If you have a food allergy, don’t choose bread based on the word ‘wholemeal’ alone. First check the current allergen information for the specific loaf and any warnings about cross-contamination. Standard wholemeal bread may contain ingredients you need to avoid, and gluten-free alternatives may contain other allergens. Only compare fibre content and bread types among products that suit your diet.
If you have coeliac disease, a wheat allergy or other dietary advice, the right bread depends on exactly what you need to avoid. Another grain is not automatically a safe substitute for wheat; AllergiePlatform, for example, highlights the similarities between wheat and spelt.
Even if wheat isn’t an issue for you, milk, egg, soya, sesame or nuts, for example, may determine which bread you can choose. Check the information for the specific loaf, including any warning about cross-contamination.
If the allergen information is suitable for your diet, you can compare the fibre content of wholemeal breads. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists wholemeal bread as a type of bread that contains fibre; that alone doesn’t tell you whether it’s suitable if you have an allergy.
Work out which ingredients and warnings are relevant to you, and check these before comparing bread types, fibre or salt. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority distinguishes between allergen information on the label of pre-packed bread and the information that must be made available in another way for unpackaged bread.
| What to check | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wheat and cereals containing gluten | Read the ingredients and allergen information for wheat and any other cereals you need to avoid. Also check for warnings about cross-contamination. | If I need to avoid wheat or cereals containing gluten, my own diet determines which grain base is suitable; an estimated 33% of consumers prioritise avoiding these. |
| Other allergens | Check the current information for this exact loaf for the allergens that affect you, and assess any warning about cross-contamination in line with your personal advice. | If you need to avoid milk, soya or sesame, for example, you can’t rely on the name of the bread type. For an estimated 33% of consumers, another or additional allergen is the main consideration. |
| Wholemeal base and fibre | Compare the ingredients and the stated fibre per 100 g, but only among breads that meet your allergen requirements. | Once I’ve checked the allergens, I want to know how much fibre the bread contains; an estimated 20% of consumers then focus on this comparison. |
| Salt and practical considerations | Compare the stated salt per 100 g and check whether the size you want is available. Check the label again next time you buy it. | If several breads suit my diet, I want to choose based on salt content and size; an estimated 14% of consumers prioritise these practical considerations. |
Wholemeal describes the grain used, not whether the bread is free from allergens. Albert Heijn lists wheat, rye and barley among the allergens present in AH Boeren grof volkorenbrood heel, and also names several other possible allergens.
Use the current ingredients, allergen information and any warnings as your first checks.
A different name for a bread doesn’t tell you whether that type is suitable for your wheat allergy or diet. AllergiePlatform points out that spelt contains proteins also found in wheat.
Choose a substitute grain based on what you need to avoid according to your diagnosis or personal advice, then check the specific product.
Albert Heijn and PLUS warn in their product information that ingredients and allergen information can change. The same bread name therefore doesn’t guarantee that the ingredients are unchanged.
Check the current packaging every time you buy it. For unpackaged bread, ask for the information relating to the loaf you want to buy.
Information about fibre or salt doesn’t tell you whether a bread is free from the allergen you need to avoid.
First choose from breads that meet your allergen requirements, and only then compare the nutritional information.
These examples show what product information you can check for the breads mentioned. A brand listing says nothing about whether its other breads are suitable.
The AH Boeren grof volkorenbrood heel reviewed has allergen information online.
Jumbo lists Céréal Gluten Free Lactose Free Wholemeal Bread, among other products. It’s a different type of bread from standard wholemeal wheat bread.
Lidl publishes an ingredients and allergens overview for its fresh-from-the-oven bread range.
ALDI features an extra-high-fibre wholemeal bread for shoppers who want to compare nutritional information.
PLUS lists allergen information for the specific product PLUS Boeren volkoren heel.
Dirk features wholemeal artisan-style loaves among its breads.
Not without checking the specific loaf: standard wholemeal bread may contain wheat or other cereals containing gluten. Which cereals you need to avoid depends on your diagnosis and diet; also check for other allergens and any warnings about cross-contamination.
Not automatically. Jumbo lists egg, milk, mustard, sesame and soya as possibly present in Céréal Gluten Free Lactose Free Wholemeal Bread. So, as well as checking that it’s gluten-free, check for any allergens that are relevant to you.
Ask for information about the specific type of bread before buying it. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information for unpackaged foods must be made available in a way other than on a packaging label. Lidl, for example, has an online overview of its fresh-from-the-oven bread range.
This type of warning indicates that the named allergen may be present unintentionally; it doesn’t mean it has been added as an ingredient. Assess the warning in line with your personal advice about your allergy, and don’t assume the bread is safe based on its name.
