For generously filled sandwiches
With a whole loaf, you can choose exactly how thick to cut the slices. Try one with your intended filling before choosing a loaf for several lunches.
Which type of bread suits your needs?
For canteens serving food quickly
Pre-sliced bread saves time when you’re making lots of lunches in a short period. Just check that the slices suit the quantity and type of filling.
For anyone comparing labels
If you’re checking fibre, salt and allergens as well as the type of loaf, compare the nutrition information per 100 g and read the ingredients for the specific product.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want to cut the slices yourself or mainly need to prepare lunches quickly. Then compare suitable products by their nutrition information and ingredients.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Slice thickness and firmness | Choose a whole loaf if you want to decide how thick to cut the slices; try one with your intended filling. | When I’m adding plenty of filling, I want to cut a slice that suits my sandwich. Around 40% of consumers value this control over slice thickness most. |
| Speed and portions | Check whether the bread is pre-sliced and whether the actual slices suit the portion size you need. | When lots of lunches need to be prepared at once, I want to avoid slicing and make even portions. This is the main priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Nutrition information and allergens | Compare fibre and salt per 100 g, and read the latest ingredients and allergen information. | When I’m choosing bread for others, I want to know what’s in the loaf and how much a serving contains. For around 30% of consumers, checking the label comes first. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a loaf’s name guarantees a certain slice thickness
Terms such as ‘coarse’, ‘farmhouse’ and ‘stone-baked’ can help you search for a type of loaf, but they don’t tell you how thick the slices of a particular product are.
Choose a whole loaf if you want to control the thickness yourself, and try a slice with the filling you plan to serve.
Slicing it yourself takes a bread knife and time during preparation.
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Comparing nutrition per slice without checking the portion size
A slice isn’t a standard unit of measurement. For example, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre uses a 35 g slice for fine wholemeal bread and a 50 g hand-cut slice for wholemeal bread. These are reference portions, not the weight of a slice from every shop-bought loaf.
Compare loaves per 100 g first. Then check the weight of the slices you’ll actually serve.
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Assuming all wholemeal bread contains the same allergens
Ingredients vary between products. PLUS lists wheat, barley and soya among the ingredients in its Coarse Wholemeal Loaf, while Albert Heijn’s wholemeal muesli and nut bread also contains milk, almonds and hazelnuts.
Before buying and serving, check the latest ingredients and allergen information for the exact loaf you’ve chosen.
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Assuming every loaf contains iodised salt
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the conditions under which iodine compounds may be present in bread through baker’s salt. This doesn’t confirm which type of salt was used in an individual loaf.
Check the ingredients list for the loaf you choose.
Brands to compare
These supermarket ranges include a variety of wholemeal breads. Compare the type of loaf and the label for each product, rather than looking at the brand name alone.
Albert Heijn
The range also includes wholemeal bread with added ingredients, such as AH Wholemeal Muesli and Nut Bread.
- This product lists its ingredients and allergens, so you can assess it for your needs.
- Bread with muesli, raisins and nuts isn’t necessarily a suitable substitute for plain bread with savoury fillings.
Jumbo
Jumbo stocks fine wholemeal bread and wholemeal multigrain bread, among other options.
- The different varieties give you a starting point for comparing types of loaf and ingredients.
- Check the actual slice thickness for the product you choose; the name of the loaf doesn’t determine it.
ALDI
ALDI’s bread range includes fine wholemeal bread and other wholemeal varieties.
- With a pre-sliced loaf, you can plan your sandwich preparation without cutting the slices yourself.
- Check whether the product is whole or pre-sliced, and read the nutrition information on the packaging.
PLUS
PLUS stocks Coarse Wholemeal Loaf and other wholemeal loaves, among other options.
- Nutrition information, ingredients and allergens are available for the Coarse Wholemeal Loaf, making it easier to assess as an individual product.
- Use the latest packaging to make your final decision; the word ‘coarse’ doesn’t guarantee a particular slice thickness.
Dirk
Dirk stocks Bakker van der Akker Farmhouse Wholemeal Loaf and Wholemeal Stone-Baked Loaf, among other options.
- A whole loaf gives you the flexibility to cut your own slices for lunch.
- Check the slices and label for the variety you’ve chosen before using the style of loaf as a deciding factor.
Lidl
Lidl’s range includes a Half-Size Extra Wholemeal Loaf, among other options.
- A half loaf may be a suitable pack size if you need less bread.
- Check the packaging for the slices, ingredients and nutrition information for this particular loaf.
Wholemeal bread at Joybuy
These round wholemeal loaves suit anyone who wants to cut their own slices for a canteen lunch. Allow time for preparation before slicing, and try the loaf with your intended filling to see if the thickness works.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij round wholemeal country loaf, 2 × 550 g
For lunches where you want to cut your own slices; allow time to defrost, bake and cool the bread before you start.
Pack size: two 550 g loaves. Check the nutrition information and allergens on the packaging, and try the desired slice thickness with your filling.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij round wholemeal country loaf, 550 g
For anyone who wants to cut their own slices for a filled lunch; allow time to defrost, bake and cool the bread before serving.
Pack size: one 550 g loaf. Read the nutrition information and allergens on the packaging, and test the slice thickness with your planned filling.
Frequently asked questions
Is coarse, farmhouse or stone-baked bread automatically thickly sliced?
No. These names don’t specify the slice thickness of a particular product. Choose a whole loaf if you want to cut thicker slices yourself, and try one with the filling you plan to serve in the canteen.
How do I compare the nutritional value of thick slices?
First compare loaves per 100 g, then calculate based on the weight of your own slice. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives 2.3 g of fibre and 0.33 g of salt for a 35 g slice of fine wholemeal bread, and 3.4 g of fibre and 0.48 g of salt for a 50 g hand-cut slice of wholemeal bread. These figures relate to different serving sizes; they aren’t the label values for the loaves you buy.
Which allergens should I check in wholemeal bread?
Check the ingredients and allergen information for the variety you’ve chosen. PLUS Coarse Wholemeal Loaf lists wheat, barley and soya, among other ingredients; AH Wholemeal Muesli and Nut Bread also lists milk, almonds and hazelnuts. Other varieties may have a different composition.
Do Dutch regulations mean that every loaf contains iodised baker’s salt?
No. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may only be present in bread through baker’s salt, at a maximum of 65 mg of iodine per kg of salt. This requirement doesn’t mean that every loaf is made with it; check the ingredients list for the product you’ve chosen.