Who is this choice relevant to?

Fans of bread with a bit of bite

With a bowl of thick split pea soup, you’ll want bread with a firm texture and noticeable seeds or kernels, rather than a soft slice with nothing added.

Shoppers looking for wholemeal bread

You don’t want to rely on the dark colour or the word ‘multigrain’ alone. You want to check that the bread is actually labelled wholemeal.

Shoppers with an allergy or specific dietary requirements

You’re looking for bread with seeds or kernels, but first want to check the listed allergens, possible traces and relevant nutritional information for the bread you’ve chosen.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start with the wholemeal label. Then compare the seeds, texture and label information that matter for your meal.

What to look for What to check when buying Most relevant to
Genuinely wholemeal Look for the ‘wholemeal’ label and read the ingredients. A dark crust, seeds or ‘multigrain’ do not confirm that it is wholemeal. I want to be sure my bread is wholemeal with my split pea soup, even if the kernels make it look that way. For around 40% of consumers, that certainty would be the main reason to buy.
Seeds and texture Check which seeds or kernels are listed in the ingredients, and choose a loaf size that suits the number of people eating. With thick soup, I particularly want a slice with noticeable kernels and a firm crust. That combination would be the priority for around 30% of consumers.
Label and dietary requirements Check allergens and possible traces. If needed, compare the salt per 100 g and see whether baker’s salt is listed in the ingredients. If I need to avoid an ingredient or pay attention to the type of salt used, the label determines which bread I can choose. For around 30% of consumers, a specific dietary requirement like this would matter most.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming dark seeded bread is automatically wholemeal

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ refers to the number of different types of grain used. On its own, it doesn’t tell you whether the bread is wholemeal.

    Check the wholemeal label first, then choose based on the kernels, crust and flavour.

  • Relying on the bread’s name if you have an allergy

    Seeded bread may contain ingredients such as gluten-containing cereals, soya or sesame. Allergens vary from one product to another.

    Check the current ingredients, allergen information and any may-contain warning on the packaging of the bread you’re buying.

  • Assuming all bread contains baker’s salt

    Baker’s salt contains iodine, but according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use it.

    For packaged bread, check the ingredients list for baker’s salt. If it matters to you, ask which type of salt was used in unpackaged bread.

  • Buying a whole loaf for a small bowl of soup

    If you don’t want to store any leftover bread, a whole loaf may not be the right amount for your needs.

    Consider buying half a loaf, or check how you can store and freeze your chosen bread before you buy it.

Brands to consider

Jumbo

Worth considering if you want to compare packaged wholemeal multigrain loaves with kernels and seeds.

  • The product information for Boeren Donker Volkoren Meergranen and Schotel Meergranen Volkoren gives you a starting point for comparing the ingredients and allergens in each loaf.
  • Check the details for your chosen loaf on the packaging again, as the ingredients may change.

ALDI

Worth considering if you want to browse different wholemeal breads, including one described as wholemeal with seeds and grains.

  • ALDI describes Waddenbrood as dark brown wholemeal bread with seeds and grains.
  • A claim about fibre or salt for another ALDI loaf doesn’t automatically apply to Waddenbrood or to all seeded breads.

PLUS

Worth considering if you want to compare wholemeal bread with loaves that feature seeds or kernels on the crust.

  • PLUS describes seeds and kernels on the crust as adding flavour and texture.
  • Check the wholemeal label on each variety: ‘sourdough’ or ‘multigrain’ doesn’t automatically mean a loaf is wholemeal.

Lidl

Worth considering if you want to quickly check the stated fibre content on packaged bread.

  • Lidl includes a fibre meter on its packaged breads.
  • Also check whether each loaf is wholemeal and which seeds or kernels it contains; the fibre meter doesn’t answer those questions.

Albert Heijn

Worth considering if you want to distinguish the ‘wholemeal’ label from other bread names.

  • Albert Heijn explains in its bread information that ‘wholemeal’ refers to bread made with wholemeal flour.
  • This general explanation doesn’t replace checking the ingredients and allergens for a specific seeded variety.

Related Joybuy products

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is multigrain bread with seeds automatically wholemeal?

No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ means bread made with several types of grain; the word doesn’t confirm that it’s wholemeal. Look for the wholemeal label on the product you’ve chosen and read the ingredients.

Does all bread in the Netherlands contain iodine from baker’s salt?

No. Baker’s salt contains iodine, but according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers don’t have to use it. For packaged bread, you can check the ingredients list to see whether baker’s salt has been used.

What should I check if I have an allergy and want seeded bread?

Read the allergen information and any may-contain warning for the specific bread. Product information from retailers including Jumbo and PLUS shows that ingredients such as gluten-containing cereals, soya and sesame can vary from one loaf to another. So don’t rely on the name or picture alone.

Can I freeze bread for a split pea soup meal?

Yes, if the storage instructions for your chosen bread allow it. Jumbo says you can freeze Schotel Meergranen Volkoren at home on the day you buy it and use it within one month. For other breads, follow the instructions on the packaging.