A wholemeal loaf can work with a set grocery budget if you use it all or freeze it in portions. If you don’t eat much bread, a half loaf may help prevent waste. Check that the specific product is labelled wholemeal and review its nutritional information, bearing in mind that loaves can vary in shape and preparation.
If bread often features on your shopping list, it’s worth considering how much of each loaf you’ll actually use. So look beyond whether to buy a whole or half loaf, and think about what suits your household.
If you live alone or don’t eat bread every day, a half loaf could be a good fit. If you have freezer space, freezing a whole loaf in portions is another option.
If you’re keeping an eye on fibre, salt or allergens, the label on the specific loaf matters more than a general description of the bread category. Compare nutritional information on the same quantity basis.
First, decide which shopping option fits into your usual routine. Then choose a size you’ll use up, and finally check the label on the loaf you’re planning to buy.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Where you shop | Check whether the bread you want is available in store or online, and whether that option suits the way you shop. | With a set grocery budget, I want to be able to buy my usual bread without making an extra trip to the shops. For around 46% of consumers, finding a suitable way to shop comes first. |
| Size and storage | Consider whether a whole or half loaf suits how much you eat, and whether you can freeze it in portions. | If I don’t eat many slices, I don’t want some of the loaf to go stale before I get to it. That’s why around 36% of consumers prioritise a suitable size and easy storage. |
| Label | Check the wholemeal claim, ingredients, allergens and nutritional information for the specific product. | If fibre, salt or ingredients influence my choice, I want to be able to check the loaf’s own packaging. For around 18% of consumers, label information is their top priority. |
If you can’t use up a loaf, you may end up wasting some of it. How much bread you can eat in time is just as important as choosing between a whole or half loaf.
Choose a half loaf if that better suits how much you eat, or freeze a whole loaf in portions after buying it.
The colour of a loaf or a description such as ‘multigrain’ doesn’t, by itself, tell you whether it’s wholemeal.
Check the wholemeal claim on the packaging. If you have specific dietary requirements, also read the ingredients, allergen information and nutritional details.
A supermarket with an online bread range, for anyone who wants to order bread along with their other groceries.
A supermarket offering, among other things, whole and half loaves of its own-brand wholemeal bread.
An option for anyone who buys bread during a visit to a store.
An in-store option offering a sliced Fijn volkoren whole loaf and a separate Extra vezelrijk volkorenbrood option.
A supermarket with a range of wholemeal breads available to order online.
An in-store option offering, among other things, Vloerbrood volkoren heel.
This selection includes a pack of flatbreads, a round wheat loaf and a rye option. Consider which shape and preparation method best suit your day-to-day needs; these aren’t like-for-like whole or half loaves.
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This pack could suit you if you prefer individual flatbreads to slices from a whole loaf. It’s a different type of bread from a typical sliced wholemeal loaf, so check the packaging for ingredients, allergens and storage instructions after opening.
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This 550 g round loaf could suit you if you want to freeze bread and use it later. Bear in mind that the product information says it needs to be defrosted before use and baked in a fan oven. Check the instructions on the packaging.
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This 500 g rye option is different from a standard sliced wheat loaf. The name mentions a bun, while the description refers to sliced rye bread, so check the shape before buying and read the packaging for the exact product’s allergen information.
Check whether the packaged bread is labelled wholemeal and read the ingredients list. According to Voedingscentrum, ‘multigrain’ tells you which types of grain have been used, but doesn’t automatically mean the bread is wholemeal.
Choose a whole loaf if you’ll use it all or can freeze some in portions. If you don’t eat much bread, a half loaf may help prevent waste. Let your own eating habits and available freezer space guide your choice.
No, that isn’t required by Dutch regulations. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that iodine compounds may be present in bread through the addition of baker’s salt, with a maximum of 65 mg of iodine per kg of salt. This limit doesn’t mean that every loaf contains this salt. If the ingredients matter to you, check the label on the specific bread.
Read the allergen information on the packaging for the exact product. Ingredients and allergens can vary between loaves; according to Voedingscentrum, allergens must be listed on the label.
