Choose seeded multigrain bread based on its ingredients, not just its name or the seeds on the crust. Check whether it is labelled wholemeal, then compare the seeds, fibre and salt listed per 100 g. If anyone in your family has an allergy, the current allergen information takes priority. And don’t assume the bread contains iodine from baker’s salt unless this is listed in the ingredients.
If you’re looking for seeded bread for a family meal and wholemeal matters to you too, check both features separately. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain means that at least three types of grain have been used; the name alone doesn’t mean the bread is wholemeal.
If someone has an allergy or dietary restriction, the ingredients and allergen information for the specific loaf are what count. Seeded breads can contain gluten-containing cereals, sesame or soya, for example. Even bread labelled gluten-free may still contain other allergens.
Seeds and kernels don’t give every loaf the same texture. If you’re also considering iodine from baker’s salt, check the ingredients: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt is not compulsory.
Start by checking whether the bread is labelled wholemeal and reading the ingredients. Then consider which allergens are relevant to your family, and whether the seed mix and loaf size suit your meal.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal, fibre and seeds | Look for a wholemeal label, check which seeds are listed in the ingredients, and compare fibre and salt per 100 g. | When I serve seeded bread, I want to know whether it also has a wholemeal base. Around 42% of consumers would choose wholemeal and fibre as their main criteria. |
| Allergens and dietary restrictions | Read the current allergen information, including any warnings about traces; ask for details when buying unpackaged bread. | If someone at home needs to avoid an ingredient, I can’t rely on the bread’s name or crust. Around 33% of consumers would put checking for allergens first. |
| Seed texture and loaf size | Check the seed mix, choose a whole or half loaf based on how much you expect to use, and follow the storage instructions. | I want the texture to suit the meal without buying more bread than we’ll use. Around 25% of consumers would choose mainly based on texture and practical family use. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain means that at least three types of grain have been used, not necessarily whole grains. The product name alone could therefore give you the wrong impression of what’s in the bread.
Check separately for a wholemeal label and compare the ingredients and fibre per 100 g.
Bread topped with seeds may also contain ingredients you can’t see on the outside. And a gluten-free label doesn’t mean that other allergens are absent.
Check the current allergen information for the loaf you’ve chosen. If it’s unpackaged, ask for the allergen details.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread doesn’t have to be made with baker’s salt. So the term multigrain won’t tell you whether this ingredient has been used.
Check the ingredients for baker’s salt or iodised salt if this matters to you.
If your household doesn’t get through a whole loaf, some of it could go to waste. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists bread as a food that is often wasted.
Consider buying half a loaf, or check the storage and freezing instructions on the packaging of the bread you choose.
Jumbo’s product information describes both a whole and a half loaf of wholemeal multigrain bread with seeds and kernels.
Albert Heijn’s product information describes AH Boeren donker meergranen heel and Schär Rustico multigrain bread, which is labelled gluten-free.
PLUS’s product information includes Korenlanders Licht Meerzaden and SOMA Haverkorn multigrain bread.
Lidl describes a multigrain bread with grains and seeds, including wheat, barley and buckwheat.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain means that bread contains at least three different types of grain; it doesn’t mean that the whole grain has been used. Check whether the specific loaf is labelled wholemeal.
Check the allergen information for the bread you want to buy, even if it’s labelled gluten-free. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that allergens must be listed on labels; if the bread is unpackaged, ask for allergen information before you buy it.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt when baking isn’t compulsory. Check whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is actually listed in the ingredients.
It depends on the instructions for the specific loaf. Albert Heijn says that AH Boeren donker meergranen heel can be frozen at home on the day of purchase; for other loaves, follow the instructions on the packaging.
