Don’t choose seeded multigrain bread on looks alone: if you want bread made with wholemeal flour, look for ‘wholemeal’ on the packaging. If you eat irregularly in your student accommodation, a half loaf may be more practical than a whole one. If you plan to freeze it, follow the instructions for the product you’ve chosen. Always check the latest ingredients and allergen information before buying.
If you want seeded multigrain bread made with wholemeal flour, look beyond the seeds on the crust. According to the Voedingscentrum, ‘multigrain’ means that at least three types of grain have been used; ‘wholemeal’ on bread means it is made with wholemeal flour.
If you don’t eat at home every day, you could consider buying half a loaf. If you have freezer space, check whether the packaging says the bread can be frozen on the day you buy it. Jumbo lists a half loaf of wholemeal multigrain bread; Albert Heijn and PLUS provide freezing instructions for specific loaves.
When it comes to bread containing grains, kernels and seeds, the label on the exact product is what matters. The ingredients and allergens in the Jumbo and PLUS breads shown vary by recipe; check any ‘may contain’ statements too.
First decide what matters most to you: wholemeal flour, a suitable size, a convenient shop or allergen information. Then compare the packaging of the loaves you can actually buy.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for ‘wholemeal’ on the packaging and, if you wish, compare the fibre content per 100 g. | When I’m looking for seeded bread, I don’t want to assume that ‘multigrain’ also means wholemeal. For around 46% of consumers, choosing wholemeal comes first. |
| Convenient shops | Check which bread is available at your local branch and read the label on that product. | While moving house, I want to be able to pick up bread from a shop that’s easy to get to. Around 27% of consumers prioritise this practical option. |
| Size and storage | Check whether it’s a half or whole loaf, and follow the product-specific freezing instructions. | As I don’t eat in my accommodation every day, I don’t want to buy a larger loaf than I can use or store. Size matters most to around 18% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Read the latest ingredients, allergen information and any ‘may contain’ statements for the bread you’ve chosen. | Before choosing, I need to know which grains and other relevant allergens are in this particular loaf. Around 9% of consumers put this check first. |
According to the Voedingscentrum, ‘multigrain’ tells you how many types of grain are used; it doesn’t mean all the flour is wholemeal.
Look for the word ‘wholemeal’ on the packaging, then compare the fibre content per 100 g if you wish.
If your eating routine varies, you may have bread left over before you’ve had a chance to eat it.
Consider buying half a loaf, or check whether the packaging says you can freeze a whole loaf on the day you buy it.
Visible seeds don’t tell you which gluten-containing grains or other allergens are in the recipe. ‘May contain’ statements can also vary between loaves.
Check the latest label on the exact product every time you buy it.
Lidl says its fresh-from-the-oven range may vary by branch. So a loaf shown online may not necessarily be available at the shop where you do your shopping.
Check the range at your local branch and read the packaging of the loaf available there.
The examples below show the types of bread and product information you may find at these shops. Features of one loaf don’t necessarily apply to the entire range.
Albert Heijn lists products including AH Boeren donker meergranen heel with sunflower and pumpkin seeds.
Jumbo lists products including a half Boeren Donker Volkoren Meergranen and a whole Stevig Meergranenbrood with kernels and seeds.
Lidl includes multigrain bread with a blend of grains and seeds in its bread range.
ALDI lists products including a half Boeren volkoren meergranenbrood.
PLUS lists Korenlanders donker meergranen round loaves and multigrain bake-at-home products.
Dirk lists products including multigrain bread, half loaves of wholemeal bread and bake-at-home multigrain bread.
These products offer a range of sizes for meals in student accommodation: baguettes, round loaves, rolls and crispbread. Crispbread is different from soft multigrain bread; for each product, check whether it’s labelled wholemeal, along with the ingredients and storage instructions that matter to you.
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Four 135 g baguettes give you separate portions for different meals. Check the packaging if wholemeal flour, allergens or freezing are important to your choice.
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This 265 g crispbread is an option if you’re looking for something different from soft multigrain bread. Check the label for the wholemeal wording, nutritional values per 100 g and allergens.
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A 550 g round loaf could suit you if you’re planning to buy a whole loaf. Check the packaging to make sure the wholemeal wording, allergens, and storage and preparation instructions suit your needs.
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Two 550 g round loaves call for a plan for using and storing them if you live alone. Check the packaging for preparation and storage instructions, the wholemeal wording and allergens.
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Four individual multigrain rolls are worth considering for separate meals. Check the latest label for the wholemeal wording, allergens and storage instructions.
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, multigrain bread contains at least three types of grain, but the name doesn’t mean all the flour is wholemeal. If the packaging says ‘wholemeal’, the bread is made with wholemeal flour.
Compare the stated fibre content per 100 g of the loaves you’re considering. Visible seeds don’t tell you how much fibre the whole loaf contains, so also check whether the packaging says ‘wholemeal’.
You can freeze loaves if the packaging says they’re suitable for freezing and you have enough freezer space. Albert Heijn and PLUS advise freezing specific loaves on the day of purchase; follow the instructions and use-by period for the loaf you buy.
No. Ingredients and allergens vary by recipe: the Jumbo and PLUS loaves shown list different gluten-containing grains and other relevant allergens. Check the latest ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ statements for the exact loaf you’re buying.
Don’t assume so. Check the ingredients list for the specific loaf to see whether it contains iodised salt. If this matters to your choice, you can also ask the baker which salt was used.
