Who are these choices relevant to?

If you really want to taste the seeds

If you’re mainly looking for a different texture, check which seeds are listed as ingredients. A name such as multigrain or Waldkorn doesn’t tell you which seeds are in the bread.

If you’re looking at fibre and wholemeal bread

Compare the fibre content per 100 g or per serving, using the same basis each time. Check separately whether it’s labelled wholemeal; a fibre claim alone tells you nothing about whether it contains seeds.

If you need to check for gluten or bakers’ salt

According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, rye is a gluten-containing grain. If iodine from bread matters to you, check the ingredients too: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, not every baker uses bakers’ salt.

What should you look for when choosing?

If seeds are your main reason for choosing the bread, start with the ingredients. Then assess wholemeal content and fibre separately, and don’t skip the allergen and bakers’ salt checks if they’re important to your choice.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it’s most relevant to
Seeds and texture Look for the seeds you want in the ingredients list; don’t rely on the name of the bread alone. I want to see the seeds in the bread itself, not just a multigrain name on the packaging. Around 25% of consumers prioritise that seeded texture.
Fibre and wholemeal Compare fibre content on the same basis, for example per 100 g, and check separately whether it’s labelled wholemeal. For breakfast or lunch, I mainly want to weigh up how much fibre a bread contains and whether it’s wholemeal. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this.
Gluten and bakers’ salt Read the allergen information; for packaged bread, check the ingredients for bakers’ salt if iodine from bread matters to you. If I need to avoid gluten or keep an eye on iodine from bread, this check determines which options are suitable. It matters most to around 42% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming multigrain or a dark colour means wholemeal bread with seeds

    A product name or appearance doesn’t confirm which seeds are present. What’s more, according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain doesn’t automatically mean wholemeal.

    Check the wholemeal label and ingredients list separately; use the nutritional information to compare products on the same basis.

  • Overlooking the gluten in rye bread

    According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, rye is a gluten-containing grain. So bread containing rye isn’t a gluten-free option.

    If you need to avoid gluten, look for an alternative clearly labelled gluten-free, then check its ingredients and nutritional information again.

  • Assuming every loaf contains bakers’ salt

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use bakers’ salt. So you can’t assume it’s there based on the type of bread.

    If iodine from bread matters to you, look for bakers’ salt in the ingredients list of packaged bread. For unpackaged bread, ask which salt has been used.

Brands to consider

Jumbo

Jumbo lists Tarwe Roggebrood Mehrkorn 500 g and Tarwe Roggebrood Oberländer 500 g, among other products.

  • Two named wheat rye bread varieties to compare individually.
  • Check the ingredients of each variety for the seeds you want and whether it’s labelled wholemeal.

Brood van Soma

Jumbo lists Limburgs Volkoren Roggebrood, as well as Waldkorn Bruin Meergranenbrood from Brood van Soma; the latter is a different type of bread.

  • The product names help distinguish between the rye bread and the multigrain bread.
  • To find out which seeds are present, check the ingredients of the specific product, not just the brand or variety name.

Bolletje

Jumbo lists Fries roggebrood from Bolletje; Joybuy lists Bolletje Roggebrood Bol 500 g.

  • The product names make it possible to identify the varieties individually.
  • Check the label of your chosen variety to make sure it contains the seeds you’re looking for.

TastyBasics

Joybuy lists TastyBasics Roggebrood in a pack of 9.

  • The pack information helps you identify this variety.
  • Check the ingredients if you’re specifically looking for seeded rye bread.

Related products at Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Can I choose rye bread if I need to eat gluten-free?

No. Bread containing rye isn’t gluten-free: the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority classifies rye as a gluten-containing grain. Seeded bread isn’t automatically gluten-free either, so check that any alternative is clearly labelled gluten-free.

Does all rye bread contain bakers’ salt?

No, you can’t assume that it does. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use bakers’ salt. For packaged bread, you can check the ingredients list; for unpackaged bread, ask which salt has been used.

Does multigrain rye bread mean it’s wholemeal and contains seeds?

No. The name multigrain doesn’t, by itself, confirm either that the bread is wholemeal or that it contains any particular type of seed. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre distinguishes between multigrain bread and wholemeal multigrain bread; check the product’s ingredients list too when choosing.