Serving white bread with a Sunday roast? Choose a sliced loaf whose slices you can check before buying: the name ‘white bread’ doesn’t guarantee that it’s medium-sliced. Check the ingredients and allergen information on the label too, and choose a half or whole loaf to suit your party. If you eat bread regularly and fibre is important to you, compare wholemeal bread as well; according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread in particular contains more fibre than white bread.
You want slices that work well with the way you serve the bread, whether with a topping or gravy. So check the actual slice thickness in store or on the packaging, rather than relying on the online product name alone.
You want to know whether a particular loaf contains baker’s salt and which allergens are listed. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says baker’s salt is not compulsory, so you’ll need to check each loaf individually.
You’re choosing white bread for this meal, but may also want to compare the nutritional information when buying bread you eat more often. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre notes that wholemeal bread in particular contains more fibre than white bread.
Start with the slices you want to serve. Then check the label and choose a loaf size to suit the number of people you’re feeding.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Slice thickness and serving | Check whether the loaf is sliced, and look at the slices on the packaging, on the shelf or at the bakery counter. | If I’m serving bread with a roast, I want slices that work well with my topping or gravy. Around 40% of consumers are expected to prioritise this convenience when serving. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the ingredients list for baker’s salt or iodised salt, and check the listed allergens. For unwrapped bread, ask for allergen information. | If I count bread as a source of iodine or need to avoid an ingredient, I want to be able to check the label. Around 30% of consumers are thought to consider this their main concern. |
| Size and planning | Compare a half and a whole loaf, and check the date, storage instructions and availability at your shop. | I want to buy enough bread for my guests without having too much left over. For around 30% of consumers, size and practical availability are likely to be the main priority. |
Baker’s salt is not compulsory, according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. So if you count bread as a source of iodine, you can’t assume it contains any based on the type of bread alone.
Look for ‘baker’s salt’ or ‘iodised salt’ on the label, or ask about it if the bread is unwrapped.
The type of bread or the word ‘sliced’ doesn’t tell you how thick the slices are. This matters if you want to serve the bread in a particular way.
Check the slices on the packaging, on the shelf or at the bakery counter before you choose.
The name and colour of a loaf don’t tell you everything about its ingredients. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens must be clearly identifiable on the label.
Read the allergen information for the loaf you’ve chosen. If it’s unwrapped, ask for this information before you buy it.
Slices that go well with a Sunday roast don’t tell you anything about the fibre content. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread in particular contains more fibre than white bread.
If fibre is also an important factor when choosing bread you eat more often, compare the nutritional information for white and wholemeal bread.
Albert Heijn lists several types of white bread online, including sandwich loaves, tiger loaves and hearth-baked loaves in whole and half sizes.
Jumbo lists a white bread product online with an ingredients list and nutritional information.
PLUS lists sandwich loaves and farmhouse white bread online, including half sizes.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, baker’s salt is not compulsory. Check the ingredients list for ‘baker’s salt’ or ‘iodised salt’ on the loaf you’ve chosen, or ask if the bread is unwrapped.
Read the allergen information for the specific loaf rather than relying on its name or colour. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergens must be clearly identifiable on the label. If the bread is unwrapped, ask for the information before you buy it.
For a Sunday roast, you can choose the type of bread to suit how you want to serve it. If fibre is a priority when choosing bread you eat more often, wholemeal bread is worth comparing too: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread in particular contains more fibre than white bread.
Check the date and any storage instructions on the packaging of the loaf you’ve chosen, and follow the instructions. Also compare a half and a whole loaf with the number of people you’re planning to serve.
