Choose a whole white multiseed loaf if you’re planning several meals and want the texture of white bread with seeds. A bread roll may be a better fit for a single meal, while wholemeal bread is worth comparing if fibre matters more to you. Whatever type you choose, check the ingredients, nutritional information and allergens for the specific product.
You want to buy bread for several meals without any going to waste. Choose a type that you can eat or freeze in time. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre identifies bread as one of the product groups where reducing waste can make a difference.
You want to keep the texture of white bread, with seeds or kernels for a bit of extra bite. Check the ingredients list to see which grains and seeds the bread actually contains: a multiseed loaf, a bread roll and a baguette can all differ.
You want to compare the fibre content of white seeded bread with a wholemeal option, or you need to avoid certain ingredients. In that case, the product description, nutritional information and allergen information matter more than the name on the front of the pack.
First, work out how much bread you’ll actually use. Then compare the type of bread, fibre content and allergens of products that suit your meals.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity and leftovers | Choose a whole loaf or individual rolls based on how many meals you have planned; check the storage instructions too. | If I can’t finish a whole loaf in time, I’d rather choose a suitable amount or freeze portions. Around 34% of consumers prioritise avoiding leftovers. |
| White bread and seeds | Read the product description and ingredients list to find out which grains and seeds or kernels are included. | I’m mainly looking for the texture of white bread with the bite of seeds, not necessarily a wholemeal base. For around 33% of consumers, this combination is the main reason for choosing it. |
| Fibre and type of bread | Compare fibre per 100 g and check whether the bread is labelled wholemeal. | Fibre matters more to me than my preference for white bread, so I also want to look at wholemeal bread. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this comparison. |
| Allergens | Check the latest allergen information, even for a product labelled gluten-free. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, the allergen information determines whether a bread is suitable for me. Around 8% of consumers put this check first. |
White bread can contain seeds and kernels without being made with wholemeal flour. So the name alone won’t tell you what type of bread you’re buying.
Check the product description and compare fibre per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends replacing white bread with wholemeal or brown bread as often as possible when choosing between these types.
An individual roll and a whole loaf suit different numbers of meals. You may end up with leftovers from a larger loaf if you don’t use it in time.
Decide in advance how many portions you need and follow the storage instructions for any bread you plan to eat later.
Bread that is left uneaten goes to waste.
The regular white multiseed bread described by Jumbo contains wheat, soya and sesame. According to the product information, Odenwald’s gluten-free white seeded roll also contains sesame and soya.
Read the allergen information for the specific product, including any warnings about ingredients it may contain.
The mention of baker’s salt or iodised salt in one bread doesn’t tell you what type of salt is used in another white seeded bread.
If the type of salt matters to you, check the ingredients list of the bread you want to buy.
These examples show the types of bread described by the retailers mentioned. Always compare the product information for the specific variety you choose.
Albert Heijn described AH Meerzadenbroodje wit as a white bread roll made with wheat and rye.
Jumbo describes Boeren Licht Meerzaden as a whole white wheat loaf with seeds and kernels. Its range also includes a gluten-free white seeded roll by Odenwald.
PLUS describes a 90 g rustic white wheat and rye roll with toasted seeds and kernels.
Lidl describes its Steenoven baguette meergranen as a white multigrain baguette with kernels and seeds.
ALDI lists Bakkersgoud Rustiek licht meerzaden in its freshly baked bread range.
Dirk sells bread under the name Bakker van der Akker, including casino wit.
No. Adding seeds doesn’t automatically make the grain base of white bread wholemeal. Check the product description and fibre per 100 g if you’re choosing bread for its fibre content.
Yes. Gluten-free doesn’t mean free from other allergens. For example, the white seeded roll by Odenwald described by Jumbo contains sesame and soya, so check the allergen information for the exact product.
You can’t tell from the type of bread. Check the ingredients list for the specific bread to see what type of salt it contains.
Choose an amount that suits your meals, or freeze portions of a whole loaf according to the storage instructions. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre identifies bread as one of the product groups that is often wasted at home.
