If you want really thick slices for generously topped snacks or toasties, only choose a whole white loaf if the shop or bakery can confirm it can be sliced the way you want. The words ‘whole’, ‘casino’ and ‘toastie’ don’t tell you how thick the slices are. If you’re buying for several people, also consider how much bread you’ll use, the storage instructions and the ingredients.
For generously topped sandwiches or toasties, the actual slice thickness is what matters most. If you’re buying a whole loaf, first ask whether the shop or bakery can slice it the way you want; the product name alone won’t confirm this.
A whole loaf can be a practical choice for several people, as long as the quantity suits your household’s needs and you have room to store it. Check which loaf sizes are available at your chosen shop.
If you choose white bread for certain snacks, you could also consider wholemeal or brown bread. The Voedingscentrum recommends replacing white bread with these types of bread as much as possible.
First decide whether you need a particular slice thickness. Then choose a quantity your family can use or store, and check the information on the bread you’ve chosen.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Slice thickness | Ask how the bread is sliced or look at a slice before buying several loaves. Also check whether a whole loaf can be sliced the way you want. | For generously topped snacks, I want to know how thick the slices really are; around 33% of consumers prioritise slice thickness. |
| Quantity and where you shop | Compare whole and half loaves, and check what’s available at the shop where you do your shopping. | When several people eat at the table every day, I want to be able to buy enough bread without making unnecessary extra trips to the shops; around 27% of consumers prioritise this convenience. |
| Storage | Read the storage instructions for the specific loaf and decide whether you can freeze some of it in time. | When I buy bread for several days, I want to avoid wasting unused slices; this matters most to around 20% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and nutritional value | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging; compare fibre on the same basis, for example per 100 g. | If family members need to watch what they eat, or I want to consider fibre, the product information needs to suit our needs; around 20% of consumers give this top priority. |
These descriptions don’t tell you how thick the individual slices are. So the loaf may not be right for the generously topped snack or toastie you have in mind.
Ask how the loaf is actually sliced or look at a slice before buying for the whole family.
Buying a large quantity is only useful if your family can eat the bread in time or store some of it. For PLUS Boeren wit heel, PLUS advises storing it in a cool, dark place, or freezing it on the day of purchase and using it within one month.
Read the instructions for the loaf you choose and, if needed, divide it into portions straight away.
Choosing white bread for a particular snack is different from using it as your everyday bread without comparing it with other options. The Voedingscentrum recommends replacing white bread with wholemeal or brown bread as much as possible.
Compare the nutritional information for the breads you actually plan to buy, and consider which types people in your household will eat.
Albert Heijn lists products including AH Wit heel and AH Extra lang lekker casino wit heel.
Jumbo lists Boeren Witbrood Heel and Tosti Brood Wit Half.
Lidl lists an 800 g white loaf as an in-store product.
ALDI lists Bakkersgoud rustiek wit heel and a range that includes half and whole loaves.
PLUS lists Boeren wit heel, 800 g, with information on ingredients, allergens and storage.
Dirk lists products including Bakker van der Akker Casino wit heel and Boeren wit heel.
Follow the storage instructions for the bread you buy, and freeze portions if you won’t use them in time. For Boeren wit heel, PLUS advises storing it in a cool, dark place, or freezing it on the day of purchase and using it within one month.
Yes. If you have an allergy or intolerance, read the information on the packaging of the specific product. For Boeren wit heel, PLUS lists wheat, soya and milk ingredients, among others; Albert Heijn warns that ingredient and allergy information may change.
No. Don’t treat white bread as a like-for-like nutritional substitute for wholemeal bread. The Voedingscentrum recommends replacing white bread with wholemeal or brown bread as much as possible and gives an average of 1,2 g of fibre for a 45 g slice of white bread cut at home; check the packaging for the nutritional information of a specific loaf.
Don’t assume you know the ingredients of a specific product based on the words ‘white bread’ alone. Check the ingredients list or ask for product information if baker’s salt is important to your choice of unpackaged bread.
