Nursery food buyers
If you’re choosing bread for regular lunches, first decide whether white bread fits the food policy. In its guidance for childcare settings, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre emphasises wholemeal and brown bread.
Who is this choice for?
Parents with an agreed allergen plan
If you’re packing lunch in line with an individual arrangement, compare the latest ingredients and allergen information on the packaging with that arrangement. The product name ‘sourdough bread’ isn’t enough to determine whether it’s suitable.
Parents who pack lunch in advance
If you prepare portions ahead of time, consider the shape of the bread, its texture for your child and whether it’s available at your usual shop.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, check whether white bread fits the nursery’s arrangements. Then compare the label and shape of the bread: sourdough alone doesn’t determine whether a loaf is white, brown or wholemeal.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Type of bread and fibre | Check whether white bread fits the food policy, and compare it with brown or wholemeal bread before choosing based on sourdough. | If I regularly send bread in for nursery, I want my choice to fit the policy and the preference for fibre. This is a priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Allergen arrangements | Read the latest ingredients and allergen information and check it against the individual arrangements with the nursery. | If there’s an agreed allergen plan, I want to know whether this particular bread is suitable before packing it. This is the most important consideration for around 33% of consumers. |
| Portion size and texture | Check whether the bread is sliced and whether its crust, texture and any seeds are suitable for your child’s eating skills and individual arrangements. | I want to pack lunch in portions my child can manage. This is the most important requirement when choosing for around 20% of consumers. |
| Availability and format | Check where it’s sold and whether the bread is ready to eat or needs preparing. | When I plan my lunch shopping in advance, I want to be able to buy suitable bread in time. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this practical planning. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming sourdough means wholemeal
White sourdough is still white bread. The sourdough process doesn’t change the type of bread. For regular lunches, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s preference for wholemeal and brown bread is particularly relevant.
First, find out which types of bread the nursery includes in its food policy. Only then compare white sourdough options for flavour, crust or shape.
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Relying on the product name to check for allergens
The name ‘sourdough’ doesn’t tell you whether the bread contains wheat or other relevant allergens. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, the type of grain must be stated in the ingredients list when ingredients come from gluten-containing cereals.
When buying, read the latest packaging, including any warnings about possible allergens, and follow the individual arrangements with the nursery.
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Planning to buy in-store bread as part of an online shop
Jumbo says its fresh rustic sourdough breads are sold in store, while Lidl says its Rustic White Sourdough Bread is only available in store. This matters if you order your lunch shopping in advance.
Before your shopping day, check where the bread is sold, what your local branch stocks and what format it comes in. If necessary, choose an alternative in advance that fits the nursery’s arrangements.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn offers AH Liefde & Passie Biologisch OerDesem blond gesneden, a sliced white sourdough option.
- The product information lists ingredients, allergens and nutritional values. Its sliced format is useful when packing portions in advance.
- Check the packaging when you buy it: ingredients and allergen information may change.
Jumbo
Jumbo describes its fresh sourdough breads as available in store and also offers Jumbo Desem Breekbrood Wit, a part-baked product.
- For its white tear-and-share bread, Jumbo lists ingredients including wheat flour and wheat sourdough.
- Allow for preparation time with the part-baked bread, and check your local branch’s range for fresh options.
Lidl
Lidl describes its Rustic White Sourdough Bread as a white wheat sourdough loaf that’s only available in store.
- The description ‘white wheat sourdough’ makes clear what type of bread Lidl is offering.
- Check the ingredients and allergen information on the label in store, and make sure the bread is available at your chosen branch.
PLUS
PLUS offers, among other things, a white sourdough baguette and the smaller Korenlanders Kleintje Desem Wit Zonnepit.
- The different bread formats give you practical options if you want to divide lunch into portions in advance.
- For the sunflower seed option, check that the seeds and latest allergen information fit your child’s arrangements.
White sourdough bread at Joybuy
Related products will be available soon.
Frequently asked questions
Is white sourdough bread suitable as a regular nursery lunch?
White sourdough bread isn’t automatically the best choice for a regular nursery lunch. Because of their fibre content, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre prefers wholemeal and brown bread for children. Check whether white bread fits the nursery’s food policy.
Does sourdough mean that wheat bread is gluten-free?
No. The name ‘sourdough’ doesn’t mean that wheat bread is gluten-free. If a gluten restriction has been agreed, check the latest ingredients and labelling, and follow the individual arrangements with the nursery.
What should I check for allergens before packing lunch?
Compare the latest ingredients and allergen information on the packaging with the arrangements for your child. As well as checking for ingredients that are present, look for warnings about possible allergens relevant to those arrangements.
What does baker’s salt tell you about sourdough bread?
Baker’s salt is iodised salt used to make bread and other baked goods, as defined in the Commodities Act Decree on the Addition of Micronutrients to Foodstuffs. The name ‘sourdough bread’ doesn’t tell you whether it has been used in a particular loaf, so check the ingredients information.