Households buying bread for several weeks
If you want to shop less often, choose portion sizes that match what you actually use. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists the freezer as a way to store wholemeal bread.
Who benefits from buying bread in bulk?
Daily bread eaters who keep an eye on fibre
If bread is often on the menu, you can compare the wholemeal label, fibre per 100 g, ingredients and allergens of the breads you’re considering.
Households with a specific dietary priority
If you’re looking for extra fibre or a low-carbohydrate option, compare the rest of the nutritional information and the allergens too. A product claim doesn’t tell you how its overall composition compares with that of another loaf.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, choose a type of bread your household will eat and work out how much you need at a time. Then compare the label. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping wholemeal bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2–4 days, or in the freezer for 1–3 months.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Storing your stock | The bread’s storage instructions and portion sizes that suit how much you use. | I want to be able to use several loaves without leaving the last slices on the worktop. For around 36% of consumers, keeping their stock usable is the top priority. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | The wholemeal label, ingredients and fibre per 100 g. | If I eat bread every day, I want to know whether it really is wholemeal and be able to compare its fibre content. Around 29% of consumers prioritise this choice. |
| Shop and type of bread | The whole or half loaves available and the latest information from the shop you use. | I want a type of bread my household will finish and that I can buy from my usual shop. For around 21% of consumers, this practical choice of shop matters most. |
| Specific composition | The full nutritional information per 100 g and the allergens in the exact variety. | If I’m looking for a particular variety, I don’t want to rely on the claim on the front alone. For around 14% of consumers, a specific nutritional or allergen priority comes first. |
Common mistakes
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Mistaking brown or multigrain bread for wholemeal
A dark colour or the word ‘multigrain’ doesn’t mean the same as the wholemeal label. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, a product can only be called wholemeal if all its grain ingredients consist of wholemeal flour.
For packaged bread, look for the wholemeal label and read the ingredients on the pack you’re buying.
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Keeping all your loaves out of the freezer at once
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a shorter storage time for wholemeal bread in a kitchen cupboard than in the freezer. This can make it difficult to get through a large purchase in time.
After buying bread, divide it into portions that suit a meal or a day’s use, and follow the storage instructions on the pack.
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Assuming low-carbohydrate means lower in energy
A lower carbohydrate content doesn’t, on its own, tell you anything about the amount of fat or energy. So Jumbo’s low-carbohydrate wholemeal variety can’t be judged on that claim alone.
Compare the full nutritional information per 100 g and check the allergens in the variety you’ve chosen.
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Assuming every loaf contains iodine
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds can be present in bread through the use of added baker’s salt. This doesn’t mean that every individual loaf contains baker’s salt with iodine.
Check the information for the specific bread, or ask the baker which salt was used if this matters to your choice.
Brands to compare
These brands offer a range of wholemeal breads. Compare the information for the specific bread and pack you want to buy, not just the name of the shop.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn offers, among other options, whole and half wholemeal loaves in various styles.
- A handy way to compare different types of bread within one range.
- Check the latest product information when you buy, as the range and ingredients may change.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers both Fine Wholemeal Bread and a low-carbohydrate wholemeal variety.
- Jumbo lists 7,6 g of fibre per 100 g for its Fine Wholemeal Bread.
- Assess the low-carbohydrate variety against the rest of its nutritional information and its allergens too.
Lidl
Lidl offers, among other options, 800 g fine wholemeal bread and rustic wholemeal sourdough bread.
- Two different types of bread to compare in store.
- Lidl marks these varieties as available in store only, so check the packaging there.
Aldi
ALDI offers fine wholemeal bread, wholemeal multigrain bread and a high-fibre wholemeal variety.
- These varieties give you the chance to compare different types of bread and their nutritional information.
- Check the current label on a high-fibre variety rather than relying on the claim on the front alone.
PLUS
PLUS offers, among other options, a whole Farmer’s wholemeal loaf.
- PLUS states that this loaf can be frozen at home on the day of purchase and should be used within one month.
- Check the ingredients and allergens on the pack you choose too.
Dirk
Dirk offers, among other options, a whole wholemeal hearth loaf and a whole farmhouse wholemeal loaf.
- Worth considering if you want to compare these two types of bread in store.
- Read the packaging for the ingredients and nutritional information of the bread you choose.
A type of bread on Joybuy
As well as whole and half loaves, you could also consider packaged Lebanese flatbread for individual meals. Before stocking up on several packs, check the storage and freezing instructions for this specific product.
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Souq Lebanese wholemeal flatbread, 6 pieces
This pack is an option if you want to enjoy flatbread with individual meals. Before buying a larger stock, check the pack for storage instructions before and after opening.
Frequently asked questions
How can I identify wholemeal bread?
Check whether the bread is clearly labelled as wholemeal. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, a product can only be called this if all its grain ingredients consist of wholemeal flour; a brown colour or the word ‘multigrain’ isn’t enough.
How long can I store wholemeal bread for my stock?
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends storing wholemeal bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2–4 days, or in the freezer for 1–3 months. Divide bread into useful portions and follow the storage instructions on the specific pack too.
Does every Dutch wholemeal loaf contain baker’s salt with iodine?
No, this doesn’t follow from the Dutch rules on iodine compounds in bread. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that adding iodine through baker’s salt is permitted. Check the information for the bread itself or ask the baker which salt was used.
Is wholemeal bread automatically gluten-free?
No. The wholemeal breads described by Jumbo and PLUS contain wheat or other gluten-containing grains. Check the allergen information on the exact pack for every variety.