Who is this choice relevant to?

Crust and dip lovers

You’re looking for bread to share with a meal or dip into a sauce. Look for freshly baked bread or a sourdough baguette you can finish baking at home; Jumbo and PLUS describe these options in their own ranges.

Shoppers looking for wholemeal bread

You want sourdough, but choose your loaf primarily based on the grain. Check that it’s labelled wholemeal. According to the Voedingscentrum, a dark colour or the name sourdough alone doesn’t mean a loaf is wholemeal.

Shoppers who check ingredients

You want to know which allergens are present and what the label says about salt before you buy. For packaged bread, read the product information; for unpackaged bread, ask for allergen information. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says retailers must provide this information to consumers.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, decide what matters most for your fakeaway night: finishing the bread close to serving time, choosing a wholemeal option or checking what it contains. Then compare specific loaves, as white, wholemeal and ready to bake at home don’t all describe the same feature.

What to consider What should you check? Who is this most important for?
Crust and serving time Check whether the bread is freshly baked in store or needs to be baked at home. If you’re buying part-baked bread, follow the preparation instructions for that product. I want to serve bread with dips and finish baking it around dinnertime, but I’ll need to fit in a trip to the shop or time to bake it. Around 40% of consumers put this serving preference first.
Wholemeal and fibre Look for the wholemeal label and compare the fibre per 100 g in the specific loaves you’re considering. According to the Voedingscentrum, the name sourdough alone doesn’t indicate that a loaf is wholemeal. I mainly want a wholemeal base for my sandwiches, even if a white baguette better suits the meal I have in mind. This is the main priority for around 30% of consumers.
Ingredients and allergens Check the ingredients, allergens, any ‘may contain’ statements and salt per 100 g. To check for iodine, look for iodised salt in the ingredients. For unpackaged bread, ask for allergen information. If I need to take ingredients or allergens into account, I want to check the information for the exact loaf I’m buying before I purchase it. This is the main concern for around 30% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming sourdough means wholemeal

    Sourdough describes how the bread is made, not whether it’s made with wholemeal flour. A white sourdough loaf isn’t automatically a wholemeal choice.

    Look for the wholemeal label on the packaging or in the product name. According to the Voedingscentrum, you can’t tell from the colour or the term multigrain.

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

    The name sourdough or artisan doesn’t tell you which allergens may be present. For example, PLUS’s white sourdough baguette lists wheat and spelt in its ingredients.

    For packaged bread, check the ingredients and allergen information. For unpackaged bread, ask about the allergens in that specific loaf before you buy it.

  • Confusing freshly baked bread with bread to bake at home

    Bread baked in store means a trip to the shop, while bread you finish baking at home needs to be prepared. Jumbo says its freshly baked sourdough loaves aren’t available to order online.

    Check in good time whether your chosen loaf is available at your local store. If you’re buying bread to bake at home, read the instructions before planning your meal.

  • Buying a large loaf without a plan for leftovers

    If you have bread left after the meal, it may go stale before you get round to eating it. According to the Voedingscentrum, bread goes stale more quickly in the fridge.

    Choose a size that suits the number of people eating, and freeze any bread you won’t use soon.

Supermarket chains to consider

Albert Heijn

A chain where you can compare OerDesem varieties with loaves from the Liefde & Passie OerDesem range.

  • Albert Heijn lists, among other options, a wholemeal OerDesem Allinson loaf.
  • Check the information and availability of each specific loaf before choosing.

Jumbo

An option if you’re looking for sourdough that’s baked in store before your meal.

  • Jumbo describes a range of rustic sourdough loaves.
  • Jumbo says these in-store bakery loaves can’t be ordered online; check with your chosen store.

Lidl

A chain where you can compare rustic sourdough loaves with different grain labels.

  • Lidl lists, among other options, rustic wholemeal sourdough and organic multigrain sourdough.
  • Check the ingredients and allergens for the specific product, especially if the type of grain matters to your choice.

ALDI

A chain where you can look at freshly baked bread and bread to bake at home.

  • ALDI describes both fresh bread and part-baked rolls.
  • Check in store or among the specific products available to see whether there’s a sourdough loaf to suit your meal.

PLUS

A chain where you can look at both sourdough and a white sourdough baguette to bake at home.

  • PLUS’s white sourdough baguette includes preparation instructions for the oven and air fryer.
  • The baguette is made with white wheat flour and lists wheat, spelt and iodised salt; check the ingredients for each product.

Dirk

A chain where you can compare sourdough with other types of bread in the range.

  • Dirk lists sourdough alongside white, wholemeal and multigrain bread.
  • Check the ingredients and wholemeal label on each loaf if these are important to your choice.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does sourdough tell you anything about the fibre content of bread?

No, the name sourdough doesn’t tell you how much fibre the bread contains. Look for the wholemeal label and compare the nutritional information per 100 g if you’re choosing between specific loaves.

Is brown or multigrain sourdough always wholemeal?

No, brown or multigrain doesn’t automatically mean wholemeal. According to the Voedingscentrum, the wholemeal label on the packaging indicates that the bread is made with wholemeal flour.

Does sourdough bread always contain iodised salt?

No, you can’t tell from the name sourdough. Check the ingredients list for your chosen loaf; PLUS, for example, lists iodised salt in its white sourdough baguette.

How do I check for allergens in unpackaged sourdough?

Ask about the allergens in that specific loaf before you buy it. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says retailers must inform consumers about allergens present in non-prepacked food.

What should I do with sourdough bread left over after a meal?

Freeze any bread you won’t eat soon, and avoid storing it in the fridge, where it goes stale, according to the Voedingscentrum. The Voedingscentrum recommends keeping wholemeal sourdough bread for 2–4 days in a kitchen cupboard or 1–3 months in the freezer.