Anyone who wants to share bread at the table
You can slice a whole or round loaf to serve with dips, cheese, soup or roasted vegetables. Think about how much bread you need and when you plan to serve it.
Who is this bread suitable for?
Anyone who chooses wholemeal bread carefully
A dark crust or the words ‘multigrain’ on the label aren’t enough to confirm that bread is wholemeal. Check that it contains wholemeal flour, and compare nutritional information such as fibre and salt on a per 100 g basis.
Anyone checking allergens for guests
With seeded bread, allergens such as cereals containing gluten and sesame may be relevant. Check the label on prepacked bread, and ask for allergen information before buying unpackaged bread.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide whether both wholemeal flour and seeds are essential. Then choose a size that suits the meal, and check the ingredients and nutritional information for that particular loaf.
| What to look for | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal base | Look for wholemeal flour in the product information; if you’re comparing loaves, check the fibre content per 100 g. | If you want genuinely wholemeal bread for dinner, don’t rely on a dark colour or the word ‘multigrain’. For around 31% of consumers, checking that bread is wholemeal comes first. |
| Seeds and a shareable size | Check which seeds are listed in the ingredients and whether the loaf is a suitable size for serving at the table. | For a meal with dips, you may want bread you can slice and share, with seeds for the texture you’re after. Around 25% of consumers give this combination top priority. |
| Allergens | Read the allergen information and any warnings; ask for details before buying unpackaged bread. | If a guest has an allergy, you need to know which ingredients and warnings apply to that bread before serving it. This check comes first for around 25% of consumers. |
| Salt and baker’s salt | Compare the salt content per 100 g. If it’s relevant to your choice, check separately whether baker’s salt is listed among the ingredients. | When comparing the salt content of different loaves, you may also want to know whether the one you’ve chosen is made with baker’s salt. Around 19% of consumers put this label check first. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming dark or multigrain bread is wholemeal
Albert Heijn explains that Waldkorn bread can be made with wholemeal flour, white flour or a combination of the two. So its colour and name don’t confirm which type of flour it contains.
Check the ingredients or product information if wholemeal bread is a must for you.
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Relying on a seeded crust for allergen information
Seeded bread may contain sesame, as well as other ingredients or warnings that could be relevant to a guest. You can’t tell the full ingredients from its appearance.
Check the label on prepacked bread, and ask for allergen information before buying unpackaged bread.
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Assuming all bread contains baker’s salt
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, baker’s salt contains iodine, but using it in bread is not compulsory.
Check the ingredients list or ask which salt has been used for unpackaged bread if this matters to your choice.
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Choosing a whole loaf without considering how much you need
With dinner for two, you may have bread left over that needs to be stored.
Consider a half loaf or a smaller size. If you want to freeze portions, follow the storage instructions for the product you’ve chosen.
Brands to consider
These supermarket ranges offer a starting point for comparing types of bread. Always check the ingredients and allergen information for the specific loaf.
Albert Heijn
The range includes different wholemeal breads, including floor-baked loaves and seeded varieties.
- You can compare bread types and sizes.
- According to Albert Heijn, Waldkorn bread can be made with wholemeal flour, white flour or a mix. Check the specific variety you choose.
Jumbo
Jumbo provides product information for wholemeal multigrain bread with seeds.
- Jumbo Rond Korn Volkoren lists ingredients including sunflower seeds, linseed and sesame. Its stated nutritional values are 8.3 g of fibre and 0.97 g of salt per 100 g.
- For this loaf, also check the listed allergens, including cereals containing gluten, soya and sesame.
Lidl
Lidl’s oven-fresh range includes a wholemeal roll with seeds.
- This type of product may suit you if you’d rather serve individual rolls than a whole loaf.
- The fresh bread range may vary between stores, so ask in store for information about the bread you’ve chosen.
ALDI
ALDI’s fresh daily range includes wholemeal and multigrain bread.
- You can browse different types and sizes of bread.
- For a specific variety, check that the ingredients information lists both wholemeal flour and the seeds you want.
PLUS
PLUS Korenlanders Stokbrood volkoren is an example of a bread that can be served with soup or dips.
- The product information lists wholemeal wheat flour as the first ingredient, with 6.5 g of fibre and 1.02 g of salt per 100 g.
- A wholemeal baguette won’t necessarily contain seeds. Check the allergen information for the variety you choose, too.
Dirk
Dirk’s bread range includes wholemeal, multigrain and sunflower seed varieties.
- You can compare different types of bread.
- Check whether the specific loaf is wholemeal, and see which ingredients and allergens are listed.
Joybuy products
Related products will appear here soon.
Frequently asked questions
Is dark multigrain or Waldkorn bread always wholemeal?
No. According to Albert Heijn, Waldkorn bread can be made with wholemeal flour, white flour or a mix of the two. If you want wholemeal bread, check the ingredients for the specific variety.
Which allergens should I check in seeded bread?
Always check the allergen information for the bread you plan to serve. As well as cereals containing gluten, sesame may be relevant, for example, and ingredients vary between products. Check the label on prepacked bread, and ask for information before buying unpackaged bread.
Does bread in the Netherlands always contain iodised baker’s salt?
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that baker’s salt contains iodine, but bread does not have to be made with baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list or ask about it when buying unpackaged bread.
Can I buy seeded bread in advance for dinner?
Yes, as long as you follow the storage instructions for the bread you choose. Jumbo recommends freezing its Rond Korn Volkoren on the day of purchase and using it within one month. Don’t assume the same instructions apply to other bread.