Who is this choice relevant to?

Planning sandwiches for Asian night

You’re looking for wholemeal bread to serve with savoury fillings and want to check the slice thickness before you buy.

Label-conscious wholemeal shoppers

You look beyond the colour or the term ‘multigrain’ and check the product description, ingredients, nutritional information and allergens.

Shoppers considering loaf size and where to shop

You’re looking for a whole or half wholemeal loaf at your usual supermarket, but also want to know whether the slices will suit your filling.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start by looking for the label ‘wholemeal’. Then consider whether the slices will suit your filling, and compare the other label details and loaf size.

What to consider What to check when buying Who is this most important for?
Genuinely wholemeal Look for the label ‘wholemeal’ and check the ingredients if you’re unsure. Colour, seeds and ‘multigrain’ are not substitutes for this label. I want to avoid mistaking dark or multigrain bread for wholemeal bread; around 36% of consumers prioritise verifiably wholemeal bread.
Slice thickness and texture Check the packaging or ask in store whether the slices are medium-cut. ‘Sliced’ on its own doesn’t tell you how thick they are. When serving savoury fillings, I want to know in advance whether the slices will suit my sandwiches; this is the most important consideration for around 29% of consumers.
Ingredients and nutritional information Read the allergen information, compare salt per 100 g and, if you wish, check whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed in the ingredients. I need to know what’s in the bread before serving it; around 21% of consumers prioritise this label information.
Loaf size and where to shop Choose a whole or half loaf to suit how much you’ll use, and check the product you’ve selected at your shop. I want to be able to pick up a suitable size as part of my usual shop; this is the most important factor for around 14% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming dark, multigrain and wholemeal mean the same thing

    According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, a product can only be called wholemeal if all the flour used is made from whole grains. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that ‘multigrain’ means several types of grain have been used; it does not mean the same thing.

    Check the ‘wholemeal’ label and the ingredients list rather than relying only on the colour or visible seeds.

  • Reading ‘sliced’ as ‘medium-cut’

    The product listings for Jumbo Fijn Volkoren and AH OerDesem volkoren Allinson describe sliced bread, but don’t specify the thickness of the slices.

    Check the packaging or the slices in store, and ask for medium-cut bread if that’s important for your filling.

  • Assuming every loaf contains baker’s salt

    The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bread does not have to be made with iodised baker’s salt. The type of salt used can therefore vary from loaf to loaf.

    To find out what type of salt a loaf contains, look for ‘baker’s salt’ or ‘iodised salt’ in the ingredients list.

  • Looking at a claim without checking the loaf size

    The extra-high-fibre wholemeal bread listed by ALDI is a whole loaf. A claim about fibre or salt doesn’t tell you whether the loaf is pre-sliced or how thick the slices are.

    Compare the nutritional information with the loaf size, ingredients and slice thickness you want before choosing.

Brands worth comparing

These supermarket listings give you a starting point for comparing wholemeal bread. Check the size, slice thickness and label details of your chosen loaf yourself.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists AH OerDesem volkoren Allinson as a whole, sliced wholemeal loaf.

  • The product information includes details such as ingredients, nutritional information and allergens.
  • ‘Whole, sliced’ doesn’t confirm that the slices are medium-cut. Its crisp crust and open texture are a separate choice.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists Jumbo Fijn Volkoren as a whole wholemeal loaf.

  • For this loaf, Jumbo lists 7.6 g of fibre and 1.00 g of salt per 100 g, along with ingredients and allergen information.
  • The name ‘fijn volkoren’ doesn’t specify a measurable slice thickness.

ALDI

ALDI lists several wholemeal breads, including fine and extra-high-fibre varieties.

  • Its daily fresh range includes whole and half loaves, so you can compare sizes.
  • The extra-high-fibre wholemeal bread listing is for a whole loaf and doesn’t confirm that the slices are medium-cut.

PLUS

PLUS’s wholemeal range includes round fine wholemeal bread in whole and half sizes.

  • The different sizes give you a starting point for choosing the right amount.
  • Check the details for the specific loaf to find out about slice thickness, ingredients and allergens.

Dirk

Dirk’s search results show several wholemeal breads from Bakker van der Akker, including whole and half loaves.

  • You can compare different bread shapes and sizes side by side.
  • A search result doesn’t confirm that the slices are medium-cut or that the bread is available at your local shop.

Joybuy products related to this topic

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘sliced’ mean the same as ‘medium-cut’?

No. ‘Sliced’ tells you that the bread is sold pre-sliced, not how thick the slices are. Check the packaging or shelf label, or ask in store if you’re specifically looking for medium-cut bread.

Is all bread in the Netherlands made with iodised baker’s salt?

No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that using baker’s salt when baking bread is not compulsory. Check the ingredients list of your chosen loaf to see whether it lists ‘baker’s salt’ or ‘iodised salt’.

What if I want to avoid wheat or gluten in bread?

Don’t choose the Jumbo and AH breads mentioned without checking their allergen information first: these examples list wheat and gluten or gluten-containing grains. Check the ingredients and allergens for each loaf individually.

What size loaf is right for one Asian night?

Choose a whole or half loaf based on how many sandwiches you want to make and what you’ll do with the rest. Albert Heijn says that AH OerDesem volkoren Allinson can be frozen at home on the day of purchase; for other breads, follow the instructions on the packaging.