For your first grocery shop, choose wholemeal sourdough if you’re mainly looking for an everyday loaf and wholemeal is your top priority. Choose a lighter option if flavour and crumb matter more for this particular meal. Check the ingredients and allergens for each variety. If it’s relevant to your iodine intake, also check whether baker’s salt has been used: the word ‘sourdough’ doesn’t tell you either of these things.
For breakfast and lunch, you’ll want to check that the bread really is wholemeal. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that a dark colour or the name ‘multigrain’ doesn’t prove this on its own; look for the word ‘wholemeal’.
If you’re serving it straight away, the crust, crumb and sourdough flavour may determine your choice. Also check whether the bread is ready to eat or needs baking at home.
If you have questions about gluten, other allergens, added baker’s yeast or baker’s salt, the product name isn’t enough. Read the details for the exact variety, or ask about them if you’re buying unwrapped bread.
First, decide what you’re buying the bread for: as an everyday wholemeal staple, for its flavour and freshness, or to meet a specific ingredient requirement. Then check whether your chosen variety is available and how to prepare it.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal for everyday eating | Look for the word ‘wholemeal’ on the bread; don’t rely on its dark colour or the name ‘multigrain’ alone. | If bread is often part of my breakfast or lunch, I want to know whether I’m really choosing wholemeal. For around 36% of consumers, wholemeal is the top priority. |
| Sourdough flavour and eating occasion | Choose the type of bread you want and check whether it’s ready to eat or needs baking at home. | If I want to serve the bread straight away, flavour, crust and crumb matter most; around 29% of consumers give these their top priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the allergen and ingredient information for the exact variety. Check for baker’s yeast and baker’s salt too, if needed. | If an ingredient is important to me, I can’t rely on the word ‘sourdough’. For around 21% of consumers, checking the label comes before the other choices. |
| Availability and preparation | Check what your local shop stocks and, for part-baked bread, follow the preparation instructions. | If I need the bread on this grocery shop, I want to know whether my shop has the right variety and whether I’ll need to bake it at home. For around 14% of consumers, this is the first thing they consider. |
Sourdough doesn’t tell you whether a loaf is made with wholemeal flour. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says to look for the word ‘wholemeal’ on the bread.
If wholemeal is your top priority, check for that wording before choosing between sourdough varieties based on flavour.
Sourdough bread can also contain baker’s yeast. For example, PLUS lists both ingredients in Korenlanders Desem Wit, as well as wheat and rye.
If you have an ingredient preference or an allergy, read the information for the exact variety. Don’t assume it’s gluten-free just because it’s called sourdough.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bread doesn’t have to be made with baker’s salt. The name of a sourdough loaf won’t tell you whether it’s been used.
If baker’s salt is relevant to your choice, check the label or ask about it when buying unwrapped bread.
The freshly baked selection can vary between shops. For example, ALDI’s range of freshly baked bread is available in shops with an in-store bakery.
If you want a particular variety, check what’s available at the shop where you plan to do your grocery shopping.
Albert Heijn, Jumbo, Lidl and PLUS list specific sourdough options. At ALDI, you can browse wholemeal and freshly baked bread without assuming these varieties are sourdough; Dirk lists sourdough in its bread range. Always check the details for the loaf you’re actually choosing.
A shop where you can compare wholemeal sourdough with other sourdough varieties.
A shop where you can compare a wholemeal sourdough option with a separate sourdough variety labelled gluten-free.
A shop to look at if you’re after a specific wholemeal sourdough loaf.
A shop to browse for fresh wholemeal bread and oven-fresh options.
A shop to browse for white sourdough and freshly baked sourdough bread.
A shop where you can look for sourdough and wholemeal options in the bread section.
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bread doesn’t have to be made with baker’s salt. Check the label to see whether it’s been used; if you’re buying unwrapped bread, ask about it if it’s relevant to your choice.
No, sourdough and baker’s yeast can be used in the same loaf. PLUS lists 8% sourdough and baker’s yeast in Korenlanders Desem Wit. Check the ingredients of the variety you’re buying.
No. The word ‘sourdough’ doesn’t mean bread is gluten-free; wheat and rye contain gluten. If you need gluten-free bread, check the explicit product description and allergen information for the exact variety.
Ask for the allergen information for the specific loaf before buying. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that information about unwrapped products can be provided to consumers in ways other than on a label.
Follow the storage instructions for the variety you’ve chosen. PLUS says to store Korenlanders Desem Wit in a cool, dry, dark place; for part-baked bread, also check the preparation instructions on the packaging.
