For a weekday breakfast, start by choosing bread labelled wholemeal, then check the ingredients list to see which seeds it contains. Seeds can give you the texture you’re after, but a multigrain loaf isn’t automatically wholemeal. Also compare the loaf size, storage advice and allergen information before you buy.
Do you eat bread for breakfast on weekdays and want the texture of seeds? Check two things separately: whether the bread is labelled wholemeal and which seeds are listed in the ingredients. Visible seeds only answer the second question.
A sliced loaf, a half-size loaf or bread you can freeze may be a better fit for the number of slices you eat on weekdays. Storage advice varies by product: Jumbo recommends freezing Schotel Meergranen Volkoren on the day of purchase and using it within one month.
If you have an allergy, always check the allergen information for the specific loaf, even if you’ve bought it before. If the type of salt matters to you, check the ingredients list too: according to Voedingscentrum, baker’s salt contains iodine, but it isn’t used in every loaf.
Start with the wholemeal label, then decide whether you want seeds in your bread. Finally, choose a size and storage option that suits your mornings.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal base | Look for the wholemeal label and read the ingredients list; multigrain and a dark colour are no substitute for checking. | I mainly want to know whether the grain base really is wholemeal, even when the bread contains seeds; this would be the main reason to buy for around 33% of consumers. |
| Seeds | Check which seeds are listed in the ingredients, rather than relying only on the picture or the bread’s name. | The texture of seeds is what makes the difference to my everyday sandwich. This would be the main reason to choose this bread for around 25% of consumers. |
| Convenience and keeping a supply | Compare whole and half loaves, sliced options, and the storage or freezing advice on the packaging. | I want enough bread for weekdays without buying more than I’ll use; this would be the first thing to consider for around 25% of consumers. |
| Allergens and type of salt | Read the current allergen information and check whether baker’s salt is listed in the ingredients if the type of salt matters to your choice. | I need to be able to check the ingredients and warnings for the bread I buy; this information would be the priority for around 17% of consumers. |
Having several types of grain and a dark colour doesn’t prove that all the grain ingredients are wholemeal. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, a product can only be called wholemeal if 100% of its grain content is wholemeal flour.
Check the wholemeal label and ingredients first; only then choose based on seeds, crust and size.
Seeds can be appealing for their texture, but they don’t tell you whether the bread is wholemeal. Bread with seeds may also list allergens or warnings about possible traces of other ingredients.
Read both the ingredients list and the allergen information on the packaging of the loaf you’re actually buying.
Voedingscentrum explains that baker’s salt contains iodine, but bakers don’t always use it. So you can’t tell which type of salt has been used from the presence of seeds or the wholemeal label.
Check whether baker’s salt is listed in the ingredients, or ask the baker if you’re buying unpackaged bread.
A whole loaf may not suit your routine if you only eat a few slices a week and won’t use the rest in time.
Consider buying half a loaf or follow the freezing advice for your chosen product. Jumbo recommends freezing Schotel Meergranen Volkoren on the day of purchase and using it within one month; don’t automatically apply that advice to other loaves.
The range can help you find a starting point; check the ingredients, allergens and storage instructions for each loaf individually.
Albert Heijn’s wholemeal bread range includes AH Biologisch Batard volkoren zonnepit gesneden.
Jumbo describes both a half loaf of Boeren Donker Volkoren Meergranen and a whole loaf of Schotel Meergranen Volkoren with seeds.
ALDI lists Boeren volkoren meergranenbrood in its daily fresh range and describes it as bread with grains and seeds.
PLUS has a wholemeal bread category with different loaf shapes and wholemeal and multigrain options.
Lidl describes a shop range of freshly baked bread and lists wholemeal as a bread category.
Dirk’s wholemeal search results include Boeren volkoren and Bakkers Multikorn volkoren.
These Joybuy products are alternatives if you’re considering something other than sliced wholemeal bread: crisp crispbread and Lebanese flatbread. Check whether the texture suits the breakfast you have in mind; the flatbread in particular isn’t an option based on visible seeds.
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A crunchy alternative if you’d like more bite at breakfast than you get from soft, sliced bread. This is crispbread in a 265 g pack, not a regular slice of bread; check the latest ingredients and allergen information when you buy it.
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An option if you’d like flatbread for breakfast instead of a slice of seeded bread. The pack contains 6 pieces; check the latest ingredients and allergen information on the packaging before deciding whether it suits your needs.
No. Seeds and several types of grain aren’t enough to make it wholemeal. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, a product can only be called wholemeal if 100% of its grain content is wholemeal flour. So check the bread’s label and ingredients list.
Yes, if the storage advice for your chosen bread says you can. Jumbo says Schotel Meergranen Volkoren can be frozen on the day of purchase and should be used within one month. For other loaves, follow the instructions on their packaging.
No. Don’t assume which type of salt has been used based on the type of bread. Voedingscentrum says baker’s salt contains iodine, but it isn’t used in every loaf. Check the ingredients list or ask if you’re buying unpackaged bread.
Read the latest allergen information for the exact loaf, including any warnings about possible traces. For Boeren Donker Volkoren Meergranen, Jumbo lists several gluten-containing grains and warns that it may contain, among other things, sesame, lupin, milk and soya. Don’t assume the information for another loaf based on whether it’s labelled wholemeal or multigrain.
