When choosing thick slices for a snack, don’t rely on the word ‘multigrain’ alone. Check that the bread is organic and that the way it’s sliced suits your toppings. If you also want wholemeal bread or bread made with iodised salt, read the product name and ingredients list. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bakers are not required to use baker’s salt. Check the slices in store or ask whether a whole loaf can be cut thickly, as the shape and weight of a loaf don’t tell you how thick the slices are.
You want organic bread for your everyday sandwiches, but you also want to know whether it’s wholemeal. Check for the organic certification label, the product name and the ingredients: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ doesn’t automatically mean ‘wholemeal’.
You’re looking for slices that are large and sturdy enough to hold your toppings. Check the sliced bread itself or ask whether a whole loaf can be cut thickly; the terms ‘farmhouse loaf’ and ‘sourdough’ don’t tell you how thick the slices are.
You want to know whether your organic bread is made with iodised salt. Check the ingredients list or ask the baker. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that using baker’s salt is not compulsory.
Start by checking the organic certification label and the ingredients. Then check the slices, the type of salt and whether the bread is ready to eat or needs baking first.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal | Look for ‘wholemeal’ in the product name and check which types of flour are listed in the ingredients. ‘Multigrain’ on its own isn’t enough. | For my everyday sandwiches, I want to choose organic bread without confusing multigrain with wholemeal. This combination is a priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Thick slices | Check the slices in store or ask whether a whole loaf can be cut thickly. Don’t judge the thickness by the weight or shape of the loaf. | If I use plenty of toppings, I want to see in advance whether the slices will work for my snack. The way the bread is sliced is the deciding factor for around 31% of consumers. |
| Iodised salt | Check the ingredients for ‘iodised salt’ or ‘baker’s salt’; ask if the type of salt matters to your choice. | I want to know what type of salt is in my organic bread, rather than relying on the certification label. For around 23% of consumers, knowing which type of salt is used is the top priority. |
| Preparation and storage | Check whether the bread is ready to eat or needs baking first, and read the storage and freezing advice on the product. | When I want a quick snack, it matters whether I need to bake the bread first and how I can store the rest. Around 15% of consumers put this convenience first. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ means that different types of grain are used. It doesn’t tell you how much wholemeal flour the bread contains.
If wholemeal is important to you, look for ‘wholemeal’ in the product name and check the ingredients list.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So an organic certification label won’t tell you whether the bread contains iodised salt.
Check the label for the type of salt or ask the baker.
‘Sourdough’, ‘farmhouse loaf’ and the weight of a loaf don’t tell you how thick each slice is. That difference matters if you’re looking for a particular thickness to hold your toppings.
Check a sliced loaf in store or ask whether you can have a whole loaf cut thickly.
Bake-at-home bread needs to be baked before you can eat it. Storage and freezing instructions can also vary from product to product.
Read the preparation and storage instructions before deciding whether the bread suits your plans and when you want to eat it.
Breads within the same range can vary in their organic certification, ingredients, type of salt and preparation method. So always check the specific loaf you’re considering.
Albert Heijn offers various organic multigrain breads, including sliced bread and bake-at-home bread.
Jumbo has a multigrain category with a range of different bread shapes.
Lidl lists an organic brown multigrain sourdough loaf with seeds as an in-store product.
ALDI lists farmhouse wholemeal multigrain bread in its bread range.
PLUS announced organic farmhouse multigrain bread in October 2022 and also lists a multigrain category.
Dirk lists a whole multigrain farmhouse loaf with grains and seeds.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ means that bread contains at least three different types of grain; on its own, this doesn’t tell you whether it’s wholemeal. Look for ‘wholemeal’ in the product name and check the ingredients list.
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bakers in the Netherlands aren’t required to use baker’s salt. For the bread you choose, check whether ‘iodised salt’ or ‘baker’s salt’ is listed in the ingredients, or ask the baker.
Follow the storage and freezing advice for the specific bread. For example, Albert Heijn says AH Biologisch OerDesem bio meergranen heel gesneden can be frozen at home on the day of purchase; don’t assume the same advice applies to bake-at-home bread.
