For Christmas dinner, choose bread explicitly labelled as wholemeal and with seeds listed in the ingredients if both qualities matter to you. A light multiseed bread may suit you if you’re mainly looking for the texture of seeds, but the label ‘multiseed’ doesn’t prove that the bread is wholemeal. Also check the allergens, and make sure the loaf size and storage instructions work for your dinner.
If you want the extra texture of seeds and bread to serve with toppings or other courses, check that your chosen loaf is actually labelled as wholemeal rather than relying on the crust or product photo.
If fibre, protein or salt will influence your choice, compare the nutritional information per 100 g. Check the ingredients list to see which seeds are in the bread, as these can vary between varieties.
Ask about any relevant allergies in advance and check the label on the bread you plan to serve. For example, a multiseed bread may contain sesame; according to Albert Heijn, AH ELL Eiwitrijk volkoren meerzadenbrood also lists soya and cereals containing gluten.
First decide whether wholemeal is essential. Then compare the ingredients, nutritional information and packaging with what you need for your guests and the occasion.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Genuine wholemeal | Look for the wholemeal label and read the ingredients list. Seeds, a dark colour and the term ‘multigrain’ do not, on their own, prove that a loaf is wholemeal. | If wholemeal is a must for me, I don’t want to pick up a multiseed loaf that’s simply brown. For around 33% of consumers, confidence that a loaf is wholemeal would be the main reason to buy. |
| Nutritional information and seeds | Compare fibre, protein, carbohydrates and salt per 100 g, and check which seeds are listed in the ingredients. Only compare per portion if the portions are the same size. | If you’re choosing a loaf based on its nutritional composition, you’ll want to compare the information for the exact variety. Nutritional value would be the main consideration for around 27% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Check the current packaging to see which allergens the bread contains and whether any potential cross-contamination is mentioned. | If I’m serving guests with allergies, I need to know before serving whether the ingredients are suitable for them. For around 20% of consumers, checking allergens would take priority. |
| Loaf size and storage | Check whether a whole or half loaf will suit the number of guests, and read the storage and freezing instructions for that variety. | If I buy bread in advance for a multi-course dinner, I want to know how much I’ll need and how to store it until serving. Ease of serving and planning would be the main reason for around 20% of consumers. |
A multiseed or multigrain loaf may contain seeds without meeting your requirements for wholemeal bread. For example, PLUS classifies its Korenlanders Rond licht meerzaden as brown bread.
Check the exact product description and ingredients list. Don’t choose based solely on the colour, photo or the word ‘multiseed’.
When serving bread to a group, an allergen in your chosen variety could mean that not everyone can eat it. According to Albert Heijn, AH ELL’s multiseed bread lists sesame and soya, among other ingredients.
Ask about relevant allergies in advance and read the allergen information on the current packaging, including any mention of cross-contamination.
A high-protein wholemeal multiseed bread won’t necessarily have the same composition as a standard wholemeal loaf. Its ingredients and allergens may differ too.
For the varieties you’re considering, compare fibre, protein, carbohydrates and salt per 100 g, as well as the ingredients and allergens.
You may have bread left over after a multi-course dinner. Whether you can freeze it in advance and how long you can store it will depend on the product.
Choose a whole or half loaf to suit what you plan to serve, and follow the storage and freezing instructions on the packaging.
Always compare the exact variety of bread. A brand may sell both wholemeal bread and seeded bread, but that doesn’t mean every product has both qualities.
Albert Heijn provides product information for options including AH ELL Eiwitrijk volkoren meerzaden half and AH Boeren grof volkorenbrood heel.
ALDI describes its wholemeal breads and a Boeren volkoren meergranenbrood containing grains and seeds.
Lidl provides an ingredients and allergens guide for its freshly baked bread range and also lists multigrain bread.
PLUS lists products including Boeren volkoren heel and Korenlanders Rond licht meerzaden half.
Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker Boeren meerzaden heel and Boeren volkoren heel separately.
No. The presence of seeds alone says nothing about whether a loaf is wholemeal. For products sold as wholemeal, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority checks whether the grain ingredient is made from 100% wholemeal flour. So check the wholemeal label and the ingredients list.
No. The rule described by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority does not mean that all bread must contain iodised salt. Iodine compounds may only be added to bread via baker’s salt, with a maximum of 65 mg of iodine per kg of salt. Check the label of your chosen loaf to see which type of salt is listed.
Check the allergen information on the current packaging for the exact variety, including any mention of potential cross-contamination. According to Albert Heijn, AH ELL Eiwitrijk volkoren meerzadenbrood lists sesame, soya and cereals containing gluten, among other ingredients. Other breads may have a different composition.
Yes, as long as the storage instructions for your chosen bread fit your plans. For AH Boeren grof volkorenbrood heel, Albert Heijn says it can be frozen at home and recommends using it within one month. Follow the instructions on the current packaging for your loaf.
