For a special meal, part-baked organic multigrain bread is a good choice if you have time to prepare it. If you want to serve the bread straight away, look for an organic whole or brown multigrain loaf. In either case, check the organic certification, ingredients, type of salt and allergens. According to the Voedingscentrum, multigrain does not automatically mean wholemeal, and not every loaf contains baker’s salt.
If organic is a must, the EU organic logo and certification code on the packaging offer more reassurance than words such as premium or rustic. For example, the label on AH Biologisch Zaans multigrain bread includes a certification code.
A part-baked multigrain baguette can work well if you have a set time in mind for serving, provided you have the time and oven space. Before buying, also check the preparation instructions, salt and allergens on the packaging.
If you eat multigrain bread regularly, compare the proportion of wholemeal flour and the fibre per 100 g. According to the Voedingscentrum, bakers are not required to use baker’s salt, so check which type of salt the bread contains.
First, decide whether you want to serve the bread straight away or bake it before your meal. Then check the organic labelling and nutritional information separately; the name of the bread alone won’t tell you what you need to know.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Organic labelling | Look for the EU organic logo and certification code on the packaging. | If organic is a must for me, I want to be able to check the certification on the bread itself. Around 31% of consumers put this check first. |
| Bread for your serving time | Check whether the bread is ready to serve or needs baking, and follow the preparation instructions. | When serving soup or drinks, I want to know whether I’ll need oven space and time just before serving. Around 31% of consumers put serving time first. |
| Wholemeal flour and fibre | Check the proportion of wholemeal flour in the ingredients list and compare the fibre per 100 g in similar breads. | When choosing bread for several meals, I want to assess its ingredients rather than rely on the word multigrain. This is the first consideration for around 25% of consumers. |
| Salt and allergens | Check the current ingredients list for baker’s salt or iodised salt, and read the allergen information. | If the type of salt or an allergen matters to me, I can’t rely on the organic label or the seeds. Around 13% of consumers give this check top priority. |
According to the Voedingscentrum, multigrain means bread made with at least three types of grain; it doesn’t tell you how much wholemeal flour it contains. Seeds or a dark colour don’t tell you that either.
Read the ingredients list and compare the stated proportion of wholemeal flour and the fibre per 100 g.
According to the Voedingscentrum, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. The label on the SlooOW Rustieke Meergranen Baguette lists rock salt, so the organic label doesn’t tell you which type of salt has been added.
Check the ingredients list for each loaf to see whether it actually contains baker’s salt or iodised salt.
Albert Heijn and Jumbo stated that the organic multigrain breads described were no longer part of their online range. A product label isn’t confirmation that you’ll be able to buy that bread for a planned meal.
Check the current online availability or in-store stock shortly before you shop, and choose another suitable loaf if needed.
The standard multigrain breads described contain gluten-containing grains. Depending on the product, the label may also list other allergens, such as sesame. An organic label doesn’t change the ingredients.
Check the current allergen information every time you buy. Only assume a product is gluten-free if it is explicitly labelled as such.
The Zaans brown multigrain bread described by Albert Heijn shows the label details you can compare when choosing an organic whole loaf.
Jumbo’s organic multigrain baguette is an example of a loaf you bake before serving.
SlooOW describes its organic rustic multigrain baguette as a part-baked sourdough bread with seeds and kernels, suitable for serving with soup or drinks, among other things.
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, multigrain bread contains at least three types of grain, but the name doesn’t tell you how much wholemeal flour it contains. Check the ingredients list if wholemeal is important to you.
Look for the EU organic logo and certification code on the packaging instead of relying on words such as natural or rustic. For example, the label on AH Biologisch Zaans multigrain bread lists NL-BIO-01; always check the loaf you’re actually buying.
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check the packaging to see whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed in the ingredients.
No. The standard multigrain breads described contain gluten-containing grains. If you need a gluten-free option, check that the specific product is explicitly labelled as gluten-free and read its current allergen information.
