If you want bread for one meal without leftovers, an individual white multiseed roll is a practical choice. A whole white multiseed loaf works well if you freeze the rest in portions straight away. Seeds don’t make white bread wholemeal. If fibre is your main priority, compare it with seeded wholemeal bread too, and check the ingredients and allergens for each product.
You eat one bread-based meal at a time and want either an individual roll or a whole loaf with the remaining slices to freeze. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends freezing bread in portions as soon as you buy it.
You want to stick with a white bread base but enjoy the texture of ingredients such as linseed, sunflower seeds or sesame. The seeds in the loaf vary from product to product.
You want to compare different types of bread by their fibre content and are less concerned about having a white bread base. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends replacing white bread with wholemeal or brown bread as much as possible.
Start by choosing a size that suits what you need for one meal. Then compare the type of bread, the nutritional information and any ingredients that matter to you.
Best for: one bread-based meal when you don’t want to store a whole loaf.
Consider: buying a roll individually makes portioning easy, but you should still check the allergens and nutritional information.
Best for: several meals when you plan to use a few slices at a time.
Consider: divide the loaf into portions after buying it and freeze any slices you won’t eat soon, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
Best for: when the type of bread and its fibre content matter more than having white bread.
Consider: you’ll be choosing a different type of bread. Compare the fibre content of specific products per 100 g rather than assuming that seeds on the crust make a loaf wholemeal.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most relevant to? |
|---|---|---|
| Portion size | Check the weight or the stated number of portions. If you’re buying a whole loaf, consider whether you can freeze the remaining slices straight away. | If I only need bread for one meal, I don’t want to be left with a whole loaf. An estimated 36% of consumers prioritise finding a suitable portion size. |
| White bread base and seeds | Check that it’s white bread and see which seeds are listed in the ingredients. | I want to stick with a white bread base but still taste and feel the seeds. An estimated 29% of consumers say this combination is their main reason for choosing it. |
| Fibre and type of bread | Compare fibre per 100 g and check whether wholemeal flour is the main ingredient; seeds alone don’t make bread wholemeal. | If fibre is my main priority, I want to be able to compare white bread with a wholemeal option too. An estimated 21% of consumers prioritise this consideration. |
| Allergens and labelling | Read the current ingredients list and allergen information. If you wish, compare the salt content per 100 g too, and check whether iodised salt is listed. | If an ingredient isn’t suitable for me, I need to be able to check the packaging before choosing. An estimated 14% of consumers prioritise checking the label. |
White bread can contain seeds without having a wholemeal flour base. So the word ‘multiseed’ doesn’t tell you how much fibre the loaf you choose contains.
Check the ingredients and compare the fibre content per 100 g. If the type of bread is important to you, check specifically whether it’s wholemeal.
If you live alone, you may have slices left over. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists bread among the foods that are often wasted.
Choose an individual roll if you only need bread for now, or freeze the remaining slices from a whole loaf in meal-sized portions straight away.
The white multiseed products mentioned contain ingredients including wheat and sesame; other ingredients and warnings vary by product. The front of the pack doesn’t give you the full picture.
Before buying, read the current ingredients list, allergen information and details of any possible presence of other ingredients.
Whether iodised salt is used depends on the individual product. For example, Albert Heijn lists it for AH Liefde & Passie Meerzaden ongesneden.
If this ingredient matters to you, look for iodised salt or baker’s salt on the packaging. For unwrapped bread, ask for the ingredients information.
Albert Heijn describes AH Liefde & Passie Meerzaden ongesneden as a whole white multiseed loaf weighing 550 g.
According to Jumbo, Jumbo Boeren Licht Meerzaden is a whole white wheat loaf with seeds.
PLUS describes Rustiek meerzadenbroodje wit as an individual roll weighing 90 g.
ALDI describes Bakkersgoud rustiek licht meerzaden as a whole, partly sliced loaf with a seeded crust.
Lidl describes Steenoven baguette meergranen as a white multigrain baguette with seeds.
Dirk describes Bakker van der Akker Boeren meerzaden heel as a brown wheat loaf with seeds.
No. The presence of seeds doesn’t mean the bread has a wholemeal flour base. Check the ingredients to see what type of bread you’re buying, and compare the fibre content per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends replacing white bread with wholemeal or brown bread as much as possible.
Freeze the slices you won’t use soon in portions as soon as you buy the loaf. That way, you can take out what you need for each meal, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
At the very least, check the current packaging for ingredients that matter to you. The products mentioned include ingredients such as wheat and sesame, and the other allergen information varies. Check for warnings about the possible presence of other ingredients too.
No. Check the ingredients for the loaf you’ve chosen. Albert Heijn lists iodised salt in AH Liefde & Passie Meerzaden ongesneden, but that doesn’t tell you anything about other loaves.
Compare the same nutrients per 100 g, even if the products come in different portion sizes. Then consider how much bread you want for one meal. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing products per 100 g as a useful way to assess their labels side by side.
