If you have a food allergy, start by checking the ingredients and allergen information for the exact bread, rather than relying on the ‘wholemeal’ label or pack size. Standard wholemeal wheat bread isn’t suitable if you need to avoid gluten or wheat; for other allergies, ingredients and warnings vary by product. Only then compare how much bread you need and can store, so you don’t buy bread you can’t eat or use up.
If you need to avoid a particular ingredient, you’ll need information about both the ingredients present and the risk of cross-contamination. The latest information for the exact bread is more important than its name.
You’re looking for bread for breakfast or lunch that’s suitable for your allergy. After that, the size and the amount you’ll actually eat will help you decide.
Standard wholemeal wheat bread isn’t a suitable alternative. If you need to avoid gluten, look for bread explicitly labelled gluten-free; if you need to avoid wheat, check the ingredients for wheat even on gluten-free bread.
First, work out which ingredients you need to avoid and check the label on the exact product. Then consider the size and storage options for bread that’s suitable for you.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Your specific allergens | Check the ingredients and any statements about allergens present or possible contact with allergens. If you’re buying unwrapped bread, ask about the exact product. | If I need to avoid an ingredient strictly, I want to know whether this particular bread is suitable for me too. Around 50% of consumers check allergen information first. |
| Everyday use | For bread that’s suitable for your allergy, compare the weight and how many slices you’ll use. | For my everyday sandwiches, I want to choose a size that suits how much I eat. This is the main consideration for around 30% of consumers. |
| Storing and using it up | Choose a suitable size and follow the storage instructions if you plan to freeze some of the bread. | If I’m unlikely to get through a whole loaf quickly, I want to avoid throwing some of it away. Using up the bread is the main concern for around 20% of consumers. |
Wholemeal wheat bread contains wheat and gluten, so it isn’t a gluten-free choice. If you have a wheat allergy, there’s more to check than just a gluten-free label.
If you have coeliac disease, check for a gluten-free label. If you have a wheat allergy, also check the ingredients for wheat, following the advice that applies to your situation.
Bread you can’t eat because it contains an ingredient you need to avoid isn’t a useful budget option. What’s more, products with similar names may list different allergens.
First, narrow your search to bread whose latest allergen information suits your needs. Then compare size and how you’ll use it.
Ingredients can vary between types of bread, so a general guide won’t necessarily tell you what’s in the loaf on the shelf.
Before buying, ask for the allergen information for that exact product. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says information about allergens present must be available where unwrapped products are sold.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread is one of the foods that’s often wasted in the Netherlands. A larger size won’t help if some of it goes uneaten.
Choose a size that suits how much you eat, and follow the pack instructions if you want to freeze the bread.
The product page for AH Volkoren heel provides allergen information for this specific product.
Jumbo Fijn Volkoren has a product page with separate allergen information.
Lidl provides an ingredients and allergen guide to its freshly baked bread range.
ALDI’s bread range includes Extra vezelrijk volkorenbrood.
The product page for PLUS Boeren volkoren heel lists ingredients, allergens and storage information for this product.
Dirk stocks various wholemeal breads, including Vloerbrood volkoren heel and Bakker van der Akker Boeren volkoren heel.
These two Lekhaven Bakkerij products are wholemeal wheat breads that you can store and bake later. They’re only an option if wheat and gluten are suitable for you; check the latest packaging for information about other allergens.
No image available
For anyone who can eat wheat and gluten and wants to store bread to bake later.
The ingredients listed include wheat and gluten. The bread needs to be defrosted and baked in a fan oven, so you’ll need to plan ahead. Check the packaging for other relevant allergens and for storage and preparation instructions.
No image available
For anyone who can eat wheat and gluten and wants to store a single loaf to bake later.
The ingredients listed include wheat and gluten. You’ll need a fan oven to bake the bread. Check the packaging for other relevant allergens and follow the preparation instructions on the pack.
Standard wholemeal wheat bread isn’t suitable. If you have coeliac disease, look for a product explicitly labelled gluten-free; if you have a wheat allergy, also check that the ingredients and allergen information are suitable for you.
Before buying, ask for information about the exact loaf. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says information about allergens present must be available where unwrapped foods are sold; a general guide to the range isn’t a substitute for checking the specific product.
No. ‘Wholemeal’ doesn’t tell you which other ingredients or possible allergens the bread contains. Jumbo Fijn Volkoren and PLUS Boeren volkoren heel each list allergens as well as the grains used, so always check the latest information for the exact product.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, baker’s salt contains added iodine, but bakers aren’t required to use it. Check the label or, if you’re buying unwrapped bread, ask which salt is used in that product.
