Who should make these checks?

Anyone looking for organic multigrain sourdough

This shopper wants all three qualities in the same loaf. A general sourdough category or an organic bread section isn’t enough: check the description of the individual product.

Anyone checking wholemeal flour and ingredients

For this shopper, the ingredients matter more than the brown colour or seeds on the crust. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre distinguishes between ‘multigrain’ and ‘wholemeal’; the ingredients list helps you see which types of flour have been used.

Anyone who needs to check salt and allergens

This shopper checks the type of salt used, as well as the grains and other ingredients in the particular loaf. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, organic bread usually contains non-iodised salt; you’ll need to check each product for its allergens.

What should you look for when choosing?

If organic is a must for you, start by checking the organic claim. Then consider whether it’s wholemeal, what it contains and whether you can buy it at your chosen shop.

What to check What to check when buying Who it matters to
Organic claim Check the organic claim on the current packaging and make sure it applies to the same multigrain sourdough variety. If I’m specifically looking for a loaf that’s organic, multigrain and sourdough, I want to be able to check all three claims on the same loaf. Verifiable organic status is the top priority for around 36% of consumers considering this bread.
Wholemeal and types of flour Look for an explicit wholemeal claim and check which types of flour are listed in the ingredients. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ means that at least three types of grain have been used, not that the bread is wholemeal. For my everyday bread, I want to know whether the loaf contains wholemeal flour as well as white flour, rather than relying on its name. Around 29% of consumers say ingredients are their first consideration.
Salt and allergens Check the type of salt and the allergen information on the packaging. If you’re buying unwrapped bread, ask what information is available. If the type of salt or a particular ingredient matters to me, I need to check the label on this exact variety. Salt and allergens are the top priority for around 21% of consumers.
Size and availability Check where it’s sold and choose a size you can use or freeze in portions. I want to be able to buy bread when it suits me and avoid ending up with more than I can use. This practical consideration matters most to around 14% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘multigrain’ means ‘wholemeal’

    Multigrain tells you how many types of grain have been used, but not whether all the grain ingredients are wholemeal. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority distinguishes between wholemeal flour and other types of flour when it comes to using the term ‘wholemeal’.

    Check for a wholemeal claim and read the ingredients list. Don’t judge by the colour or seeds on the bread alone.

  • Assuming sourdough is made without baker’s yeast

    A sourdough claim doesn’t rule out baker’s yeast or white flour. For example, PLUS lists both sourdough and other ingredients for its Korenlanders Kleintje desembrood bruin meergranen.

    Read the full ingredients and allergen information if the raising agents or particular ingredients affect your choice.

  • Taking iodised salt for granted

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt, and organic bread usually contains non-iodised salt. So the organic claim doesn’t tell you which type of salt is in the bread.

    Check the ingredients list on packaged bread, or ask which type of salt has been used if you’re buying unwrapped bread.

  • Using an old product listing as a shopping list

    A product name in a list doesn’t always mean that exact variety is available at your shop. For example, Jumbo says its rustic sourdough loaves can’t be ordered online.

    Check the current product listing and look at the packaging in store to make sure you’re checking the variety you’re actually buying.

Brands to start your search

These product ranges give you different starting points for your search. The brand name alone doesn’t confirm that a loaf is organic, wholemeal or suitable for your ingredient requirements.

Lidl

Lidl describes its Bio rustiek meergranen desembrood, 600 g, as an organic brown multigrain sourdough loaf with seeds.

  • The product description says the same variety is organic, multigrain and sourdough.
  • Lidl says it’s available in store. Check the ingredients, nutritional information and allergens on the packaging.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists AH Biologisch OerDesem bio meergranen heel gesneden in its sourdough bread range.

  • The product name combines the organic and multigrain claims with OerDesem.
  • For this variety, check the ingredients, whether it’s wholemeal, the type of salt and the allergens on the packaging or individual product page.

PLUS

PLUS Korenlanders Kleintje desembrood bruin meergranen is a smaller multigrain sourdough loaf, although the available product information doesn’t describe it as organic.

  • For this variety, PLUS lists ingredients including 9% sourdough, 27% wholemeal wheat flour and 23% wheat flour.
  • If organic is a must for you, don’t assume this variety is organic based on the sourdough or multigrain name.

Jumbo

Jumbo includes a brown multigrain variety in its rustic sourdough range and describes the range as being fermented for more than 24 hours with fresh sourdough starter.

  • This bread range is a useful starting point if you’re looking for fresh multigrain sourdough from a shop.
  • Jumbo says these loaves can’t be ordered online. Check each loaf separately to see whether it’s organic.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products coming 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; that doesn’t tell you whether they’ve been used as wholemeal flour. Look for an explicit wholemeal claim and read the ingredients list. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that, for a product labelled wholemeal, all the grain ingredients must be wholemeal flour.

Does ‘sourdough’ mean there’s no baker’s yeast?

No. A sourdough claim doesn’t rule out baker’s yeast: PLUS lists both sourdough and baker’s yeast for its Korenlanders Kleintje desembrood bruin meergranen. Check the ingredients list to find out which raising agents have been used in a particular loaf.

Does organic bread always contain iodised baker’s salt?

No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt and that organic bread usually contains non-iodised salt. Check the ingredients list on packaged bread, or ask which type of salt has been used if you’re buying unwrapped bread.

How should I store wholemeal sourdough bread if I won’t eat it soon?

Freeze it in portions if you won’t use a whole loaf soon. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says opened wholemeal sourdough bread keeps for 2–4 days in a kitchen cupboard or 1–3 months in the freezer. These times apply to this type of bread when stored in the conditions specified.

Where can I check the allergens in unwrapped multigrain bread?

Ask in store for the allergen information for that particular loaf if it isn’t clear near the shelf. Don’t rely on ‘multigrain’ or ‘sourdough’ alone: the grains and other ingredients vary from one variety to another.