Shoppers comparing fibre
You’re looking for wholemeal bread for a regular savoury breakfast and comparing fibre per 100 g, rather than judging by the colour or seeds.
Who are these choices relevant to?
Shoppers keeping an eye on salt in bread and toppings
You often have savoury toppings on your bread and want to consider the bread’s salt content alongside your choice of topping.
Households checking allergens
You’re buying bread for someone who needs to avoid gluten or other allergens. In that case, the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging are what matter.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start with the product description, then compare the nutritional information per 100 g. Finally, choose a bread shape that suits your toppings or the way you like to eat breakfast.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Particularly relevant to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Read the product description and ingredients; compare fibre per 100 g. | If I’m looking for wholemeal bread, I don’t want to have to rely on its dark colour. Around 36% of shoppers would put identifying wholemeal bread and comparing fibre first. |
| Salt and savoury toppings | Compare the salt content of bread per 100 g and factor in your choice of topping. | When I have a sandwich with a savoury topping, I want to think about what I put on it as well as the bread. For around 29% of shoppers, that combination would be their first consideration. |
| Bread shape | Decide whether you want slices, pieces of bread to share or a shape that’s suitable for dipping. | If you want bread for dipping or an open sandwich, you may choose a different shape from the one you’d pick for an everyday sandwich. Around 21% of shoppers would prioritise the shape of the bread. |
| Allergens and gluten | Check the current packaging for ingredients, allergen information and any gluten-free labels. | If I’m buying bread for someone who needs to avoid an allergen, the ingredients have to be right first. Around 14% of shoppers would make this their first condition when buying bread. |
Common mistakes
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Mistaking dark or multigrain bread for wholemeal
Having several types of grain, seeds or a dark colour doesn’t in itself mean that all the grain is wholemeal. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority links the wholemeal label to a grain ingredient made entirely from wholemeal flour.
Read the product description and ingredients, then compare fibre per 100 g.
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Relying on a claim about extra fibre as your only comparison
A comparative claim doesn’t tell you exactly how much fibre and salt a bread contains per 100 g. According to ALDI, its Extra Fibre Wholemeal Bread has 30% more fibre and 30% less salt than a standard wholemeal bread, using NEVO-Online 2021 7.0 as the basis for comparison.
Compare the current nutritional values per 100 g with those of the bread you would otherwise choose.
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Judging the bread on its own
Toppings count as part of a savoury breakfast too. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that savoury toppings can also contain a lot of salt or saturated fat.
Consider the bread and topping together when putting your breakfast together.
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Relying on out-of-date product information
Ingredients and allergen information can change. This is particularly important when someone needs to avoid a specific allergen.
Check the packaging of the bread you’re actually buying, even if you’ve read information about it online before.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists a range of wholemeal breads and bread shapes online.
- You can compare bread shapes to find one that suits the breakfast you want to make.
- Open the details for each product to compare ingredients and fibre per 100 g.
Jumbo
Jumbo Fijn Volkoren is a sliced wholemeal wheat loaf with nutritional information available online.
- Jumbo lists 7,6 g of fibre and 1,00 g of salt per 100 g for this bread.
- The allergen information includes wheat, barley and gluten; check the current packaging if you need to avoid these.
Lidl
Lidl lists options including fine wholemeal bread and rustic wholemeal wheat sourdough.
- The different shapes let you choose between everyday sandwiches and a different type of bread for breakfast.
- Check the nutritional information and allergens on the packaging for the specific bread.
ALDI
Alongside its regular wholemeal bread, ALDI offers an Extra Fibre Wholemeal Bread.
- The extra-fibre option gives you a specific alternative to compare with a standard wholemeal bread.
- ALDI’s comparative claim doesn’t replace checking the current fibre and salt values per 100 g for both breads.
PLUS
PLUS stocks options including fine wholemeal bread and wholemeal baguettes.
- PLUS lists 6,7 g of fibre and 1,03 g of salt per 100 g for Rond fijn volkoren.
- PLUS notes that product information may change; check the ingredients and allergens on the current packaging.
Dirk
Dirk lists products including Boeren volkoren heel and Boeren Extra vezels volkoren heel from Bakker van der Akker.
- You can compare a standard whole loaf with an option carrying an extra-fibre claim.
- Compare the nutritional information and allergens for the specific breads on their current labels.
Bread shapes and alternatives on Joybuy
These products offer different options for a savoury breakfast: soft bread, rye bread and crispbread. Crispbread isn’t a substitute for a regular filled sandwich if you’re looking for soft, sliced bread. A round loaf that needs baking also requires some preparation.
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Souq Lebanese Bread Whole Wheat 6 P
A bread shape for dipping or filling as part of a savoury breakfast. If you have allergies, check the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging.
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Bolletje Rye Bread Bun 500 g
A rye bread option if you’d like something other than wheat bread with your savoury breakfast. The packaging states 500 g; if you need to avoid gluten, check the current allergen information.
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g'woon wholemeal crispbread 375 g
A crunchy base for savoury toppings, rather than regular sliced bread. The packaging states 375 g; check the current allergen information before choosing it for someone with an allergy.
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Bolletje Whole Grain Crispbread 265 g
A crunchy option for savoury toppings if you prefer crispbread to soft bread. The packaging states 265 g; check the current ingredients and allergens, including sesame.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread 550 g
A round loaf for savoury toppings when you have time to defrost and bake it first. The packaging states 550 g; follow the baking instructions on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
How can I identify wholemeal bread for a savoury breakfast?
First, check whether the bread is labelled as wholemeal. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority links this label to a grain ingredient made entirely from wholemeal flour; a dark colour is not proof. Then compare the fibre per 100 g on the label.
Is multigrain bread automatically wholemeal?
No. Multigrain and wholemeal don’t mean the same thing. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain refers to the use of different types of grain. Check the wholemeal description and ingredients separately.
Should I check the salt in savoury toppings too?
Yes, consider both the bread and the topping. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that savoury toppings can contain a lot of salt. Compare the salt content of different breads using the same 100 g basis.
Is regular wholemeal bread suitable if I need to avoid gluten?
Don’t assume it is: wholemeal bread made with wheat, rye, barley or spelt contains gluten-containing grains. For a gluten-free option, check the specific label and allergen information on the current packaging.