Who are these choices relevant to?

Lunch-makers looking for wholemeal bread and fibre

You want to know whether a loaf is genuinely wholemeal, so you compare the fibre per 100 g rather than judging by its dark colour or visible seeds.

Fans of seeds and a hearty texture

You’re looking for seeds to give your bread texture, but you also want to assess the ingredients and nutritional information for the whole product.

Bread shoppers who need to check allergens

Before buying, you need information about the grains and other allergens in the bread, which may include sesame or soya, as well as any warnings about possible traces.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start by distinguishing between multigrain and wholemeal. Then compare the nutritional information for specific loaves and check the allergens before deciding based on texture or shopping convenience.

What to look for What should you check? Who is it important to?
Wholemeal and fibre Check for a wholemeal label and read the ingredients list; compare the fibre per 100 g on the current labels. For my lunch, I want to know whether the bread is wholemeal, not just whether it looks dark. For around 36% of consumers, wholemeal status and fibre content are the top priorities.
Seeds and nutritional information Check which seeds are listed and compare the fibre, fat, salt and energy per 100 g. I want a hearty texture, but I also want to see what the whole loaf is made of. For around 29% of consumers, that combination of seeds and nutritional information comes first.
Allergens Read the allergen information and any warnings about traces; ask for the available information if you’re buying unwrapped bread. If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I need clear allergen information before buying. For roughly 21% of consumers, checking this is the main concern.
Freshness and practical details Check the size, storage instructions and product information available in store. For regular lunches, I want a loaf that suits how I store and use it. For around 14% of consumers, these practical considerations come first.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming dark or multigrain bread is wholemeal

    The Netherlands Nutrition Centre describes multigrain bread as bread made with at least three types of grain. That doesn’t mean it’s made exclusively with wholegrains; it may also contain flour.

    Look for a wholemeal label, then read the ingredients list and check the fibre per 100 g.

  • Comparing only the visible seeds

    A topping doesn’t show you what the whole loaf is made of. For example, PLUS’s light multiseed bread lists both wholemeal wheat flour and wheat flour among its ingredients.

    As well as the seeds, compare the ingredients and nutritional information per 100 g for the products you’re considering.

  • Overlooking allergens in unwrapped bread

    A product name or a quick look at the bread won’t give you a full picture of the allergens it contains or any warnings about possible traces.

    Ask for allergen information before buying if it isn’t clearly displayed by the shelf. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information must also be available for unpackaged food.

  • Assuming every loaf is made with baker’s salt

    The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how iodine can be added to bread through baker’s salt. This doesn’t confirm which type of salt was used in any particular loaf.

    If the type of salt used matters to you, check the product information or ask the retailer.

Brands to compare

These brands offer a useful starting point for comparing types of bread. Always check the label on the loaf you’re actually choosing.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn stocks multigrain breads, including AH Zaans multigrain bread.

  • You can use the product name and available nutritional information to compare varieties.
  • Albert Heijn notes that ingredients, nutritional values and allergens may change, so check the current packaging.

Jumbo

Jumbo stocks, among other products, wholemeal multigrain bread with seeds.

  • The product information for Jumbo Stevig Meergranen lists 8,6 g of fibre and 0,96 g of salt per 100 g.
  • Check the values and allergens for the variety you choose; another Jumbo loaf won’t necessarily have the same ingredients.

Lidl

Lidl describes a multigrain bread made with ingredients including wheat, barley and buckwheat.

  • Lidl also provides a separate ingredients and allergen list for its oven-fresh bread.
  • Check which information applies to the bread you’re choosing in store, especially if allergens are a deciding factor.

ALDI

ALDI lists a Boeren wholemeal multigrain loaf in its bread range.

  • The product name explicitly identifies it as wholemeal.
  • For the specific variety, check the ingredients, nutritional information and allergens on the current packaging or in store.

PLUS

PLUS stocks, among other products, a Korenlanders light multiseed bread.

  • For this variety, PLUS lists 30% wholemeal wheat flour and 22% wheat flour, as well as ingredients including linseed and sesame.
  • Here, the name ‘multiseed’ doesn’t mean that all the wheat used is wholemeal.

Dirk

Dirk describes a multigrain hearth loaf and Bakker van der Akker multigrain rolls with seeds.

  • You can choose between a whole loaf and rolls if you need a different size.
  • Check the current ingredients, nutritional values and allergens for the product you choose.

Seeded multigrain bread at Joybuy

This bread is a good fit if you’re looking for seeded multigrain bread for lunch. Check the packaging before deciding whether it also meets your requirements for wholegrains, nutritional values and allergens.

Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Country Bread Round 550 g

Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Country Bread Round 550 g

This multigrain bread is a good choice if you’re looking for seeds in your loaf and want to follow the preparation instructions on the packaging at home.

Size: 550 g. Check the current packaging to see whether the bread is wholemeal, its nutritional values per 100 g, and which allergens and baking time are listed.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is multigrain bread automatically wholemeal?

No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread contains at least three types of grain, but it may also be made with flour. If you’re specifically looking for wholemeal bread, check for a wholemeal label and read the ingredients list.

Are lots of seeds enough to help me choose a loaf for lunch?

No, the seeds don’t tell you what the whole loaf is made of. Compare the ingredients and nutritional information per 100 g, and also consider your portion size and the toppings you choose.

Where can I find allergen information for unwrapped bread?

Ask before buying if the information isn’t clearly displayed by the shelf. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that retailers must also provide allergen information for unpackaged food.

Does every Dutch multigrain bread contain iodine from baker’s salt?

You can’t assume this is the case for every individual loaf. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine can be added to bread through baker’s salt, while the Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that most bakers use baker’s salt. Ask which type of salt is used if it matters to your choice of product.