Anyone looking for organic bread every day
You want to be able to check that the bread is organic, while also looking specifically for wholemeal bread with slices that suit your everyday needs.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Anyone who considers iodine from bread
You eat bread regularly, so you look beyond whether it’s organic and wholemeal to check whether the ingredients include baker’s salt or iodised salt. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt.
Anyone choosing sliced bread for lunch
You want slices that are easy to top. The number of slices, the weight per slice and the slices themselves can help you decide whether a loaf is right for you.
What should you look for when choosing?
Check that the bread is organic and wholemeal separately, then look at the ingredients and whether the slices suit your everyday needs.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Organic and wholemeal | Check for an organic label and, on pre-packed organic bread, the EU organic logo. Also look for a wholemeal claim. According to Skal Biocontrole, the EU organic logo is compulsory on pre-packed organic consumer products in the EU. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that, for a product to be called wholemeal, its grain ingredient must consist entirely of wholemeal flour. | I want to be able to confirm that my everyday bread is both organic and wholemeal; this combination is a priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Fibre and iodine | Compare the fibre information in the nutritional details and check the ingredients for baker’s salt or iodised salt. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers don’t always use baker’s salt. | If I eat bread often, I want to take its fibre content and use of iodised salt into account; around 42% of consumers say this is their main priority. |
| Slices that suit you | Check whether the bread is sliced and, where stated, compare the number of slices and the weight per slice. If you’re looking for a particular thickness, take a look at the slices themselves. | For lunch, I want slices that work well with my toppings, and I want to avoid having bread left over; this practical consideration matters most to around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming organic bread always contains iodised salt
Being organic doesn’t tell you what type of salt has been used. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt.
Check the ingredients for baker’s salt or iodised salt, or ask which salt has been used if you’re buying unpackaged bread.
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Assuming organic, brown, multigrain and wholemeal mean the same thing
Organic production and being wholemeal are separate qualities. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that a product’s grain ingredient must consist entirely of wholemeal flour for it to be called wholemeal.
Check the organic label and wholemeal claim separately, rather than relying on the colour or the word ‘multigrain’.
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Assuming ‘sliced’ means ‘medium-sliced’
Knowing that a loaf is sliced doesn’t tell you whether the slices will suit your toppings or the portion size you want.
Compare the number of slices and the weight per slice if these details are available, and check the slices when you buy the bread.
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Overlooking ingredients and allergens in speciality bread
Being organic or wholemeal doesn’t remove the need to check the ingredients of the bread you choose. The batard bread described by Albert Heijn contains, among other ingredients, wheat, sesame and soya.
Check the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging, especially for bread containing seeds or several types of grain.
Supermarket brands to consider
These supermarket examples show which product details you can compare. Always check the qualities of the particular loaf you choose.
Albert Heijn
AH Biologisch Batard volkoren zonnepit gesneden is a useful example for comparing organic and wholemeal claims with the ingredients list.
- For this 600 g loaf, Albert Heijn lists the EU organic logo, describes it as wholemeal and states that it contains iodised salt.
- It’s a sunflower seed loaf, and the product name doesn’t specify medium-sized slices.
Jumbo
Jumbo Fijn Volkorenbrood is an example of sliced wholemeal bread whose ingredients and nutritional information you can compare.
- Jumbo lists wholemeal wheat flour, baker’s salt, 7,6 g of fibre per 100 g and 35 g per slice.
- If you’re specifically looking for organic bread, remember to check the organic label on the product you choose.
Lidl
Lidl offers both a wholemeal sourdough loaf and a separate organic range.
- Lidl lists its rustic wholemeal sourdough loaf as an in-store product.
- Check the packaging of a specific loaf to see whether it’s also organic and sliced to suit you.
Aldi
Aldi describes Fijn Volkoren as sliced bread and also offers an organic range.
- Aldi explicitly states that Fijn Volkoren is sliced.
- A sliced wholemeal loaf and an organic range aren’t automatically the same product, so check the packaging.
Plus
Plus has an online wholemeal bread category and separately outlines its ambitions for organic bread.
- The wholemeal bread category is a good starting point for browsing specific loaves.
- For each loaf you consider, check whether the product information confirms that it’s organic and has the slices you want.
Dirk
Dirk has separate categories for organic bread and bread made with wholemeal products.
- These categories can help you find products to compare more closely.
- Don’t assume a loaf is organic or wholemeal, or that it has a particular slice thickness, based on the category names alone; check the packaging of a specific loaf.
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Frequently asked questions
How can I identify organic wholemeal bread on the packaging?
Check for both an organic label and a wholemeal claim. According to Skal Biocontrole, pre-packed organic food for consumers in the EU must carry the EU organic logo; this certification on its own doesn’t confirm that a loaf is wholemeal.
Does organic wholemeal bread always contain iodine from baker’s salt?
No. Organic and wholemeal don’t tell you what type of salt the baker has used. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check the ingredients for baker’s salt or iodised salt, or ask your baker.
Can I freeze sliced wholemeal bread?
Follow the storage instructions for the loaf you choose. Albert Heijn says that AH Biologisch Batard volkoren zonnepit gesneden can be frozen at home on the day of purchase and should be used within one month. Don’t assume the same instructions apply to other bread.