If you want to serve seeded bread with your Sunday roast and wholemeal is important to you, choose a loaf labelled ‘wholemeal’ and check which seeds are listed in the ingredients. Multigrain seeded bread isn’t automatically wholemeal; a reduced-carbohydrate option is mainly relevant if eating fewer carbohydrates is a separate priority for you. If you’re considering one, compare the nutritional information and allergens on the packaging too.
For your Sunday roast, you want more than just seeds on the bread: you also want a wholemeal base. Look for the ‘wholemeal’ label and compare the fibre per 100 g. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread is high in fibre, vitamins and minerals.
You want bread in which grains, seeds or kernels are a noticeable part of the meal. Read the product description and ingredients: multigrain bread can contain seeds without being wholemeal.
Carbohydrates, salt or allergens are the deciding factors for you. Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and check the latest allergen information, especially if wheat, soya or sesame is relevant to your choice.
First decide what matters most for your meal: a wholemeal base, seeds and kernels, or specific information on the nutrition label. Then use the packaging to compare loaves on that feature.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for the ‘wholemeal’ label and compare the fibre per 100 g. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, a product can only be called wholemeal if all the flour used is made from whole grains. | When I serve bread with a Sunday roast, I want ‘wholemeal’ to mean more than a dark colour or seeds on the crust. For around 40% of consumers, a wholemeal base is the top priority. |
| Seeds and kernels | Check which seeds and kernels are listed in the ingredients and whether the product description says they are part of the bread. | I’m mainly looking for bread in which the seeds and kernels are noticeable alongside the rest of the meal. For around 40% of consumers, this is the main consideration. |
| Carbohydrates, salt and allergens | Compare carbohydrates and salt per 100 g and read the allergen information; a reduced-carbohydrate claim says nothing about other details on the label. | When I choose bread based on its carbohydrate or salt content, or need to avoid certain allergens, the label is what matters. This is the top priority for around 20% of consumers. |
Visible seeds, different grains and a dark colour don’t confirm that the bread has a wholemeal base. You could end up choosing a loaf that doesn’t meet your requirements for wholemeal bread.
Check for the ‘wholemeal’ label and compare the fibre per 100 g rather than judging by colour.
This label describes a product-specific comparison; it doesn’t tell you about the salt content or whether the bread is suitable if you have an allergy. For example, PLUS’s reduced-carbohydrate seeded bread lists wheat, barley, soya and sesame among its allergens.
Compare carbohydrates, salt and fibre per 100 g, and also read the full ingredients and allergen information.
The information that matters to your choice must relate to the bread you’re actually buying. This is especially important if you’re looking for particular seeds or checking for allergens.
Read the current packaging or shelf label just before buying. If you’re buying unpackaged bread, ask for allergen information.
Albert Heijn sells own-brand wholemeal bread, including AH Extra lang lekker Zaans volkoren heel.
Jumbo sells Rond Korn Volkoren, described as wholemeal multigrain bread with seeds and kernels, as well as a separate reduced-carbohydrate variety.
Lidl offers oven-fresh bread and wholemeal alternatives in its range.
ALDI describes a range of breads, including wholemeal bread and multigrain bread with grains and seeds.
PLUS sells wholemeal bread and a Korenlanders seeded farmhouse loaf advertised as reduced carbohydrate.
Dirk uses the name Bakker van der Akker for freshly baked bread and also mentions wholemeal varieties.
These two sizes of the same round multigrain bread are a good fit for a meal when you’re looking for seeded bread. Choose based on how much bread you want to serve; if wholemeal is your priority, check the label on the packaging.
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An option if you’d like two round multigrain loaves for your Sunday roast. Check the packaging for the seeds and allergens, and to see whether the bread is labelled wholemeal.
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An option if one round multigrain loaf is enough for your meal. Check the packaging for the seeds, allergens, wholemeal status and any preparation instructions.
No. ‘Multigrain’ means that several types of grain have been used, but it doesn’t confirm that the bread has a wholemeal base. Look for the ‘wholemeal’ label if that matters to your choice; according to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, this label can only be used if all the flour used is made from whole grains.
For prepacked bread, read the ingredients list, where allergens must be clearly identified. If you’re buying unpackaged bread, ask for allergen information before you buy. Don’t just check the seeds: for example, the Korenlanders loaf mentioned from PLUS also lists wheat, barley and soya.
Check the ingredients list for the bread you choose. For example, AH Extra lang lekker Zaans volkoren heel lists iodised salt; don’t assume the same applies to every loaf.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the bread you choose, and plan any preparation before the meal. PLUS recommends storing its Boeren volkoren heel in a dry, dark place; according to its product information, you can freeze it on the day of purchase and use it within one month. Don’t automatically apply these instructions to other bread.
