Anyone putting together a shared bread table
A whole loaf, baguette or individual rolls give you different ways to serve and share bread. Jumbo, Lidl and PLUS offer these types of bread with sesame, seeds or kernels.
Who is this a good choice for?
Fans of soft white bread with extra texture
If you want to stick with white bread but fancy a sesame topping or seed mix, compare the product descriptions from retailers including Albert Heijn and Jumbo to see how they differ.
Shoppers keeping an eye on nutritional value
If fibre is your main concern, it’s important to distinguish between white bread with seeds and seeded wholemeal bread. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises replacing white bread with wholemeal or brown bread as often as possible.
What should you look for when buying?
First decide how you want to serve the bread, then choose between sesame and a seed mix. If nutritional value is the deciding factor, check the type of bread rather than just the topping.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Shape and ease of sharing | Choose between a whole or half loaf, a baguette and individual rolls; adjust the quantity to suit the number of guests. | When I’m putting together a bread table for a group, I want everyone to be able to help themselves to a portion easily. Ease of sharing comes first for around 27% of consumers. |
| Sesame or a seed mix | Check whether the description mentions sesame or a mix of seeds and kernels; if you like, compare the nutritional information for the exact product. | I want to stick with soft white bread, but I’m looking for a different topping and texture. This combination matters most to around 20% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the latest label, including any relevant warnings, or ask for allergen information when buying unpackaged bread. | When I’m buying bread for guests too, I want to know what allergens it contains before I buy it. For around 20% of consumers, having this information comes before shape or flavour. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Check whether the bread is labelled wholemeal and compare the fibre per 100 g if that information is available. | Seeds on the crust aren’t enough for me if I’m mainly comparing nutritional value. For around 33% of consumers, wholemeal and fibre are the deciding factors. |
Common mistakes
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Mistaking seeded white bread for wholemeal
A topping doesn’t turn white bread into wholemeal bread. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre distinguishes between white bread and wholemeal or brown bread when it comes to nutritional value.
If wholemeal is a must for you, check the product name and ingredients rather than just the seeds on the crust.
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Checking for allergens only once you’re at the table
Sesame seeds and cereals containing gluten are relevant allergens. If you’re buying bread for guests, the product name alone is no substitute for the latest allergen information.
For packaged bread, read the label. For unpackaged bread, ask about any allergens and relevant warnings before you buy.
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Assuming every loaf contains baker’s salt
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt is not compulsory. So you can’t tell from the type of bread whether iodised baker’s salt was used in baking.
If this matters to your choice, check the ingredients or ask the seller about unpackaged bread.
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Counting on a product without checking what’s available locally
A product listing doesn’t tell you which loaves will be in your local shop on the day you do your shopping. Lidl states that the seeded breads mentioned are sold in store.
Check what’s available shortly before King’s Day, and have another suitable type of bread in mind if you’re putting on a larger spread.
Brands to compare
Albert Heijn
A good starting point if you’re specifically looking for white sesame bread.
- Albert Heijn lists white sesame bread as both a whole and a half loaf.
- Check the label of your chosen version for ingredients and nutritional information.
Jumbo
A chance to compare a whole white wheat loaf with seeds and kernels with a half white sesame loaf.
- Jumbo describes Boeren Licht Meerzaden as a whole white wheat loaf with seeds and kernels, and also lists Boeren Half Witbrood met Sesam.
- The presence of seeds doesn’t automatically make either loaf wholemeal; check the nutritional information for each product.
Lidl
Worth considering if you want to serve seeded bread or a white baguette with kernels and seeds.
- Lidl describes a sesame multigrain loaf and a white multigrain baguette with kernels and seeds.
- Check the type of bread and availability at your chosen shop for each product.
PLUS
An option to consider if individual portions suit you better than slices from a whole loaf.
- PLUS lists a rustic white multiseed roll weighing 90 g each.
- These are rolls rather than a whole loaf, so decide how many you want to serve.
ALDI
A shop to consider if you want to browse white, multigrain and wholemeal breads as separate types.
- ALDI lists these types of bread in its fresh daily range.
- Check the shelf label on your chosen loaf to see whether it’s white and which seeds it contains.
Dirk
A shop to consider if you want to compare white and other breads with toppings separately.
- Dirk’s bread selection includes white loaves and a sunflower seed floor-baked loaf.
- Check the type of bread for the sunflower seed floor-baked loaf; the name alone doesn’t confirm that it’s white bread.
Related Joybuy products
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Is seeded white bread automatically wholemeal?
No. A sesame or seed topping doesn’t make white bread wholemeal. If fibre and nutritional value are the main reasons for your choice, check that the product is actually labelled wholemeal and compare the nutritional information. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises replacing white bread with wholemeal or brown bread as often as possible.
Where can I check allergens in sesame or multiseed bread?
For packaged bread, check the allergen information on the latest label; for unpackaged bread, ask before you buy. Sesame seeds and cereals containing gluten are relevant allergens, but the ingredients and warnings vary from product to product.
Is bread in the Netherlands always baked with iodised baker’s salt?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, baker’s salt is not compulsory. Check the label or ask the seller which salt was used when baking unpackaged bread.
Should I choose a whole loaf, a baguette or rolls for King’s Day?
A whole loaf works well for a shared lunch with filled sandwiches; baguettes and individual rolls are handy when guests would find it easier to help themselves to a smaller portion. Check the type and quantity of your chosen product before shopping for the group.