Anyone keeping an eye on fibre
You’re looking for bread labelled wholemeal and comparing the fibre and salt per 100 g. That way, you’re not basing your choice on the bread’s colour or name alone.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Anyone putting together a drinks board
You’re choosing between even slices for open sandwiches and a loaf shape you can share at the table or serve with dips.
Anyone who reads labels carefully
The ingredients, allergens, salt content or information about iodised salt on the exact packaging all matter when you make your choice.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide how you want to serve the bread. Then compare only the label details that matter most to your choice.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for the wholemeal label and compare the fibre per 100 g shown on the packaging. | I want to be sure which bread I’m putting on the board and compare fibre values across different varieties. For around 40% of consumers, this is the most important consideration. |
| Bread shape | Choose between thin slices for toppings, coarser bread or a shape you can serve in pieces. | If I’m making lots of small bites, I want even slices; for dips, I’d rather choose bread I can share. This serving style comes first for around 30% of consumers. |
| Salt and allergens | Check the salt per 100 g, the allergen declaration and, if needed, whether bakers’ salt or iodised salt is listed. | I need to know what ingredients are in the bread before serving it. Around 20% of consumers give these label details the highest priority. |
| Storage | Check the storage instructions and whether the packaging gives guidance on freezing. | For a small drinks gathering, I don’t want to put out more bread than we’ll use. That makes storage the main consideration for around 10% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming dark or multigrain bread is wholemeal
The colour and a rustic-sounding product name aren’t the same as a wholemeal label. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, brown bread can be made with a mixture of wholemeal flour and white flour.
For packaged bread, check the product name; for unpackaged bread, ask which flour has been used.
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Applying a fibre or salt claim to all breads
A comparison applies to the specific product and the stated basis for comparison. For example, ALDI presents its Extra Fibre Wholemeal Bread as having more fibre than standard wholemeal bread, not every bread on the shelf.
Compare the current nutritional information per 100 g and, if the claim is comparative, read the accompanying explanation too.
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Expecting all wholemeal bread to contain iodised salt
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using bakers’ salt is not compulsory. So the wholemeal label doesn’t tell you which type of salt is used in a particular loaf.
If it matters to your choice, look for bakers’ salt or iodised salt in the ingredients list, or ask when buying unpackaged bread.
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Buying a whole loaf without a storage plan
You may have some bread left over after a small drinks gathering, and storage and freezing instructions vary from product to product.
Decide how much you want to serve and, if you plan to freeze any, follow the instructions on the packaging you choose.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
A useful reference for coarse wholemeal loaves if you want to compare breads with visible grain pieces.
- For AH Boeren Coarse Wholemeal Bread, Albert Heijn lists ingredients including cracked wheat and iodised salt.
- Check the current ingredients and allergens on the packaging you choose.
Jumbo
A useful reference for finely sliced wholemeal bread if you’re making evenly sized open sandwiches.
- Jumbo lists 7,6 g of fibre per 100 g for its Fine Wholemeal Bread.
- The product information lists wheat, barley and gluten; also check the statement about possible cross-contamination on the packaging you choose.
ALDI
A useful reference if you want to assess a specific fibre or salt claim.
- According to ALDI, its Extra Fibre Wholemeal Bread has 30% more fibre and 30% less salt than standard wholemeal bread, using NEVO-Online 2021 7.0 as the basis for comparison.
- This comparison applies to this product and doesn’t automatically apply to other ALDI breads.
Lidl
A useful reference if you’re considering a wholemeal wheat sourdough loaf to share with drinks.
- Lidl describes its Rustic Wholemeal Sourdough Bread as a wholemeal wheat sourdough loaf.
- Check the ingredients and allergen information for the bread you’re actually choosing.
PLUS
A useful reference for comparing a whole farmhouse loaf with a wholemeal baguette for drinks.
- PLUS describes its Korenlanders Wholemeal Baguette as a wholemeal wheat sourdough baguette.
- The baguette lists cereals containing gluten and possible cross-contamination allergens; check the exact packaging before serving it.
Dirk
A useful reference for a wholemeal oven-baked loaf if you want to slice or top it yourself.
- Dirk lists a whole Wholemeal Oven-Baked Loaf.
- For a comparison of ingredients, fibre, salt and allergens, read the information on the packaging.
Wholemeal flatbreads and round loaves at Joybuy
The flatbread is ideal for sharing and dipping. The two round loaves from Lekhaven Bakkerij are options if you have time to defrost, bake and cool the bread before serving.
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Souq Lebanese Bread Whole Wheat, 6 P
The product information describes this wholemeal flatbread as ideal for tearing and serving with dips.
It contains wheat and gluten and may contain soya and milk. If it matters to your choice, check the packaging to see which type of salt is used.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread, 2 × 550 g
This pack of two round wholemeal loaves is a good choice for a drinks gathering if you want to slice the bread yourself and can plan the preparation in advance.
The pack contains 2 × 550 g. The product instructions say to defrost the bread, bake it for 11–13 minutes at 220 °C, then leave it to cool for about 30 minutes. Compare the fibre and salt using the nutritional information per 100 g on the packaging.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread, 550 g
This round wholemeal loaf is a separate option if you want to slice the bread yourself for drinks.
The loaf weighs 550 g. The product instructions say to defrost it, bake it for 11–13 minutes at 220 °C and leave it to cool for about 30 minutes. If you want to compare, check the nutritional information per 100 g and the type of salt on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Is brown bread the same as wholemeal bread?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread is made from the entire grain, while brown bread may contain a mixture of wholemeal flour and white flour. If you’re looking for wholemeal bread, check the bread’s label rather than its colour.
How can I identify wholemeal bread for a drinks gathering?
For packaged bread, look for the wholemeal label. For unpackaged bread, ask which flour has been used. To compare varieties, check the current ingredients list and nutritional information.
Does all Dutch wholemeal bread contain iodised salt?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using bakers’ salt is not compulsory. Check whether bakers’ salt or iodised salt is listed in the ingredients for the bread you choose.
Which allergens should I check in wholemeal bread?
Always check the allergen declaration on the exact packaging. The wholemeal breads described from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS list wheat or other cereals containing gluten; some product pages also mention possible cross-contamination allergens.
What should I do with bread left over after a small drinks gathering?
Follow the storage and freezing instructions for the bread you’ve chosen, and divide it into portions if needed. PLUS says its whole Boeren Wholemeal Bread can be frozen at home on the day of purchase and recommends using it within one month.