If you have a food allergy, only choose seeded multigrain bread after checking that specific loaf for your allergens. The terms ‘multigrain’ and ‘gluten-free’ are not enough on their own. If you need to avoid gluten, start with bread explicitly labelled gluten-free. If you have a wheat allergy, check the ingredients for wheat too. And with any bread, sesame and warnings about possible traces of other allergens are also relevant.
Want bread with seeds, but need to avoid gluten or a particular type of grain? The term ‘multigrain’ doesn’t tell you whether it’s suitable. Check a gluten-free alternative for other allergens too; if you have a wheat allergy, wheat itself needs a separate check.
When choosing seeded bread, check which ingredients have actually been used. As well as the allergen information, read any warnings about the possible presence of allergens you need to avoid.
If bread isn’t packaged, you’ll need information about that specific product before you buy it. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that information about the allergens that must be declared has to be available for non-prepacked foods. Ask the retailer specifically about your allergen.
First, work out which allergen or type of grain you need to avoid. Then compare the seeds, texture and nutritional information of breads that meet that requirement.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Your personal allergens | Read the ingredients, allergen information and any warnings about possible traces on the packaging or ask the retailer. | If I need to avoid several ingredients, I want to know whether this particular bread fits my list. For around 36% of consumers, matching their personal allergen requirements comes first. |
| Gluten and wheat | If you avoid gluten, check for a ‘gluten-free’ label and look at the other allergens. If you have a wheat allergy, check whether wheat is an ingredient too. | If I need to avoid gluten or wheat, I can’t rely on the name ‘multigrain’. For around 29% of consumers, this check is the top priority. |
| Information about loose bread | Check the allergen information at the counter or ask specifically about your chosen bread before buying. | When buying freshly baked bread, I want to be able to check the allergens before deciding to take it home. This product check before purchase matters most to around 21% of consumers. |
| Seeds and nutritional information | Check which seeds have been used, and look separately at the wholemeal description and nutritional information. | If a bread meets my allergen requirements, I also want to know which seeds it contains and how it’s made. For around 14% of consumers, this is their main consideration. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread is made from at least three types of grain. The term doesn’t mean that the bread is gluten-free or wholemeal.
Check the types of grain used, whether it is labelled gluten-free and whether it is described as wholemeal separately.
Gluten-free bread may contain other allergens. Albert Heijn lists sesame as an ingredient in its Consenza sliced multigrain gluten-free bread, and says it may also contain egg, lupin, nuts and soya.
Compare all the allergens and warnings relevant to you with the packaging of the bread you’re buying.
Information about loose bread may not be printed on packaging. However, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that information about the allergens that must be declared has to be available for non-prepacked foods.
Check the information at the point of sale or ask about your specific allergen in the bread you’ve chosen before you buy it.
The regulation on iodised bread salt published via Overheid.nl has been withdrawn. Referring to that regulation doesn’t tell you how much iodine a particular loaf contains.
If iodine content matters to your choice, check the information for the specific product rather than relying on a general assumption about baker’s salt.
Albert Heijn’s online range includes seeded multigrain bread and Consenza sliced gluten-free multigrain bread.
Jumbo is a supermarket with an online grocery range.
Lidl lists multigrain bread with seeds and kernels, and directs shoppers to ingredient and allergen information for freshly baked bread.
ALDI’s range includes wholemeal multigrain bread and multigrain rolls with grains and seeds.
PLUS lists multigrain bread and Schär Gluten-Free Master Baker Mehrkorn.
Dirk’s range includes Bakker van der Akker Multikorn multigrain rolls with seeds and kernels.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ means that bread is made from at least three types of grain. It may contain gluten-containing grains such as wheat, rye, barley or spelt. If you need to avoid gluten, look for an explicit gluten-free label, then check the other ingredients and allergens.
Yes. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that information about the allergens that must be declared has to be available for non-prepacked bread too. Check the information at the point of sale or ask specifically about your allergen in the bread you want to buy.
Not automatically: a gluten-free label doesn’t mean that the bread is free from sesame. For example, Albert Heijn lists sesame as an ingredient in its Consenza sliced gluten-free multigrain bread. Check the current packaging of each product for your allergens and any warnings.
Don’t assume so without checking the product information. The regulation on iodised bread salt published via Overheid.nl has been withdrawn, so it doesn’t guarantee that a particular loaf contains iodised salt. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre describes bread as an important source of iodine, but if you’re choosing bread based on its iodine content, you’ll need information about the specific product.
