Who is this choice relevant to?

Households keeping an eye on fibre

If you want to serve bread with an Italian meal and fibre matters to you, start by looking for the wholemeal label, then compare the fibre content per 100 g. A dark colour or firm crust won’t tell you this.

Label-conscious shoppers

If you need to consider salt or allergens, check the ingredients list, allergen information and nutritional details for the bread you choose. The product name alone isn’t enough, particularly for bread with several grains or added ingredients.

People who want to share bread at the table

If you’re putting together a bread board or serving a meal with dips, the shape of the loaf may guide your choice: sliced bread, a whole loaf or a rustic sourdough. Also check the label if the wholemeal base and nutritional value matter to you.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether fibre, serving style or a specific label requirement matters most to you. Then compare only nutritional values shown on the same basis, such as per 100 g.

Wholemeal loaf

When: if you want to slice a whole loaf or serve it alongside a meal, and compare fibre content.

Bear in mind: fibre and salt levels vary from loaf to loaf; PLUS lists 6.7 g of fibre and 1.03 g of salt per 100 g for Boeren volkoren heel.

Bread with an extra-fibre claim

When: if you’re specifically looking for a product with more fibre or less salt than the stated comparison product.

Bear in mind: according to ALDI’s own product information, its Extra vezelrijk volkorenbrood has 30% more fibre and 30% less salt than standard wholemeal bread. This claim doesn’t automatically apply to other loaves.

Rustic wholemeal sourdough

When: if you want a rustic-style loaf to share at the table; Lidl, for example, lists a rustic wholemeal wheat sourdough loaf.

Bear in mind: the sourdough style doesn’t determine how much fibre or salt the loaf contains. Check the nutritional information for that.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Wholemeal and fibre Look for the wholemeal label and compare fibre per 100 g. According to the NVWA, a product carrying this label must contain grain ingredients made entirely from wholemeal flour. I want to serve bread with a meal, but the wholemeal base and fibre content are what matter most to me. This is estimated to be the main priority for 39% of consumers.
Shape and serving Choose between sliced bread, a whole loaf or a rustic variety; check the nutritional information separately from the style of bread. If the bread is being shared at the table, I mainly want a shape that suits the occasion. An estimated 23% of consumers prioritise this way of serving bread.
Salt and allergens Compare salt per 100 g and read the current ingredients and allergen information, including for products with extra-fibre claims. I can only choose once I know which ingredients and allergens are listed for the bread and how much salt it contains. This label check is the main concern for an estimated 23% of consumers.
Quantity and storage Choose a suitable size and follow the product’s storage or freezing instructions. For one evening, I don’t want to buy more bread than we can use or store. This is the first consideration for an estimated 15% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming dark or rustic bread is automatically wholemeal

    Colour, seeds and bread style don’t prove that the grain ingredients are entirely wholemeal. The NVWA links the wholemeal label to the grain ingredients used.

    Look for the wholemeal label on the product you’re considering, then compare the nutritional information.

  • Assuming a fibre claim answers every question about the label

    More fibre or less salt in a particular product doesn’t tell you whether it’s suitable for someone with an allergy. Bread carrying such a claim may still contain ingredients that matter to you.

    Read the full ingredients and allergen information for the bread you’re buying.

  • Buying a whole loaf without a plan for leftovers

    If bread is being served with just one meal, a whole loaf may be more than you’ll use that evening.

    Choose a suitable size or check how to store any leftover bread. PLUS says that Boeren volkoren heel can be frozen at home on the day of purchase and used within one month.

    Leftover bread needs storage space and a plan for using it later.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn’s bread range includes products such as AH Tijger volkoren heel and AH OerDesem volkoren Allinson.

  • Gives you a starting point for comparing a standard wholemeal loaf with a wholemeal sourdough variety.
  • Check the current nutritional information and allergen details for the loaf you choose.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists products such as Fijn Volkoren and several bread formats in its wholemeal range.

  • Offers different bread formats that you can compare when choosing what to serve with your meal.
  • Don’t use the nutritional values for one Jumbo loaf as a guide to a different variety.

Lidl

Lidl lists a rustic wholemeal wheat sourdough loaf and displays a fibre indicator on packaged breads.

  • The sourdough variety is worth considering if you’re looking for a rustic-style loaf.
  • Compare the ingredients, allergens and nutritional values using the current product information.

ALDI

ALDI describes its Extra vezelrijk volkorenbrood as a separate product variety.

  • According to ALDI’s own product information, this bread has 30% more fibre and 30% less salt than standard wholemeal bread.
  • The comparison applies to this specific product; check the label of any other bread you’re considering.

PLUS

PLUS lists the ingredients, allergens and nutritional values for its Boeren volkoren heel bread.

  • PLUS lists 6.7 g of fibre and 1.03 g of salt per 100 g for this bread.
  • Check the packaging when you receive it, as ingredients and nutritional values can change.

Dirk

Dirk lists products including wholemeal floor bread, boerenvolkoren and a variety with extra fibre.

  • These bread types give you different options to consider when choosing a shape.
  • Check the nutritional and allergen information for the specific variety before comparing breads.

Bread option on Joybuy

This option is a flatbread to share with a meal. If a wholemeal base is your main reason for choosing bread, check the Whole Wheat description against the ingredients and nutritional information on the current packaging.

Souq Lebanese Bread Whole Wheat 6 P

Souq Lebanese Bread Whole Wheat 6 P

A flatbread option if you want to serve bread with a meal to share. Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional values on the current packaging before deciding whether this bread meets your requirements for wholemeal and fibre.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

How can I recognise wholemeal bread?

Look for the wholemeal label on the product, not just its colour or seeds. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, the grain ingredients in a product carrying this label must be made entirely from wholemeal flour. Then compare the fibre per 100 g on the label.

Is wholemeal bread automatically suitable if I need to avoid gluten or wheat?

No. The wholemeal label doesn’t mean that bread is free from gluten or wheat. Check the ingredients and allergens for the specific product; the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens must be listed on the label.

Does all bread contain iodine from baker’s salt?

Don’t assume that every loaf contains baker’s salt or has the same iodine content without checking the product information. Check the ingredients for the bread you’ve chosen, or ask the manufacturer which salt it uses if that matters to your choice.

What should I do with bread left over after the Italian evening?

Follow the storage instructions for the bread you’ve bought. PLUS says that Boeren volkoren heel can be frozen at home on the day of purchase and used within one month; don’t assume the same instructions apply to another product.