Who is this choice relevant to?

If you want a sharing board with more bite

You’re looking for bread to serve with savoury toppings or dips, and want the seeds to add texture. It’s also worth checking whether the bread is easy to divide into portions.

If you compare food labels

You want to identify wholemeal bread by comparing fibre per 100 g and the ingredients, rather than judging by a dark colour or visible seeds. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that the term wholemeal refers to flour made from whole grains.

If you’re considering your guests’ needs

You want to know before drinks whether any guests need to avoid particular allergens or are looking for a specific nutritional value. Check the information for the variant you choose, including any warnings about traces of allergens.

What should you look for when choosing?

First check that it’s labelled wholemeal, then decide what sort of texture you’d like to serve and what information you need for your guests.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Wholemeal and fibre Check the wholemeal labelling and compare the fibre per 100 g in the nutritional information. If I want to serve wholemeal bread, I want to be able to confirm that without judging by its colour. For roughly 40% of consumers, this check is the top priority.
Seeds and portioning Check which seeds are listed and whether the bread is sold as a whole loaf, sliced or in individual portions. For a sharing board with savoury toppings, I’m mainly looking for a distinctive texture and portions that are easy to hand out. Around 30% of consumers put this preference first for drinks.
Allergens and dietary requirements Read the allergen information. If you have a specific dietary requirement, compare the relevant value per 100 g. If a guest needs to avoid something or cares about a particular nutritional value, I need to be able to choose accordingly before the bread is served. This is the most important consideration for around 30% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming seeds mean bread is wholemeal

    Seeds on the crust don’t tell you whether the flour used is wholemeal. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, to be labelled wholemeal, all the flour used must be made from whole grains.

    Check the wholemeal labelling separately, then choose which seeds you’d like on your sharing board.

  • Checking allergens only when guests arrive

    Bread with seeds may contain sesame, for example, and ingredients and warnings vary from product to product. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information must appear on the label of pre-packed products.

    Ask guests in advance about any relevant allergies. For pre-packed bread, read the current label; for unpackaged bread, ask about allergen information before buying.

  • Treating a carbohydrate claim as a general comparison

    A comparison applies to the products named, not to all seeded breads. For example, PLUS compares its Korenlanders Koolhydraat 40% verlaagd with fine wholemeal wheat bread with seeds.

    Compare the carbohydrates per 100 g with another loaf you’re considering, and check the ingredients and allergens too.

  • Buying bread too early and keeping it in the fridge

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread dries out in the fridge. That’s not ideal if you’re planning to serve it later at drinks.

    Choose an amount that suits the number of guests and check the storage instructions. If you want to keep the bread for longer, check whether the packaging gives freezing instructions.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn sells products including AH Extra lang lekker Zaans volkoren heel. This is an example of wholemeal bread, but not necessarily bread with seeds.

  • The product information can help you compare ingredients and nutritional values.
  • Albert Heijn warns that ingredient, nutritional and allergen information can change, so check the packaging when you buy it.

Jumbo

Jumbo sells both fine wholemeal bread and Rond Korn Volkoren, which it describes as a wholemeal multigrain loaf with seeds.

  • These two types of bread let you choose between a finer-textured option and one with seeds.
  • For Rond Korn Volkoren, Jumbo lists sesame, cereals containing gluten and soya among the allergens. Check the packaging of the variant you buy.

ALDI

ALDI describes its Boeren volkoren meergranen as bread with grains and seeds.

  • The range is worth considering if you’re looking for a whole or half loaf to serve with drinks.
  • Check the size and the information on the packaging of the loaf you choose in store.

PLUS

PLUS offers Korenlanders Koolhydraat 40% verlaagd, a wholemeal seeded option for anyone specifically comparing carbohydrates per 100 g.

  • PLUS compares the carbohydrate content of this variant with fine wholemeal wheat bread with seeds; the comparison applies to those specific products.
  • Check the ingredients and allergens too: a lower carbohydrate content doesn’t answer those other questions you may have when buying.

Dirk

At Dirk, Bakker van der Akker Multikorn multigrain rolls with seeds are an option if you’d like to hand out individual rolls.

  • The pack of four rolls makes it clear how many portions you’ll have.
  • Multigrain doesn’t automatically mean wholemeal. Check the product name, ingredients and allergens if they matter to your choice.

Lidl

Lidl lists an oat and spelt loaf with seeds that’s only available in store.

  • It’s a type of bread to look out for in store if you’re after seeds.
  • Don’t assume from the name oat and spelt bread that it’s wholemeal; check the shelf label or packaging.

Joybuy products for drinks

As well as seeded bread, you could also consider crispbread or flatbread for drinks. Bear in mind that these products come in different forms and aren’t interchangeable with a whole multiseed loaf.

Bolletje Whole Grain Crispbread, 265 g

Bolletje Whole Grain Crispbread, 265 g

A crisp alternative if you don’t want to serve a soft whole loaf with drinks. Check the packaging to see which seeds and allergens are listed for this variant.

View at Joybuy
Souq Lebanese Bread Whole Wheat 6 P

Souq Lebanese Bread Whole Wheat 6 P

Flatbread to consider if you’d like something to serve with dips. If you’re specifically looking for seeded bread, check the ingredients of this variant first.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is multigrain bread automatically wholemeal?

No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain refers to bread made with at least three different types of grain; the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that wholemeal refers to flour made from whole grains. So check separately whether it’s labelled wholemeal.

What should I check about seeded bread if a guest has an allergy?

Check the allergen information for the exact loaf you’re buying, even if you’ve served a similar bread before. For example, Jumbo lists sesame, cereals containing gluten and soya for Rond Korn Volkoren. For unpackaged bread, ask about allergen information before buying.

Can I tell from the word wholemeal how much iodine bread contains?

No. The term wholemeal doesn’t tell you how much iodine a particular loaf contains. Check the ingredients list if you want to know whether baker’s salt is listed for the variant you’ve chosen.

How should I store bread if drinks aren’t until later in the week?

It’s best not to put bread in the fridge: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, it dries out there. If you want to freeze it, follow the storage instructions on the packaging you’ve chosen; don’t eat bread if it has gone mouldy.