When choosing tiger bread for a canteen lunch, don’t base your decision solely on the crust or the word ‘sourdough’. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that sourdough bread is made without baker’s yeast. So, if a verifiable sourdough process matters, check the raising agent, then look separately for the ‘wholemeal’ label and the fibre content per 100 g. Make sure you have up-to-date allergen information for the canteen menu, and check the label if the presence of iodised salt matters to your choice.
If you want bread that has been leavened with sourdough, check the raising agent rather than relying on the product name. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre describes sourdough bread as bread made without baker’s yeast; PLUS, by contrast, lists both baker’s yeast and inactivated wheat sourdough powder in its Volkoren tijger.
If you’re choosing tiger bread mainly by flour type and fibre content, compare the ‘wholemeal’ label and the nutritional information per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that wholemeal bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour; the tiger crust doesn’t tell you which type of flour has been used.
When bread is offered unpackaged, consumers must be told how to access allergen information. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that information about unpackaged products must be provided in a way other than on packaging. Also check the current product specification whenever a new delivery arrives.
Before choosing tiger bread for a canteen lunch, decide whether the sourdough process, wholemeal flour or product information matters most. The crust alone won’t answer any of these questions.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Raising agent | Read the ingredients or ask the baker what the bread has been leavened with. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says sourdough bread is made without baker’s yeast. | I want the bread to have actually been leavened with sourdough, not just to contain a sourdough ingredient. This is the top priority for around 40% of consumers. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Check for the ‘wholemeal’ label and compare the fibre content per 100 g shown for the specific loaves. | For my everyday lunch, the flour type and stated fibre content matter more than the crust alone. This is a priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Product information | Check the latest allergen and ingredient information. Look for a mention of baker’s salt or iodised salt if iodine is relevant to your menu. | If I serve bread in the canteen, I want to be able to explain the allergens and know which ingredients are in the delivery. This information is the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
PLUS lists both baker’s yeast and inactivated wheat sourdough powder in its Volkoren tijger. That differs from the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s description of sourdough bread, which is made without baker’s yeast.
If sourdough leavening is a firm requirement for your canteen menu, ask for the ingredients and have the method used for that specific loaf confirmed.
Tiger bread comes in white, brown and wholemeal varieties, among others. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bread labelled ‘wholemeal’ is made from 100% wholemeal flour.
Assess the flour type and nutritional information separately from the crust, and compare the fibre content per 100 g across the varieties you’re considering.
Product information can change. For unpackaged canteen bread, consumers must be able to get allergen information without a label on the bread, as explained by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority.
Keep the information for the bread you’re serving up to date. If you change supplier or recipe, check the product specification again.
If not all the portions are used at lunch, you may have bread left over.
Choose quantities based on expected demand. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends freezing bread in portions straight after purchase.
These ranges give you an idea of the tiger bread varieties and separate sourdough ranges you may come across. Always check the label of the loaf you choose for the canteen: a sourdough range doesn’t mean that every tiger loaf from the same brand is sourdough bread.
Tiger bread in various flour types, including AH Tijger volkoren.
Tiger bread in white, brown and wholemeal varieties, alongside a separate rustic sourdough range.
A range of tiger bread, including tiger brown and a wholemeal variety.
Boeren tijger volkoren, a pre-sliced wholemeal loaf.
Wholemeal tiger bread with product-specific ingredient and nutritional information.
A bread range that includes white and brown tiger bread, as well as separate sourdough options.
Check the raising agent used in the specific loaf. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says sourdough bread is made with sourdough (starter) and without baker’s yeast. So, a mention of sourdough alongside baker’s yeast isn’t enough to class the bread as sourdough bread made without baker’s yeast.
No, you can’t tell from the name tiger bread. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that using baker’s salt isn’t compulsory. Check the ingredients for the loaf you’ve chosen or ask the baker which salt they have used.
Before choosing the bread, ask which allergens the specific product contains and where you can find the latest information. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that consumers must be given allergen information for unpackaged products in a way other than on a packaging label.
If you want to keep bread, freeze it in portions straight after purchase, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. When you next place an order, base the number of loaves on expected demand.
