Who is this relevant to?

Those looking for seeds and texture

You want linseed, pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds in your bread, so you check the ingredients list rather than relying on the word ‘multigrain’ in the name.

Quick top-up shoppers

You’re picking up a wrapped loaf during a small shop and want to know before buying whether you’ll be able to use it within its stated shelf life.

Label readers

You compare gluten-containing grains, any allergen warnings, salt and whether the pack lists iodised salt.

What should you look for when buying?

First decide whether it needs to be rye bread, then check which seeds are listed in the ingredients. A product name containing ‘Mehrkorn’ or ‘multigrain’ doesn’t answer either question on its own.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Seeds Look for specific ingredients such as linseed or sunflower seeds on the label. Also check whether the product is described as rye bread. If I choose a loaf for its seed texture, I want to see those seeds in the ingredients list. This is a priority for around 31% of consumers.
Nutritional information Compare fibre and salt on the same basis, preferably per 100 g, and check whether wholegrain rye is listed as an ingredient. Those weighing up fibre, wholegrain ingredients and salt benefit from being able to compare like-for-like label information. This is the first consideration for around 25% of consumers.
Allergens Read the ingredients and allergen information, including any ‘may contain’ statement. The multigrain products reviewed list gluten-containing grains. If I need to avoid certain allergens, I need to be able to check what’s on the pack before buying. This matters most to around 19% of consumers.
Shelf life and availability Check the date and storage instructions on the pack, and see whether your preferred variety is available at your chosen shop. For a small top-up shop, I want a pack size I can use in time and actually buy. This is the main practical concern for around 25% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘multigrain’ means ‘with seeds’

    Multigrain refers to the types of grain, not necessarily to seeds. Voedingscentrum describes multigrain bread as bread made from at least three types of grain.

    Look for the seeds you want in the ingredients list, and check separately what type of bread you’re buying.

  • Assuming rye bread is gluten-free

    Rye is a gluten-containing grain. The AH and Jumbo products with seeds that were reviewed also list other gluten-containing grains.

    Check the current ingredients, allergen information and any cross-contamination warning every time you buy.

  • Assuming all rye bread contains iodised salt

    Knowing that bakers’ salt can be used in bread doesn’t tell you which salt is in a particular product. Jumbo Tarwe Roggebrood Mehrkorn lists iodised salt in its ingredients.

    Check the salt information on the pack if this matters to your choice.

  • Choosing a larger pack without a plan for using it

    A longer shelf-life statement on the pack isn’t much use if you won’t finish the bread in time. The date and storage instructions on the pack will help you decide what to consider when buying.

    Choose a pack size that suits how you use it and follow the storage instructions, including after opening.

Relevant brands and shops to consider

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists various rye breads in its online category. AH Mehrkorn contains seeds, but its own product description calls it white multigrain bread with rye sourdough.

  • AH Mehrkorn lists linseed and pumpkin seeds, plus 6,5 g of fibre and 1,03 g of salt per 100 g.
  • Don’t treat AH Mehrkorn as a like-for-like rye bread option. Albert Heijn recommends checking the current packaging, as product information can change.

Jumbo

Jumbo offers Tarwe Roggebrood Mehrkorn for anyone looking for rye bread with seeds specifically listed in the ingredients.

  • The product information lists brown linseed and sunflower seeds, and states online that the bread keeps for 8+ days.
  • The product lists several gluten-containing grains and may contain soya. Check the date and allergen information on the pack.

Bolletje

Bolletje Roggebrood Fries is an alternative to consider when wholegrain rye matters more to you than seeds.

  • The product information at Jumbo lists 56% wholegrain cracked rye and 9,1 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • The ingredients list we reviewed doesn’t mention seeds, so it isn’t a like-for-like choice if you’re looking for them.

Brood van Soma

Brood van Soma has several rye and wheat-rye products in the ranges reviewed at Jumbo and PLUS.

  • Jumbo’s Limburgs Volkoren Roggebrood lists wholegrain rye flour as an ingredient.
  • This product contains rye and wheat and may contain hazelnut. If you’re choosing a seeded loaf, check the ingredients for the variety you want.

PLUS

PLUS lists rye bread and Brood van Soma products online, including Schwarzbrot rye bread and Waldkorn wheat-rye bread.

  • The product page for Soma Waldkorn advises storing it in a cool, dry, dark place.
  • Don’t rely on the name Waldkorn if seeds are a must-have: check the ingredients on the pack of the variety you choose.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does multigrain mean rye bread contains seeds?

No. According to Voedingscentrum, ‘multigrain’ refers to the number of types of grain, not whether the bread contains seeds. To check for linseed, pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds, read the ingredients list and check separately whether the product is rye bread.

Is seeded rye bread gluten-free?

No, you can’t tell from the name: rye contains gluten, and the AH and Jumbo multigrain products reviewed also list other gluten-containing grains. If you need to eat gluten-free, check the description and current allergen information on the packaging.

How can I tell whether my rye bread contains iodised salt?

Read the ingredients list on the specific pack. Jumbo Tarwe Roggebrood Mehrkorn lists iodised salt, but that tells you nothing about the ingredients in another variety.

How should I store packaged rye bread after a small top-up shop?

Follow the storage instructions and use-by date on the packaging. Jumbo Tarwe Roggebrood Mehrkorn says to store it in a cool, dry, dark place; check the pack for instructions after opening, too.