If a wholemeal base is your priority, choose bread labelled ‘wholemeal’: ‘multigrain’ and visible seeds don’t guarantee this. Sliced bread is handy for making several sandwiches, while a baguette or bake-at-home option works well for snacks you want to share. Whatever you choose, check the ingredients and allergen information for that exact loaf.
Want to make sandwiches at different times over the autumn half-term holiday, and is a wholemeal base important to you? Look for the word ‘wholemeal’ first, not just the seeds. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre distinguishes between multigrain and wholemeal bread.
If you’re making sandwiches with fillings such as cheese, hummus or egg, you could look for a sturdy artisan loaf or seeded bread. Dirk describes these breads as sturdy or suitable for generously topped sandwiches; check the ingredients and allergen information for the bread you choose.
A multigrain baguette gives you a different way to serve bread from a sliced loaf. If you choose a bake-at-home option, plan your serving time around the preparation instructions on the packaging.
First decide whether a wholemeal base, the toppings or the way you’ll serve the bread matters most to you. Then check the information for the specific loaf, especially if ingredients or allergens will influence your choice.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for the word ‘wholemeal’. Compare fibre only on a like-for-like basis, for example per 100 g, and for the exact product. | If I want a wholemeal base for several snack breaks, I look beyond the visible seeds. Around 36% of consumers put a wholemeal base first. |
| Sturdiness and toppings | Check the type of loaf and the product description if you want to make thick or generously topped sandwiches. | For a generously topped savoury snack, I want bread that’s easy to slice and top. This is the most important factor for around 29% of consumers. |
| Sharing and serving | Check whether the bread is ready to serve or needs baking first; if it’s a bake-at-home option, read the preparation instructions. | If I want to share bread during a film night or an outing, I’d prefer a suitable baguette. This way of serving is the top priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the label or, for unpackaged bread, ask for up-to-date ingredient and allergen information before buying. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I can’t rely on the name of the bread or the shop alone. Around 14% of consumers give this check top priority. |
Multigrain bread contains different types of grain, but it doesn’t have to be made entirely from wholemeal flour. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre stresses that ‘multigrain’ and ‘wholemeal’ don’t mean the same thing.
Is wholemeal your starting point? Look for that label first, then compare the seeds, type of loaf and nutritional information.
Fresh bread doesn’t always come with packaging you can check at home. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information must also be available for unpackaged products.
Before buying, ask in the shop for up-to-date allergen and ingredient information if it isn’t clearly displayed.
If you’re planning snacks over several days, it’s useful to work out in advance how many slices or loaves you’ll need and when.
Check the storage advice for the product you choose, and freeze suitable portions in good time if you want to use them later.
Bread left for too long can lose quality or go to waste.
Albert Heijn and Lidl also list bread that’s only available in store. A product listing doesn’t automatically tell you whether it’s in stock at your local branch.
Check availability with the shop where you plan to do your shopping before you set off.
Albert Heijn has an online category for multigrain and corn bread, including AH Liefde & Passie Meergranen.
Jumbo lists Waldkorn Meergranen Brood in a half-loaf size.
Lidl describes a multigrain bread with grains and seeds, and provides separate ingredient and allergen information for its oven-fresh bread.
ALDI lists both a multigrain baguette with seeds and kernels and a separate loaf labelled Boeren volkoren meergranen.
PLUS lists Korenlanders Rond licht meerzaden as a 400 g half loaf.
Dirk lists a multigrain artisan loaf, a farmhouse seeded loaf and a bake-at-home multigrain baguette.
These products include multigrain baguettes for sharing and round multigrain loaves that you can slice for sandwiches. Choose a shape to suit the occasion, then check the current product information separately for any wholemeal requirements, allergens and preparation instructions.
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The baguette shape is a good fit for bread you want to share during a planned snack break.
Pack: 2 sets of 4 baguettes, 135 g each. Check the current defrosting and baking instructions; the stated baking times vary.
If wholemeal bread is important to you or you need to avoid sesame, check the wholemeal labelling and current ingredient and allergen information before buying.
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This baguette is a good fit for a shareable snack when you can plan ahead for serving.
Pack: 4 baguettes, 135 g each. Before baking, read the current defrosting and baking instructions, as the stated baking times vary.
Check the wholemeal labelling if that matters to you. If you have questions about sesame, check the current allergen information.
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The round loaf is a good option if you want to slice your own bread for sandwiches.
Pack: 2 round loaves, 550 g each. Allow time for defrosting, baking and cooling, and follow the current preparation instructions; the stated baking times vary.
Check whether it’s labelled wholemeal if that’s what you’re looking for, and read the current allergen information, especially if wheat, barley or sesame is relevant to you.
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This round loaf is a good fit for a snack break when you want to make your own sandwiches.
Loaf weight: 550 g. Allow time for defrosting, baking and cooling when planning; follow the current instructions, as the stated baking times vary.
Before buying, check whether it’s labelled wholemeal if that’s important to you, and consult the current allergen information for wheat, barley and sesame.
No. Seeds and different types of grain don’t automatically make a loaf wholemeal. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre distinguishes between multigrain and wholemeal bread; if wholemeal is what you’re looking for, check the label on the specific product.
Choose a loaf you can slice for sandwiches, or a baguette if you want to share the bread. If you choose a bake-at-home option, make sure your serving time also works with the preparation instructions on the packaging.
Yes. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information must also be available for unpackaged products. Ask before buying if the information isn’t clearly displayed, and ask the shop to check the exact loaf.
You can’t tell from the name of the bread. Check the ingredients list or, for unpackaged bread, ask whether baker’s salt has been used; the words ‘multigrain’ or the presence of seeds don’t answer this question.
