Choose bread labelled wholemeal and check its organic status separately, for example by looking for the EU organic logo on the packaging. Then compare the fibre content and allergens of the variety you’ve chosen. If you’re buying unpackaged bread, ask the shop about both its wholemeal and organic status, as well as its ingredients.
If you buy wholemeal bread regularly, compare the fibre content in the nutritional information for the variety you’ve chosen. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a 35 g slice of wholemeal bread contains an average of 3.3 g of fibre; figures can vary by product.
If you want to verify a product’s organic status on the packaging, look for the EU organic logo. Skal Biocontrole states that this logo identifies an organic product; check separately that the bread is wholemeal.
If you want to bake bread later or store it, check the preparation and storage instructions for the variety you’ve chosen. Also check the allergens and current availability before ordering.
When choosing organic wholemeal bread for your home, the type of bread, its organic status and how you plan to use it are separate things to consider. Start with the features that matter most to your household.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for the word wholemeal. Compare the stated fibre per 100 g or per serving for the products you’re considering. | I’m looking for bread to eat every day and mainly want to know whether it’s wholemeal and how much fibre my chosen variety contains. Wholemeal and fibre are priorities for around 42% of consumers. |
| Organic status | For packaged bread, look for the EU organic logo. For unpackaged bread, ask for product information. | I want to be able to check whether the bread is organic, even if I’ve already found a wholemeal variety. This is the main thing around 33% of consumers want to know. |
| Storage and use | Read the allergen, storage and preparation information; if ordering online, check current availability. | I want to store bread or bake it later, so I need to plan when and how I’ll use it. This practical consideration matters most to around 25% of consumers. |
Organic status and type of bread describe different things. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread is made from the whole grain; an organic label alone doesn’t mean that bread is wholemeal.
Check both that the bread is labelled wholemeal and that the product is organic.
Ingredients vary between varieties. Albert Heijn’s product information for an organic wholemeal loaf lists wheat, sesame, soya, barley and spelt, among other ingredients.
If you have an allergy or follow an exclusion diet, check the ingredients and allergens for the exact variety you’re buying.
A product page may still be visible even when the bread is no longer available online. Jumbo notes this for an organic wholemeal multigrain loaf.
Check that your chosen variety is still available just before placing your order.
The average figure from the Netherlands Nutrition Centre doesn’t describe the nutritional value of every individual variety. Ingredients and nutritional information can also change.
Compare the latest nutritional information on the packaging of the products you’re choosing between.
Albert Heijn describes its AH Biologisch Batard wholemeal sunflower seed sliced loaf as organic wholemeal wheat bread with sunflower seeds.
Jumbo’s product information describes organic wholemeal sourdough bake-at-home rolls and an organic wholemeal multigrain loaf.
Check each feature separately: look for the word wholemeal and, on packaged bread, the EU organic logo. According to Skal Biocontrole, the logo identifies an organic product. If you’re buying unpackaged bread and can’t check these features yourself, ask for product information.
The organic label alone doesn’t tell you how much fibre bread contains. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread contains more dietary fibre than white bread because it’s made using the whole grain. For specific products, compare the fibre content in the nutritional information.
Check the ingredients list for the variety you’ve chosen to see whether iodised baker’s salt is listed. The Commodities Act Decree on the Addition of Micronutrients to Foodstuffs defines baker’s salt as iodised table salt used to make bread and other baked goods.
Yes, it depends on the recipe. For example, Albert Heijn’s product information for an organic wholemeal loaf also lists sesame, soya, barley and spelt. Always check the allergen information for the specific variety, even if you’ve bought it before.
Follow the storage and baking instructions on the packaging for the specific bread. Jumbo recommends baking its organic wholemeal sourdough rolls for 6–8 minutes at 220 °C; don’t automatically apply these instructions to other bake-at-home breads.
