Ordinary wholemeal bread is only an option if the current allergen information is suitable for the allergy in your household: ‘wholemeal’ does not mean allergen-free. If someone needs to avoid gluten, choose bread labelled gluten-free and check for possible cross-contamination too. Only then compare the fibre content of suitable options. If ordinary bread is off the menu, it’s also worth considering your iodine intake as part of your overall diet.
If you need to avoid gluten, ordinary wholemeal bread made with wheat, rye or barley is not suitable. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends looking for the ‘gluten-free’ label or the Crossed Grain symbol. If you have a wheat allergy, you’ll also need to check the wheat information on the specific product; a gluten-free label does not replace this check.
If you need to avoid milk, soya, sesame, nuts or lupin, for example, check the current ingredients, allergen information and relevant warnings for each loaf. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority distinguishes between allergen information on prepacked products and the information that must be available for non-prepacked products.
If ordinary wholemeal bread is suitable for the allergies in your household, the nutritional information can help you compare fibre content. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread is particularly high in fibre. If someone in your household needs to avoid an allergen, always check the information for the specific product.
When: wheat and gluten don’t need to be avoided, and the current allergen information is suitable for your household.
Consider: you can check the packaging at home, but wholemeal bread isn’t automatically free from other relevant allergens.
When: gluten needs to be avoided; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends looking for ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain symbol.
Consider: gluten-free labelling alone tells you nothing about the fibre content or whether the bread is suitable for another allergy.
When: the retailer can confirm before purchase whether the bread contains the allergen you need to avoid.
Consider: without packaging to check yourself, you’ll need to rely on the retailer for product-specific information.
When choosing bread for a household with a food allergy, check for the allergen that needs to be avoided before comparing nutritional values.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Avoiding gluten or wheat | If you need to avoid gluten, check for a gluten-free label and read the current packaging. If you have a wheat allergy, check the wheat information separately. | If I need to avoid gluten, I want to be able to identify suitable bread and avoid contact with ordinary bread crumbs. For around 42% of these consumers, avoiding gluten or wheat comes first. |
| Other allergens and warnings | Read the ingredients, listed allergens and relevant warnings. For unpackaged bread, ask for the information for that particular variety. | If I’m allergic to milk or sesame, for example, I want to know what’s in this particular loaf. Around 33% of these consumers prioritise checking for other allergens. |
| Fibre and iodine | Compare the fibre content per 100 g within suitable product groups. If you’re cutting out ordinary bread, consider your iodine intake as part of your overall diet. | Once I’ve found a suitable option based on allergens, I also want to consider the nutritional value of my bread or replacement. Around 25% of these consumers prioritise this consideration. |
The name of a loaf doesn’t rule out wheat, gluten or other allergens. For example, the product pages for Jumbo Fijn Volkoren and PLUS Boeren volkoren heel list cereals containing gluten.
Start by checking for the allergen that needs to be avoided, then read the current information for the specific loaf.
A recipe or allergen information can change. Albert Heijn and PLUS note in their product information that you should check the packaging when you buy.
For packaged bread, read the current packaging. For unpackaged bread, ask for information about the variety on offer before buying.
A gluten-free label doesn’t tell you how much fibre a loaf contains. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also points out that ordinary bread can contribute to iodine intake in the Netherlands.
Once you’ve checked the allergens, compare the fibre content per 100 g. If you need to avoid gluten long term, consider discussing your overall nutritional intake with a specialist dietitian.
If you need to avoid gluten strictly, it’s not just your choice of bread that matters. Contact with ordinary bread during storage and preparation matters too.
Assess relevant warnings in line with your personal advice, and watch out for crumbs on chopping boards, in toasters and on kitchen utensils when preparing food.
Albert Heijn provides online information about individual wholemeal breads.
Jumbo publishes ingredients and allergen information for individual breads, including Fijn Volkoren.
Lidl has an ingredients and allergen guide for its fresh-from-the-oven bread range.
ALDI lists a range of wholemeal breads and provides allergen information for its bakery range.
PLUS provides product pages with ingredients, allergens and nutritional information for wholemeal bread.
Dirk lists a range of breads online, including wholemeal varieties.
No. ‘Wholemeal’ doesn’t mean that a loaf is free from allergens. Ordinary wholemeal bread may contain wheat and gluten, and other allergens or warnings may also be relevant, depending on the recipe. Check the current information for the allergen that needs to be avoided.
Yes. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information must be available to customers for unpackaged foods. Before buying, ask for information about the bread on offer rather than relying on its name.
If you need to avoid gluten, don’t choose ordinary bread made with wheat, rye or barley. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends looking for ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain symbol. Check the current packaging too, and avoid contact with ordinary bread crumbs when preparing food.
Compare the fibre content per 100 g in breads that are suitable for your allergy requirements, and consider your overall diet. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre notes that ordinary bread is a source of iodine in the Netherlands. If you need to avoid gluten long term, a specialist dietitian can help assess your nutritional intake.
