Brunch planners looking for texture
If you want seeds or kernels to add more bite to your brunch toppings, check which ingredients are actually in the bread. Consider the rye content separately from the visible seeds.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Shoppers comparing rye and fibre
If you want to know which grains form the base of the bread, compare the ingredients list and fibre per 100 g. According to the Consumers’ Association, rye bread often contains less rye than its name suggests.
Shoppers checking allergens or iodine
If you have specific requirements, read the latest allergen information and check whether iodised salt is listed. Don’t rely on the bread’s name or the visible seeds.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide whether you’re mainly looking for seed texture or a particular grain mix for your Easter brunch. Then use the label to compare products on a like-for-like basis and check any personal requirements relating to allergens, salt and iodine.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Texture and toppings | Look for specific seeds or kernels in the ingredients list and consider whether the slices suit the way you plan to serve them. | If I want to serve generous toppings, I’m mainly looking for a bread texture with the right amount of bite. This is the top priority for around 29% of shoppers. |
| Rye and fibre | Compare the grain ingredients, any wholemeal labelling and the fibre per 100 g. | I want to know how much rye I’m actually choosing, even if the bread is called multigrain. This is the top priority for around 29% of shoppers. |
| Allergens and ingredients | Read the latest allergen information; ask for it if the bread is unwrapped. | If certain ingredients are a condition of my purchase, I don’t want to have to rely on the bread’s appearance. Around 21% of shoppers put this check first. |
| Salt and iodine | Compare the salt per 100 g and check whether iodised salt or iodised baker’s salt is listed in the ingredients. | I want to compare the salt content and know which type of salt is in the bread I choose. This information is the top priority for around 21% of shoppers. |
Common mistakes
-
Assuming the name rye bread means it contains lots of rye
According to the Consumers’ Association, the rye content may be lower than the product name suggests. Visible seeds alone also say nothing about how much wholemeal rye the bread contains.
Compare the grain ingredients and any wholemeal labelling. Use the fibre per 100 g as a separate point of comparison.
-
Assuming seeded bread is allergen-free
Rye contains gluten. Bread with seeds may also contain other ingredients or carry warnings about the possible presence of allergens.
Read the latest allergen information before buying. If the bread is unwrapped, ask about the ingredients and allergens that matter to you.
-
Assuming the type of bread tells you how much iodine it contains
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread made with iodised baker’s salt is an important source of iodine in the Netherlands. That doesn’t mean every rye bread contains the same type of salt.
Check the ingredients list for iodised salt or iodised baker’s salt in the bread you choose.
-
Relying on a product description instead of the packaging
If you’re choosing based on ingredients, allergens or nutritional information, the details for the specific loaf are what matter—not those of a similar product.
Check the packaging of the product you’re buying, especially if a particular ingredient or allergen will affect your choice.
Brands to consider
These brands offer various rye bread and rye-and-wheat options. Check the ingredients and nutritional information for each product: the features of one variety don’t necessarily apply to the rest of the range.
Bolletje
Bolletje Fries Roggebrood is a 500 g pre-packed option listed by retailers including Jumbo and Dirk.
- A familiar option if you’re looking for Frisian rye bread for brunch.
- Check the packaging for this variety if seeds, allergens or the type of salt used will affect your choice.
Brood van Soma
Brood van Soma offers rye-and-wheat loaves and multigrain varieties; PLUS also lists a version with sunflower seeds.
- A brand to consider if you’re looking for kernels in a rye-and-wheat loaf.
- Check the exact variety for grains, allergens and salt; the ingredients vary from product to product.
Jumbo
As well as rye bread, Jumbo lists Jumbo Tarwe Roggebrood Mehrkorn, a 500 g loaf.
- For its Mehrkorn variety, Jumbo recommends storing it in a cool, dry and dark place.
- Don’t rely on the name Mehrkorn alone if you’re looking for specific seeds, a particular rye content or allergen information.
FINEST BAKERY
ALDI lists FINEST BAKERY Roggebrood, a 500 g loaf, as a separate product.
- An option to compare if you’re looking at rye bread at ALDI.
- Check the packaging before drawing conclusions about seeds, nutritional information or allergens.
Rye bread at Joybuy for Easter brunch
This rye bread could be a good base for your Easter brunch if visible seeds aren’t a must. If you’re specifically looking for kernels to add texture, check that your chosen variety contains them before buying.
Image unavailable
TastyBasics rye bread, 9 pieces
A rye bread option for anyone who wants to serve bread at Easter brunch without needing visible seeds.
The product name states that it contains 9 pieces. Check the packaging if seeds, allergens or the use of iodised salt will affect your choice.
Frequently asked questions
Do visible seeds mean rye bread is wholemeal?
No. Seeds don’t prove that the bread is wholemeal or show how much rye it contains. Compare the ingredients list, any wholemeal labelling and the fibre per 100 g. According to the Consumers’ Association, the rye content may differ from what you’d expect based on the name.
Does seeded rye bread always contain iodised baker’s salt?
No. Don’t assume that iodised salt has been used based on the type of bread or the seeds. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre describes bread made with iodised baker’s salt as an important source of iodine in the Netherlands. Check the ingredients list for the product you choose.
Where can I find allergen information for brunch?
For pre-packed rye bread, allergen information is shown on the label, as stated by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority. Check for warnings about the possible presence of allergens, too. If the bread is unwrapped, ask for the information you need before buying.
How should I store pre-packed rye bread until Easter brunch?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the bread you’ve chosen. Jumbo recommends storing its Tarwe Roggebrood Mehrkorn in a cool, dry and dark place; don’t assume the same advice applies to every other variety.