Who are these choices important to?

Everyday organic bread shopper

You’re looking for bread for breakfast and lunch, and want to be able to check whether the specific product is organic. Also check what type of bread it is: ‘multigrain’ doesn’t tell you whether it’s wholemeal.

Shopper who checks the grain content

You want to choose wholemeal bread for everyday use, not just bread containing several grains or visible seeds. So look separately for the ‘wholemeal’ label.

Shopper who wants to check the salt

You regularly choose organic bread and want to know what type of salt was used to make it. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers don’t always use baker’s salt, so you’ll need to check the ingredients for the specific loaf.

What should you look for when choosing?

First check that the bread meets your organic requirements, then check the type of bread and slice thickness separately. Baker’s salt is another thing to check if it matters to your choice.

What to check What should you look for? Who is it important to?
Organic labelling Look for the EU organic logo and organic labelling on the specific loaf; if it’s sold unpackaged, ask for the product information. I don’t want to rely on a name that simply sounds natural if organic is a requirement for me. Around 29% of consumers put verified organic status first.
Wholemeal or multigrain Look specifically for ‘wholemeal’. Compare fibre per 100 g only when that nutritional information is available for the breads. For my everyday bread, I want to know what it’s made from, even if I can see seeds or several grains. For around 24% of consumers, choosing wholemeal matters most.
Slice thickness Check whether the loaf is specifically labelled ‘medium-sliced’, or ask in store about the slice thickness. My toaster or lunch routine calls for a particular slice thickness; ‘whole loaf, sliced’ doesn’t tell me that. Slice thickness is the top priority for around 29% of consumers.
Baker’s salt Read the ingredients for the specific loaf or ask the baker what type of salt was used. If I often choose organic bread, I don’t want to assume it was baked with baker’s salt. For around 18% of consumers, checking this is their top priority.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘multigrain’ means ‘wholemeal’

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread contains at least three types of grain, but it can be made with white flour. So the name alone doesn’t confirm that you’re choosing wholemeal bread.

    Check for the ‘wholemeal’ label on the packaging, shelf or product description; don’t rely on the colour or seeds alone.

  • Assuming organic bread is baked with baker’s salt

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. The fact that a loaf is organic or made with sourdough doesn’t tell you what type of salt it contains.

    Check the ingredients for the specific loaf or ask the baker.

  • Confusing ‘whole loaf, sliced’ with ‘medium-sliced’

    ‘Whole’ and ‘half’ describe the size of the loaf; ‘sliced’ on its own doesn’t confirm a medium slice thickness. So you still can’t tell whether the slices will suit the way you use the bread.

    Check the packaging or shelf information and, if needed, ask in store how thickly the bread is sliced.

  • Assuming a product listing means it’s a regular in-store option

    A loaf you see online isn’t necessarily a regular choice for your weekly shop. For example, the Jumbo wholemeal multigrain bread we looked at wasn’t available in its online range.

    Check the latest product information or the store shelf shortly before you buy.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn / AH Biologisch

Albert Heijn lists products including AH Biologisch OerDesem organic multigrain whole loaf, sliced.

  • ‘Whole loaf, sliced’ makes it clear that this bread is sold sliced.
  • This label doesn’t confirm a medium slice thickness, so check that separately. Organic multigrain bread isn’t automatically wholemeal either.

Lidl

Lidl lists a 600 g organic rustic multigrain sourdough loaf, described as organic brown bread with seeds and grains.

  • The product description says that the bread is organic and multigrain.
  • Ask about slice thickness if you need medium-sliced bread; ‘brown’ doesn’t confirm that it’s wholemeal either.

ALDI

ALDI lists farmhouse wholemeal multigrain bread in a sliced half-loaf version.

  • The product description confirms that this version is ‘wholemeal’ and ‘sliced’.
  • Don’t take this listing as confirmation that the bread is organic or medium-sliced.

Jumbo

The product information for a Jumbo wholemeal multigrain loaf lists its ingredients and nutritional values.

  • Jumbo lists 7,8 g of fibre per 100 g for this bread and includes baker’s salt in the ingredients.
  • The loaf we looked at wasn’t labelled organic and wasn’t available in the online range.

PLUS

PLUS describes an organic range and also has a multigrain bread category.

  • These categories give you a useful starting point for finding the right bread.
  • A general category doesn’t confirm that a specific multigrain loaf is organic, wholemeal or medium-sliced.

Dirk

Dirk lists products including a half multigrain loaf from Bakker van der Akker.

  • The product description makes it clear that this is a half loaf.
  • Check organic status, whether it’s wholemeal and slice thickness separately if those features matter to your choice.

Related Joybuy products

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is multigrain bread automatically wholemeal?

No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread contains at least three types of grain, but it can be made with white flour. If you want a wholemeal version, look for the ‘wholemeal’ label on the specific loaf.

How can I check whether multigrain bread is organic?

Look for the EU organic logo and organic labelling on the specific loaf, either on the packaging or in the product information. For unpackaged bread, check the shelf information or ask; a general organic range page tells you nothing about an individual loaf.

Can I tell online whether organic multigrain bread is medium-sliced?

Only if the slice thickness is clearly stated for the specific loaf. Albert Heijn describes an organic OerDesem multigrain loaf as ‘whole loaf, sliced’, but that doesn’t confirm the thickness of the slices; check the packaging or ask in store.

Does Dutch organic bread always contain baker’s salt?

No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Read the ingredients for the bread you want to buy or, if it’s unpackaged, ask the baker what type of salt they used.