Who is this choice relevant to?

Shoppers looking for both organic and sourdough

You’re looking for both labels on the same roll. Also check the packaging if wholemeal, allergens or the type of salt used matters to you.

Shoppers looking for wholemeal

You eat rolls regularly and want the type of grain to matter more than a sourdough label. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends replacing white bread with wholemeal or brown bread as much as possible.

Shoppers checking for baker’s salt

You eat organic bread or not much bread, and want to know whether it was made with iodised baker’s salt. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, organic bread is often made without baker’s salt, particularly by artisan bakers.

What should you look for when choosing?

Organic, sourdough and wholemeal describe different qualities of a roll. Decide which matters most to you, then check the others separately on the packaging.

What to look for What to check when buying Who it matters to
Both organic and sourdough Look for both labels on the same packaging or current product page. I don’t want to have to choose between an organic roll and a sourdough roll. For around 42% of consumers, this combination is the top priority.
Wholemeal Check that the product is explicitly labelled wholemeal; spelt, multigrain and sourdough don’t automatically mean wholemeal. If I eat rolls often, I want to know whether I’m actually buying a wholemeal option. Around 33% of consumers say this choice of grain is their highest priority.
Baker’s salt Check the label or ask the baker whether baker’s salt has been used. When buying organic bread, I want to know whether it was made with iodised salt, especially if bread is a regular part of my diet. This is the main consideration for around 25% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming sourdough means organic

    A roll can be made with sourdough without being labelled organic. For example, PLUS lists spelt sourdough rolls but doesn’t describe them as organic in that product listing.

    If both qualities are essential, look for both organic and sourdough on the same packaging.

  • Assuming spelt or multigrain means wholemeal

    The type of grain or a mix of grains doesn’t, by itself, confirm that a roll is wholemeal.

    If wholemeal is your priority, make sure the product is explicitly labelled as such.

  • Assuming every organic roll contains iodine

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, organic bread made without baker’s salt may contain very little iodine. In the Netherlands, the legal term ‘baker’s salt’ refers to iodised table salt used in bread and other baked goods, but it doesn’t tell you which type of salt was used in an individual roll.

    Check the label to see which type of salt was used, or ask the baker.

  • Relying only on the online product description

    Albert Heijn notes that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change.

    Read the packaging, especially when an ingredient, allergen or specific label is important to your choice.

Brands worth comparing

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists the AH Liefde & Passie Biologisch desem pistolet meerzaden. Its product name includes both organic and sourdough.

  • Worth a look if you’re looking for both labels on one roll.
  • Check the packaging separately for wholemeal, ingredients, allergens and baker’s salt.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists organic spelt rolls in packs of four, as well as separate white sourdough rolls.

  • The spelt rolls are labelled organic in the product name.
  • The separate listings don’t confirm that the organic spelt rolls are made with sourdough.

PLUS

PLUS lists Korenlanders spelt sourdough rolls in a 300 g pack.

  • The product listing explicitly says the rolls are made with sourdough.
  • Don’t assume they’re organic just because the listing mentions sourdough.

Lidl

Lidl lists an organic range and separately mentions a rustic wholemeal sourdough loaf.

  • These listings give you a starting point for looking at organic and sourdough options separately.
  • A sourdough loaf in the range isn’t automatically an organic sourdough roll.

ALDI

ALDI lists bread and bake-at-home products in its bakery range.

  • Bake-at-home products are another option to explore if you want to bake rolls at home.
  • For any specific roll, check for both organic and sourdough labels yourself.

Dirk

Dirk lists multigrain rolls and separate wholemeal bread products.

  • You can compare the multigrain and wholemeal labels on the individual products.
  • Don’t assume from these separate products that a multigrain roll is wholemeal, organic or made with sourdough.

Joybuy products related to this topic

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Frequently asked questions

Is a sourdough roll automatically organic?

No. Sourdough and organic are separate labels. If you’re looking for both, check that both appear on the packaging of the same roll.

Is a spelt or multigrain roll always wholemeal?

No. Spelt refers to a type of grain, while multigrain means the product contains several grains. Neither term, on its own, confirms that a roll is wholemeal. Look for an explicit wholemeal label if that’s what matters most to you.

Does an organic roll always contain iodised baker’s salt?

No, don’t assume it does. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, organic bread is often made without baker’s salt, particularly by artisan bakers. Check the packaging to see which type of salt was used, or ask the baker.

How do you bake PLUS spelt sourdough rolls?

The PLUS product listing says to preheat the oven to 220 °C. Follow the packaging instructions for the rest of the preparation.