Who is this choice relevant to?

Students looking for a wholemeal staple

For breakfast or lunch, you’ll want wholemeal bread whose fibre content you can compare per 100 g. Seeds are an added bonus if they’re actually in the bread you choose.

Fans of seeds and a satisfying bite

You might be looking for ingredients such as linseed, sesame seeds or sunflower seeds. The ingredients list shows which seeds the specific loaf contains. Check the allergen information too if there’s anything you need to avoid.

New students who want to use up their bread

If you live alone or share a freezer, the space available can determine whether a whole loaf is practical. A half loaf or freezing individual portions might suit the way you eat better.

What should you look for when choosing?

First check that the bread is labelled wholemeal, then look for the seeds you want and check the allergens. Finally, choose a loaf size that suits the storage space you have at home.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Wholemeal base and fibre Look for the wholemeal label and, if you like, compare the fibre content per 100 g in the nutritional information. If I’m buying bread for my everyday breakfast or lunch, I want to be sure it’s made with a wholemeal base. For around 40% of consumers, this is the main priority.
Seeds and allergens Check which seeds or kernels are listed in the ingredients and read the latest allergen information. If I’m after a satisfying bite and need to look out for something like sesame, I want to know what’s in my bread. For around 30% of consumers, this combination of texture and checking the ingredients comes first.
Loaf size and storage Choose a whole or half loaf depending on how much you eat and your freezer space. If you like, freeze a whole loaf in portions on the day you buy it. When I’ve just moved into student accommodation, I don’t want to buy more bread than I can eat or store. For around 30% of consumers, avoiding waste is the biggest consideration.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming seeds or a dark crust mean the bread is wholemeal

    According to Albert Heijn, Waldkorn bread can be made with wholemeal flour, white flour or a combination of the two. The word ‘multigrain’ on its own doesn’t mean the bread is wholemeal either.

    Check that the bread is labelled wholemeal, then see which seeds or kernels it contains.

  • Leaving the allergen information until you get home

    Sesame, for example, may be relevant in seeded bread. The ingredients and allergens in one variety don’t automatically apply to another, even if they’re from the same brand.

    Check the information for the specific loaf before you buy it, even if you’ve bought a similar one before.

  • Buying a whole loaf without a storage plan

    A whole loaf may be more than one person can eat within a few days. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping wholemeal bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2–4 days or in the freezer for 1–3 months.

    Choose a half loaf if that better suits how much you eat, or freeze a whole loaf in portions on the day you buy it.

    If you don’t have space to freeze portions, some of the bread may be left over before you can finish it.

Brands to use as a guide

Albert Heijn

The online product information can help you check the ingredients and nutritional information for a specific wholemeal loaf before you buy it.

  • One AH wholemeal loaf listing gives its ingredients as 62% wholemeal wheat flour, with 6.9 g of fibre per 100 g, and iodised salt.
  • This product isn’t confirmed as a suitable choice if you’re specifically looking for seeds. Check the current packaging of the variety you buy.

Jumbo

An option to explore if you want to compare wholemeal bread with named seeds or kernels.

  • Jumbo describes Rond Korn Volkoren as containing, among other things, linseed, sesame seeds and sunflower seeds.
  • Check the ingredients and allergens for the specific loaf when you buy it; a range description is no substitute for the label.

ALDI

The bread range described includes wholemeal varieties with grains and seeds.

  • ALDI describes Boeren volkoren meergranen as bread containing grains and seeds.
  • Check the ingredients and availability of the bread at the shop you’re buying from.

Lidl

For packaged bread, the fibre meter can help you compare products side by side.

  • Lidl describes a fibre meter on its packaged bread.
  • The fibre meter doesn’t tell you which seeds a loaf contains. Check the ingredients of the variety you choose.

PLUS

The online bread category is useful for browsing wholemeal varieties and loaf sizes.

  • PLUS says a whole farmhouse wholemeal loaf can be frozen at home on the day you buy it.
  • Storage advice for that loaf doesn’t confirm that it contains the seeds you want; check the exact product.

Dirk

The range includes various wholemeal options to compare by size and product information.

  • Dirk’s search results include a half loaf of wholemeal bread.
  • The product name alone doesn’t confirm which seeds it contains. Check the ingredients of the variety you choose.

Related Joybuy products

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is dark bread or multigrain bread automatically wholemeal?

No. The colour and the word ‘multigrain’ don’t confirm that a loaf is wholemeal. According to Albert Heijn, for example, Waldkorn bread can contain wholemeal flour, white flour or a combination of the two. Check the wholemeal label and the ingredients for the specific loaf.

Which allergens should I check in seeded bread?

Check the allergen information for the bread you want to buy, especially if there are ingredients you need to avoid. Sesame and cereals containing gluten may be relevant in bread. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that allergens required by law must be listed on the label.

How should I store wholemeal bread if I’ve just moved into student accommodation?

Choose a loaf size that suits how much you eat, and freeze any leftover portions in good time if you have freezer space. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping wholemeal bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2–4 days or in the freezer for 1–3 months. Also follow the storage instructions for the specific product.

Does wholemeal bread always contain iodised salt?

Don’t assume that it does without checking the label for the specific loaf. Albert Heijn lists iodised salt in one wholemeal variety; check the ingredients list for the variety you actually choose.

Can I choose seeded wholemeal bread online?

Yes. An online bread category can help you browse the options, but check the exact product before ordering. Look separately at the wholemeal label, the seeds listed, the allergen information and the size you’ve chosen.