If you’re moving into student accommodation and regularly eat sandwiches, first check whether the multigrain sourdough is labelled wholemeal and whether a whole loaf will fit in your freezer. If you tend to eat less bread at a time, a small loaf or bake-at-home option may be more practical, provided you have the necessary equipment; fresh bread from the shop means making a trip to buy it. Whatever you choose, check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging, even if you’re looking for iodised salt.
If you want to buy multigrain sourdough for breakfast or lunch, check separately whether it’s labelled wholemeal. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain means that several types of grain have been used; the word doesn’t tell you whether the bread is wholemeal.
If you eat at different times, it matters how much bread you open at once. A sliced loaf that you can freeze in portions, a small loaf or a bake-at-home option may be a better fit for the space and equipment you have available.
If iodised salt, grain ingredients or allergens matter to your choice, check the details for the specific loaf. The words sourdough and multigrain on their own don’t tell you this.
When you’re shopping, decide what matters most: a clear wholemeal label, a size that suits your eating habits or the chance to check specific ingredients.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for a wholemeal label on the packaging and, if nutritional information is available, compare the fibre per 100 g. | I want to know whether the bread is labelled wholemeal for my everyday sandwiches, rather than judging by its colour or seeds. For around 30% of consumers, checking that it’s wholemeal is the top priority. |
| Size and storage | Check the weight and freezing instructions. For bake-at-home bread, make sure you can use the required oven or air fryer. | With limited storage space and irregular mealtimes, I don’t want to open more bread than I can eat. That’s why around 40% of consumers prioritise size and storage. |
| Salt and allergens | Read the current ingredients and allergen information; look for iodised salt or baker’s salt if needed. | If I need to check the type of salt or certain grain ingredients, I want to be able to do so on the packaging before I buy. For around 30% of consumers, checking the ingredients is their main concern. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the label multigrain tells you which types of grain have been used, not that the bread is wholemeal. A dark colour or visible seeds don’t tell you that either.
Look for a wholemeal label, then read the ingredients and nutritional information if you want to compare loaves.
Words such as organic, artisan, sourdough and multigrain don’t tell you whether a specific loaf contains iodised salt.
For packaged bread, look for iodised salt or baker’s salt in the ingredients list. If the bread is unwrapped, ask which type of salt has been used.
A bake-at-home option requires equipment and time to prepare. PLUS gives oven or air fryer instructions for its multigrain sourdough baguette; Jumbo says its fresh sourdough loaves baked in store aren’t available to order online.
Check that you can bake it in your kitchen, or plan a trip to the shop if you want to buy freshly baked bread.
Sourdough doesn’t mean that a bread is gluten-free. Standard multigrain sourdough loaves may contain ingredients such as wheat, rye or spelt.
If you need a product labelled gluten-free, check that label and the allergen information on the specific packaging.
A good option if you’re looking for packaged, sliced multigrain sourdough and want to check its nutritional information and freezing instructions.
Worth comparing if you want fresh bread from the shop as well as a smaller, packaged multigrain sourdough baguette.
A good option if you’re looking for a small multigrain sourdough loaf or a bake-at-home sourdough baguette.
Worth a look if you’re specifically after an organic brown multigrain sourdough loaf.
A good place to compare multigrain bread with wholemeal multigrain bread in store.
Worth a look if you want to compare separate multigrain and sourdough options during a shop visit.
Not necessarily. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain means that at least three types of grain have been used. Check separately whether the bread is labelled wholemeal and read the ingredients.
No. Sourdough isn’t a gluten-free label, and the multigrain sourdough products mentioned from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS contain gluten-containing cereals. If you need a gluten-free product, check the label and allergen information on the specific packaging.
Look for iodised salt or baker’s salt in the ingredients list on the packaging. Don’t assume what salt has been used based on words such as organic or sourdough; ask if the bread is unwrapped.
Choose a size that suits how much bread you eat at once and how much storage space you have. Albert Heijn says its 800 g sliced OerDesem dark multigrain loaf can be frozen at home on the day of purchase. For a small bake-at-home option, also factor in the preparation time and the equipment you have available.
