Everyday budget shoppers
If you buy bread regularly, comparing size and weight is more useful than looking only at the price per pack. A half loaf and a whole loaf won’t always meet the same needs, either.
Who is this for?
Shoppers who compare nutritional information
If you want to compare fibre, salt and ingredients as well as cost, check the values per 100 g on each pack. This makes it clear that the nutritional information applies to the specific version you’ve chosen.
Small households
For a small Mother’s Day breakfast or a household that doesn’t eat much bread, the quantity may matter more than the size of a whole loaf. The Voedingscentrum advises that opened wholemeal bread keeps for 2–4 days in a kitchen cupboard and 1–3 months in the freezer.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, work out how much bread you need. Then compare packs of the same size and check the information that matters most to you.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Comparable cost | Compare whole and half loaves and their weight; where possible, check the price per kilo. | If I don’t need much bread, I don’t want to buy more just because a whole loaf looks appealing by pack price. For around 33% of consumers, being able to compare prices usefully comes first. |
| Wholemeal, fibre and salt | Check the product description and compare fibre and salt per 100 g. | I want to choose a wholemeal loaf whose nutritional information I can weigh up against another version. This is the most important consideration for around 27% of consumers. |
| Ingredients | Read the ingredients list and allergen information; if you have questions about iodine, check whether baker’s salt is listed. | If an ingredient matters to me, I don’t want to rely on the name of the bread. Around 20% of consumers give this check top priority. |
| Quantity and storage | Check the pack size and storage advice for the bread you’re buying. | For a small breakfast, I want to be able to eat or store what I buy without throwing bread away. This is the main consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
-
Comparing a half loaf and a whole loaf by pack price alone
A lower price for a half loaf doesn’t automatically make it cheaper per kilo or per slice eaten.
Check the weight and, where possible, compare the price per kilo. Choose the smaller size if the quantity you need is what matters most to you.
-
Assuming every loaf is made with baker’s salt
According to the Voedingscentrum, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So the name wholemeal bread doesn’t tell you whether this ingredient has been used.
Read the ingredients list or ask the baker or supermarket if the presence of baker’s salt is relevant to your choice.
-
Buying more bread than you can eat in time
A large loaf won’t save you money if some of it goes uneaten. The Voedingscentrum advises that opened wholemeal bread keeps for 2–4 days in a kitchen cupboard.
Choose a size that suits how much you eat, or see if you can freeze the bread in portions after buying it.
-
Relying on the name of the bread to check for allergens
The term wholemeal doesn’t replace the ingredients and allergen information on the specific pack. Product information can also change.
Check the label on the bread you’re actually buying if you need to avoid a particular ingredient.
Brands to compare
Albert Heijn
Worth considering if you’re looking for a whole wholemeal loaf and want to take storage information into account too.
- For AH Extra Long-Fresh Wholemeal Whole Loaf, Albert Heijn says it can be frozen at home on the day of purchase.
- Check the pack when you buy it: Albert Heijn says ingredients and product information may change.
Jumbo
Worth considering if you want to compare the pack size and nutritional information for Fine Wholemeal Bread.
- Jumbo also shows a price per kilo for this product, so you don’t have to look at the pack price alone.
- Read the allergen information on the pack you choose if ingredients are important to you.
Lidl
Worth considering if you want to look at an 800 g fine wholemeal loaf in store.
- Lidl lists Fine Wholemeal as 800 g, giving you a specific weight to compare with other loaves.
- Lidl marks this product as available in store only, so check the latest information there.
ALDI
Worth considering if you want to choose between a half Fine Wholemeal loaf and a whole loaf from the range.
- A half-size loaf may suit you if you need less bread for a small breakfast.
- Don’t compare a half loaf directly with whole loaves without taking the quantity into account.
PLUS
Worth considering if you want to look at different wholemeal loaves and check the product information for each version.
- For its whole Boeren Wholemeal loaf, PLUS says it can be frozen on the day of purchase.
- PLUS says in-store prices may differ due to local or interim changes.
Dirk
Worth considering if you’re looking at a whole or half round wholemeal loaf from the Bakker van der Akker range mentioned.
- The choice between a whole and half loaf helps you pick a quantity that suits your breakfast or weekly bread consumption.
- Check the weight before comparing the price per kilo of the whole round loaf with another version.
Wholemeal bread on Joybuy
These two round wholemeal loaves from Lekhaven Bakkerij differ in pack size: one 550 g loaf or two loaves of 550 g each. For a small breakfast, focus on how much you need and remember to allow for preparation at home.
Image unavailable
Lekhaven Bakkerij round wholemeal country loaf 550 g
The pack containing one loaf may suit you if you don’t need two loaves for breakfast.
Contents: 550 g. Allow time to defrost and bake in a fan oven. Check the unit on the label when comparing nutritional values.
Image unavailable
Lekhaven Bakkerij round wholemeal country loaf 2 × 550 g
The pack containing two loaves suits a larger requirement, provided you can use both.
Contents: 2 × 550 g. Allow time to defrost and bake in a fan oven; check the storage advice for any bread you won’t use straight away.
Frequently asked questions
How should I compare the nutritional information for wholemeal bread?
Compare fibre and salt on the same basis, for example per 100 g on the labels of the loaves you’re considering. The Voedingscentrum also gives average values per 50 g slice, but these don’t replace the information for a specific product.
Does every Dutch wholemeal loaf contain baker’s salt?
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list or ask if this matters to your choice.
How long can I keep opened wholemeal bread?
The Voedingscentrum advises that opened wholemeal bread keeps for 2–4 days in a kitchen cupboard and 1–3 months in the freezer. Choose an amount you can use within that time, or check the storage advice on the pack.
Can I rely on the word wholemeal if I need to avoid an allergen?
No. The word wholemeal doesn’t replace the allergen information. Read the ingredients and allergen details on the specific pack before eating the bread.
Will an online bread price stay the same until Mother’s Day?
Don’t assume so: prices and local availability can change. PLUS, for example, says in-store prices may differ from those on its website, so check the price of the loaf you’ve chosen shortly before buying.