If you want to compare fibre
Want to serve wholemeal bread with pea soup and keep an eye on fibre? Look beyond the colour of the bread: check that it is labelled wholemeal and compare the fibre per 100 g.
Which bread is right for you?
If you’re watching salt or checking for iodine
Want to compare the salt in different breads and find out which type of salt they contain? Check both the nutritional information per 100 g and the ingredients list. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread is an important source of iodine in the Netherlands; check whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed for each loaf.
If texture or ingredients matter to you
You may want to serve soft slices, a round loaf or a crisp option alongside pea soup. If you need to avoid certain ingredients or allergens, always check the latest information on the packaging of the product you choose.
What should you look for?
First decide what type of bread you want with your soup. Then compare breads of that type using the same nutritional basis, and read the ingredients list if the type of salt or any allergens matter to you.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for the wholemeal label and compare fibre per 100 g, not just per slice. | I want to choose bread to go with my soup based on the type of grain and the stated fibre content, not its colour. Around 40% of consumers prioritise this combination. |
| Salt and iodine | Compare salt per 100 g and look for baker’s salt or iodised salt in the ingredients list. | If bread is an important source of iodine for me, I want to know what type of salt the product contains. Around 30% of consumers prioritise this consideration. |
| Shape and texture | Choose the type of bread you want and check the product’s storage or preparation instructions. | When sharing a pot of pea soup, I want to choose between soft slices and bread to tear or dip. Around 20% of consumers prioritise how the bread is served. |
| Allergens and ingredients | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the latest packaging. | I need to avoid certain ingredients, so I can’t rely on the word wholemeal alone. For around 10% of consumers, this check is the top priority. |
Common mistakes when choosing
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Assuming dark or multigrain bread is wholemeal
The colour or a multigrain name doesn’t tell you whether all the flour used is wholemeal. In 2024, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority reported that 51 of 190 products examined were incorrectly labelled as wholemeal.
Check for the wholemeal label and read the ingredients before comparing nutritional values.
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Comparing fibre per slice without checking the weight
The fibre per slice depends on the size of the slice. That means serving-size figures alone don’t give you a like-for-like comparison between two loaves.
Compare the fibre per 100 g; only use serving-size figures when the portions are comparable.
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Assuming every bread uses the same type of salt
The amount of salt and the type listed can vary from product to product. This matters if you want to compare salt levels or check whether the bread contains baker’s salt or iodised salt.
For each loaf, check the salt per 100 g as well as the latest ingredients list.
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Relying on a product page alone for allergen information
Ingredients and allergen information can change. A product page you looked at earlier is no substitute for checking the packaging of the bread you actually buy.
Check the latest packaging before serving the bread, especially if you need to avoid an allergen.
Brands to compare
Albert Heijn
AH Extra lang lekker Zaans wholemeal loaf is an example of a whole loaf whose ingredients and nutritional information you can compare.
- Albert Heijn lists wholemeal wheat flour and iodised salt for this product.
- The product contains gluten-containing cereals; check the latest packaging for ingredients and allergen information.
Jumbo
Jumbo Fijn Volkorenbrood is an option to consider if you want sliced bread with your soup.
- Jumbo lists 7,6 g of fibre per 100 g and includes baker’s salt in the ingredients.
- The product contains wheat and barley and, according to Jumbo, may also contain other allergens; check the packaging.
PLUS
PLUS offers options including round fine wholemeal bread and a wholemeal sourdough baguette: different shapes for the same soup meal.
- For the round fine wholemeal bread examined, PLUS lists 6,7 g of fibre and 1,03 g of salt per 100 g.
- The shape alone tells you nothing about the nutritional value of another PLUS bread. Check the allergens for your chosen variety, too.
Lidl
Lidl lists Fijn volkoren, an 800 g loaf that you can check in store.
- The listed bread type and weight can help if you’re looking for sliced wholemeal bread.
- Check the label in store for fibre, salt, type of salt and allergens before comparing it with other breads.
ALDI
ALDI describes an extra-high-fibre wholemeal loaf for anyone looking to compare products by nutritional values.
- ALDI presents the loaf as a variety with more fibre and less salt than regular wholemeal bread; this is a product-specific claim made by the retailer.
- Check the latest nutritional information per 100 g and the ingredients to see how this variety compares with the bread you would otherwise choose.
Dirk
Dirk offers a wholemeal floor-baked loaf, a bread type you can serve with a shared soup meal.
- The product name makes it clear that this is a wholemeal floor-baked loaf.
- Use the latest label to compare fibre and salt and check for allergens.
Bread options on Joybuy to serve with pea soup
These products offer different options to enjoy with pea soup: flatbread, crispbread and round bread. First choose the texture you prefer, then check the nutritional information and ingredients that matter to you for each product.
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Souq Lebanese wholemeal flatbread, 6 P
A flatbread to tear or dip into your pea soup if you’d rather not serve ordinary sliced bread.
Compare the fibre and salt per 100 g on the latest packaging. Also check the allergens and, if it matters to you, which type of salt is listed in the ingredients.
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Bolletje wholemeal crispbread, 265 g
A crisp alternative to soft sliced bread for anyone having pea soup.
This is crispbread, not regular bread for sandwiches. Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and check the latest packaging for ingredients, allergens and type of salt.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij round wholemeal bread, 2 × 550 g
Two round loaves could work if you’re planning to serve bread with pea soup on more than one occasion.
Only compare fibre and salt when the packaging uses the same unit. Before baking, follow the preparation instructions and check the ingredients and allergens.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij round wholemeal bread, 550 g
A single round loaf if you want to serve this type of bread with your soup without choosing a pack containing two loaves.
Check the units for fibre and salt before comparing. Follow the baking instructions on the packaging and read the latest ingredients and allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
Is dark or multigrain bread automatically wholemeal?
No. The colour and the word multigrain don’t confirm that it’s wholemeal. Check for the wholemeal label and read the ingredients. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, bread can only be called wholemeal if all the flour used is made from whole grains.
How do I compare the fibre in bread to serve with pea soup?
Compare the stated fibre per 100 g so that different slice weights don’t skew the comparison. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives 3,4 g of fibre as a general nutritional value for a 50 g slice of wholemeal bread cut at home; the value for a particular product may differ.
How can I tell whether wholemeal bread contains baker’s salt?
Look for baker’s salt or iodised salt in the ingredients list for the bread you’ve chosen. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread is an important source of iodine in the Netherlands, but you can’t assume that what’s listed for one loaf applies to other breads.
Can I rely on the word wholemeal if I’m avoiding gluten?
No. Wholemeal doesn’t mean gluten-free. The bread examples examined include products that list wheat or other gluten-containing cereals. If you need to avoid gluten, always check the allergen information on the latest packaging for the specific product.
Can I buy bread in advance for a pea soup meal?
That depends on the storage and preparation instructions for the bread you choose. Albert Heijn says that AH Extra lang lekker Zaans wholemeal loaf can be frozen at home on the day of purchase and used within a month; don’t assume the same instructions apply to another loaf.