Everyday budget shoppers
If you often buy bread for breakfast and lunch, choose an amount you’ll actually use. A fine wholemeal loaf is a useful point of comparison; just check whether you’re looking at a whole or half loaf.
Who is this for?
Label readers
You want to check that it’s labelled wholemeal and be able to read the nutritional information, ingredients and allergens for the variety you choose. Fibre and salt are easiest to compare when both values are given per 100 g.
Fans of coarser bread
You’re looking for a different texture, crust or style, but don’t want to judge by appearance alone. Even with boerenbrood or vloerbrood, check that it is explicitly labelled wholemeal.
What should you look for?
First, check that it’s labelled wholemeal. Then choose the style and quantity you’ll use, and compare nutritional values on the same basis.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity for everyday use | Compare whole and half loaves, and check the weight and storage instructions. | If you eat bread every day, choose an amount you can use without unnecessary waste. For around 42% of consumers, quantity is the main consideration when buying repeatedly. |
| Wholemeal label and packaging | Look for the wholemeal label and compare fibre and salt per 100 g; check the allergen information too. | You want to be sure which bread you’re choosing and be able to assess its nutritional information and ingredients. Around 33% of consumers give checking the label top priority. |
| Texture and style | See whether fine, coarse, boerenbrood or vloerbrood suits your preference; always check again that it’s labelled wholemeal. | For lunch, you might prefer a coarser texture or a different style of loaf to a fine one. This is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming dark or multigrain bread is wholemeal
The colour and appearance of a loaf don’t tell you whether it’s made from 100% wholemeal flour. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre defines wholemeal bread by the type of flour used.
Look for an explicit wholemeal label on the bread you choose.
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Letting a prominent fibre claim make the decision for you
A variety with a different fibre claim won’t automatically suit your taste or texture preferences better. Nutritional values also apply to the specific loaf.
Read the nutritional information per 100 g and compare fibre and salt alongside the style of bread you want.
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Expecting every wholemeal loaf to contain the same amount of salt
Albert Heijn lists iodised salt in the ingredients for AH Volkoren heel. That doesn’t tell you which salt is used in a different loaf.
Read the ingredients on packaged bread, or ask which salt has been used for unpackaged bread if this matters to your choice.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
A useful reference if you want to compare the ingredients and nutritional information for a specific wholemeal variety.
- For AH Volkoren heel, Albert Heijn lists 6.9 g of fibre and 0.9 g of salt per 100 g, and iodised salt in the ingredients.
- Don’t apply the information for AH Volkoren heel to another variety; check its own label.
Jumbo
A useful reference if you want to assess a fine wholemeal loaf using nutritional values per 100 g.
- For Fijn Volkorenbrood, Jumbo lists 7.6 g of fibre and 1.0 g of salt per 100 g.
- Don’t apply the values for this fine variety to a coarse wholemeal loaf.
Lidl
Worth considering if you want to assess wholemeal bread while shopping.
- Check that the packaging for your chosen loaf says wholemeal, and review the nutritional information.
- Base your choice of a specific variety on the information provided for that loaf.
ALDI
A useful reference if you want to compare Fijn volkoren heel with the separate Extra vezelrijk volkorenbrood heel variety.
- ALDI presents fine wholemeal bread and a separate extra-fibre variety as different bread options.
- Don’t assume the extra-fibre variety is suitable for everyone based on its name; check the nutritional information for the specific loaf.
PLUS
A useful reference if you want to look at a coarse wholemeal loaf with listed nutritional values.
- For Grof volkoren heel, PLUS lists 6.8 g of fibre and 1.01 g of salt per 100 g.
- Check the packaging of the loaf you choose: ingredients and nutritional values may change.
Dirk
A useful reference if you want to compare the shape and style of different wholemeal loaves.
- Dirk lists Vloerbrood volkoren heel and Bakker van der Akker Boeren volkoren heel as separate varieties.
- For your chosen variety, check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information on the current label.
Related Joybuy products
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Frequently asked questions
Is dark or brown bread always wholemeal?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour; you can’t tell from the colour alone. Look for an explicit wholemeal label.
Should I compare fibre and salt per slice or per 100 g?
Compare them per 100 g, so differences in slice and loaf weight don’t skew the comparison. For Grof volkoren heel, PLUS lists 6.8 g of fibre and 1.01 g of salt per 100 g; for Fijn Volkorenbrood, Jumbo lists 7.6 g and 1.0 g per 100 g respectively.
Does all wholemeal bread contain iodised salt?
Don’t assume so. Albert Heijn lists iodised salt for AH Volkoren heel, but for another loaf you’ll need to read its ingredients list or ask which salt is used if it’s unpackaged.
Can I freeze wholemeal bread?
Follow the instructions for the bread you buy. For Grof volkoren heel, PLUS recommends freezing it on the day of purchase and using it within one month; Albert Heijn gives the same instruction for AH Volkoren heel.
What does the wholemeal label tell me about allergens?
Wholemeal describes the type of flour used, not the full allergen information. So check the ingredients and allergen information on the specific packaging, even when comparing two wholemeal loaves.