Choose a loaf explicitly labelled wholemeal if the grain base and fibre content are your priorities. For individual portions at the table, seeded rolls are another option. If you need to avoid gluten, look for a product explicitly labelled gluten-free and check the other allergens too. Visible seeds and the words ‘multigrain’ or ‘seeded’ do not, on their own, mean that a loaf is entirely wholemeal.
If you want to serve seeded bread on St Nicholas’ Eve and check the grain base too, see whether the bread is explicitly labelled wholemeal and compare the fibre per 100 g. Voedingscentrum identifies wholegrain cereal products as important sources of fibre; the label for Jumbo Boeren Donker Volkoren Meergranen lists 8,0 g of fibre per 100 g.
If guests will be helping themselves, individual multigrain rolls may be more practical than a whole loaf. If you’re mainly looking for a different shape of bread with seeds on the crust, you could also consider a light seeded loaf. Whatever you choose, check the ingredients and allergens for that specific product.
If you’re avoiding gluten or have an allergy, the information on the packaging matters more than how the bread looks. A seeded loaf explicitly labelled gluten-free may still contain other allergens. To find out whether iodised baker’s salt has been used, check the ingredients or ask the baker.
Before choosing seeded bread for St Nicholas’ Eve, decide what matters most to you: a wholemeal base, how it will be served, checking the ingredients or what’s available in store. Then compare the labels of the breads that meet your needs.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for an explicit wholemeal label and compare the flour listed and the fibre per 100 g. | If I want seeded bread with a wholemeal grain base too, I won’t let the seeded crust make the decision for me. This is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Texture and portions | Choose between a whole loaf and individual rolls. For bake-at-home products, also check the preparation and storage instructions. | If everyone at the table wants to help themselves, I care more about individual portions or a loaf I can slice. Around 29% of consumers prioritise serving convenience and the texture they want. |
| Gluten and other allergens | If needed, check for a gluten-free label and read the full allergen declaration. Check the ingredients for iodised salt. | Before serving, I want to know whether a loaf is suitable for the ingredients a guest avoids, even if it’s labelled gluten-free. Checking the ingredients comes first for around 21% of consumers. |
| Where to shop | Check which breads are available when you shop and read the label on the pack. | If I shop at a particular retailer, I want to choose a suitable loaf from what’s available there at the time. For around 14% of consumers, this practical choice of shop is their top priority. |
‘Multigrain’ and ‘seeded’ don’t automatically mean that a loaf is made entirely from wholemeal ingredients. PLUS lists both wholemeal wheat flour and wheat flour in Korenlanders Licht Meerzaden.
If you want a wholemeal base, look for an explicit wholemeal label and check the ingredients and fibre per 100 g.
The number of visible seeds won’t tell you what kind of salt was used in baking. Voedingscentrum points out that bakers don’t always use baker’s salt.
Check the ingredients for baker’s salt or iodised salt, or ask the baker what kind of salt was used in this loaf.
Jumbo lists soya and warnings about other allergens for Lekker Vrij van Gluten Meerzaden Brood. So a gluten-free label doesn’t answer every question about allergens.
Read the full allergen declaration on the pack you’re buying, even if the gluten-free label is relevant to you.
Ingredients and nutritional information can change between products or recipes. An earlier listing is no substitute for the information on the loaf you’re actually buying.
Check the packaging and shelf information when you buy, especially if allergens or the wholemeal content are important to you.
Albert Heijn lists AH Zaden en pitten boulogne meergranen heel.
Jumbo lists a range of products, including wholemeal multigrain bread, gluten-free seeded bread and wholemeal multigrain rolls.
Lidl lists Bio rustiek meergranen desembrood: a 600 g organic brown loaf with seeds and kernels.
ALDI lists Bakkersgoud rustiek licht meerzadenbrood, partially sliced and topped with a seeded crust.
PLUS lists Korenlanders Licht Meerzaden, a brown multigrain loaf with seeds and kernels.
Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker Boeren meerzaden heel, a brown wheat loaf with seeds.
No. The word ‘multigrain’ doesn’t mean that all the grains used are wholemeal. Voedingscentrum describes multigrain bread as bread containing at least three types of grain. PLUS Korenlanders Licht Meerzaden, for example, lists both wholemeal wheat flour and wheat flour. So check the product name and ingredients.
Yes. Jumbo lists soya and warnings about other allergens for Lekker Vrij van Gluten Meerzaden Brood. Read the full allergen declaration on the packaging rather than relying only on the gluten-free label.
Check the ingredients for baker’s salt or iodised salt, or ask the baker. Don’t assume this type of salt has been used based on the type of bread or the presence of seeds.
Follow the storage and preparation instructions on the packaging you choose. For part-baked rolls, it’s also important to follow the instructions for storing them after opening if you won’t be serving them all on St Nicholas’ Eve.
Visible seeds won’t tell you whether the grain base is entirely wholemeal or how much fibre and salt the bread contains. Compare the ingredients and nutritional information per 100 g, and check the allergen declaration separately.
