half loaf lists 35% wholemeal wheat flour, 5.4 g of fibre and 0.9 g of salt per 100 g. The Oerdesem half loaf lists 22% wholemeal wheat flour, 5.6 g of fibre and 0.85 g of salt per 100 g.
  • Check the current packaging and availability; one of the two loaves is listed as available in store only.

Jumbo

Jumbo has product pages for organic brown and organic wholemeal multigrain bread in a 400 g half-loaf size.

  • The product names distinguish between brown and wholemeal multigrain bread.
  • Jumbo says that both of these specific organic half-loaf versions are no longer available online. Check any replacement version separately for its size and certification.

Lidl

Lidl lists an organic rustic multigrain sourdough loaf and, separately, a half dark multigrain loaf.

  • You can ask specifically about both the organic version and the half-loaf size.
  • Don’t assume the half loaf is also the organic version. Check the product name, certification, ingredients and allergens on the packaging.

Aldi

Aldi lists a half farmhouse wholemeal multigrain loaf.

  • The half-loaf size is useful if you don’t want to buy a whole loaf.
  • The separate organic range page doesn’t automatically mean this half loaf is organic. If that’s a requirement, check for the EU organic logo on this exact version.

PLUS

In 2022, PLUS announced organic farmhouse white and farmhouse brown multigrain bread, and also lists half loaves in its range.

  • The product categories give you a starting point for looking for organic multigrain bread in a suitable size.
  • The 2022 announcement doesn’t automatically mean that a current half multigrain loaf is organic. Compare the exact product name and packaging.

Dirk

Dirk lists half multigrain loaves in its search results.

  • The half-loaf size is a useful starting point for a smaller household.
  • Check the organic certification and current in-store availability of your chosen loaf separately.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is multigrain bread always wholemeal?

No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread contains at least three different types of grain, but the name doesn’t mean that all the grains used are wholemeal. Check the ingredients and any stated proportion of wholemeal flour.

How can I recognise organic multigrain bread?

Look for the EU organic logo and organic control code on the packaging of the loaf you choose. The Government of the Netherlands says that ‘organic’ is a protected term for products that are checked; green packaging alone is not a certification mark.

Does bread in the Netherlands always contain iodised baker’s salt?

No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers are not required to use baker’s salt. Look for ‘iodised salt’ or ‘baker’s salt’ on the label, or ask your baker.

What should I do with a half loaf I can’t finish in time?

Follow the storage and freezing instructions for that particular loaf. Albert Heijn says that its two organic half multigrain loaves can be frozen at home on the day of purchase.

Which allergens should I check in organic multigrain bread?

Read the allergen information for the exact version; organic doesn’t mean allergen-free. The two organic half multigrain loaves from Albert Heijn mentioned above contain gluten-containing cereals, including wheat, and one of them also contains rye and spelt.