If wholemeal is your main priority for a school lunch, choose bread that is specifically labelled ‘wholemeal’, then check which seeds and allergens it contains. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ does not automatically mean that all the grains used are wholegrains. If gluten-free bread is required or allergens are a concern, check the current label and follow the school’s policy before choosing a particular seed mix.
If wholemeal is your main priority and your child enjoys seeds, first check that the bread is labelled ‘wholemeal’. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ on its own does not prove that a loaf is entirely wholemeal.
If you’re packing bread for a pupil with a relevant allergy, look beyond wheat or gluten. Check the current allergen information for ingredients such as sesame and soya, and take the school’s policy into account.
Gluten-free multiseed bread is a separate choice, not automatically a wholemeal alternative. As with any bread, check the ingredients and other allergens on the packaging.
First decide whether wholemeal or gluten-free bread is a must for your secondary-school lunch. Then check the allergens, and only after that choose the seed mix and type of bread your child will enjoy eating.
Choose this if: wholemeal is your main priority and your child likes seeds or kernels.
Bear in mind: the seed mix may contain allergens. Check the current packaging to see which ones are relevant to this bread.
Choose this if: flavour or texture matters more to you than having an entirely wholemeal base.
Bear in mind: having more grains or seeds does not, in itself, mean that the whole loaf is wholemeal. For example, the Korenlanders multiseed bread described by PLUS contains both wholemeal wheat flour and wheat flour.
Choose this if: your child needs gluten-free bread.
Bear in mind: gluten-free does not automatically mean wholemeal or free from other allergens; the Jumbo multiseed bread described here contains soya.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Genuinely wholemeal | Look for ‘wholemeal’ in the product description and check which types of flour are listed in the ingredients. | If wholemeal is my main priority for lunch, I don’t want to rely on the word ‘multiseed’ alone. For around 36% of consumers, choosing wholemeal comes first. |
| Allergens and school policy | For pre-packed bread, read the current label. For unpackaged bread, ask for allergen information and check the school’s policy. | If allergens are a concern, I want to know whether this bread meets the requirements for my school lunch. An estimated 29% of consumers put these checks first. |
| Seeds and texture | Check which kernels and seeds the bread contains, and whether its shape is practical for a lunchbox. | I’m looking for bread with a texture my child will enjoy, so their chosen lunch stays appealing. This is the first consideration for around 21% of consumers. |
| Current label and availability | Check the bread again when you buy it. If you wish, look at the ingredients to see whether baker’s salt or iodised salt has been used. | If I want to pack this bread regularly, I need to be able to check that the ingredients still suit my needs and that I can buy it. Around 14% of consumers prioritise these practical checks. |
A seed mix does not tell you which types of flour have been used. According to PLUS product information, Korenlanders multiseed bread contains 30% wholemeal wheat flour as well as 22% wheat flour.
Use ‘wholemeal’ as your first selection criterion, then check the ingredients. Choose a different type of bread if flavour or texture matters more to you.
Seeded bread may also contain other relevant allergens. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority lists sesame, as well as cereals containing gluten, among the allergens that must be declared.
Read the full, current allergen information and check what the school allows before packing the bread.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, not all bread is made with baker’s salt. The type of bread alone therefore won’t tell you whether it has been used.
Check the ingredients for baker’s salt or iodised salt, or ask about it if you’re buying unpackaged bread.
Recipes and allergen information can change. Albert Heijn and PLUS highlight the importance of checking current product information.
Check the packaging of the bread you buy each time, especially if an allergen is a deciding factor.
Albert Heijn describes AH Bakkersbollen boulogne as soft wholemeal multiseed rolls. They’re another bread option to consider alongside sliced bread for a lunchbox.
Jumbo describes both a wholemeal multigrain loaf with kernels and seeds, and a separate gluten-free multiseed loaf.
PLUS Korenlanders Rond licht meerzaden shows why you shouldn’t assume that seeded bread is entirely wholemeal.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ means that bread contains at least three types of grain. It doesn’t mean that all the grain ingredients are wholegrains. So check the product description and ingredients list of the bread you want to buy.
Check all the allergens that are relevant to your child, not just cereals containing gluten. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority also lists sesame among the allergens that must be declared. Depending on the bread, soya or other allergens may also be relevant. Check the current packaging and take the school’s policy into account.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, not all bread is made with baker’s salt. If this matters to you, check the ingredients for baker’s salt or iodised salt, or ask about it if you’re buying unpackaged bread.
Because a product’s ingredients and allergen information can change. When you buy it again, compare the current label with your child’s needs, especially if an allergen determines which bread you choose.
