Choosing wholemeal seeded bread for a summer holiday

Who is this relevant to?

Holidaymakers who want to freeze bread

If you’re setting aside bread for several days, you can freeze it in portions on the day you buy it and take out what you need each time.

Shoppers comparing fibre and seeds

You’re looking for bread with a firm texture and want to check the label for the seeds it contains, its fibre and salt content, and whether it is labelled as wholemeal.

Travellers with a food allergy

Sesame and cereals containing gluten may be relevant in seeded bread. Always check the latest allergen information for the product you choose.

What should you look for when choosing?

What to consider	What to check when buying	Who it matters to
Wholemeal status	Check that it is labelled as wholemeal; seeds or the name ‘multigrain’ are not a substitute.	I don’t want to choose bread that only looks wholemeal because of the seeds. For around 36% of consumers, whether bread is wholemeal would be the main buying consideration.
Storage	Choose a suitable quantity and check the storage advice; freeze bread in portions if you want to use it later.	For a holiday lasting several days, I only want to defrost what I need. For around 29% of consumers, storage would therefore be the main consideration.
Fibre and seeds	Compare the fibre and salt per 100 g, and check which seeds are listed in the ingredients.	If I’m looking for a firm texture, I want to know which seeds the bread contains and be able to compare its nutritional value. For around 21% of consumers, this would be the main consideration.
Allergens	Read the latest ingredients and allergen information for the bread you choose, even if you’ve bought it before.	If I have a food allergy, I want to be able to identify relevant ingredients before taking bread with me. Allergens would be the most important consideration for around 14% of consumers.

Common mistakes

Assuming multigrain or seeded bread is wholemeal

Bread can contain several types of grain or visible seeds without being made entirely from wholemeal flour.

Check first that it is labelled as wholemeal. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, a product can only be labelled this way if 100% of its grain ingredient is wholemeal flour.
Taking a whole loaf without planning how to store it

If you only eat a few slices a day, the rest may go stale or spoil before you get round to it.

If you’re buying bread for several days, divide it into portions and freeze them on the day you buy it. For an unopened pack, follow the date and storage advice on the label.
Relying on the bread’s name when you have allergies

Seeded bread may contain sesame and other relevant allergens, and ingredients can vary from one product to another.

Before eating it, read the latest ingredients and allergen information on the packaging, even if you’ve bought the same bread before.
Assuming all bread contains iodised salt

The name of the bread won’t tell you which type of salt has been used in the product you’ve chosen.

If this matters to your dietary choices, check whether iodised salt is listed in the ingredients.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn provides product information for individual wholemeal breads, which you can use to compare ingredients.

One product example lists sesame, linseed, sunflower seeds and iodised salt, among other ingredients.
Don’t use the details for that example as the ingredients list for another bread; check the label of the variety you choose.

Jumbo

The product page for Jumbo Rond Korn Volkoren lists its ingredients and nutritional values.

The ingredients include sunflower seeds, linseed and sesame, so you can assess the seed mix.
The product information also lists allergens, including gluten, soya and sesame. If allergens are important to your choice, check the latest packaging.

Lidl

Lidl also offers wholemeal bread made with more finely milled flour for anyone looking for a less coarse texture.

This finer texture offers an alternative if seeds aren’t your main preference.
For seeded bread, check the individual ingredients list; a general description of wholemeal bread won’t tell you which seeds a particular variety contains.

Aldi

Aldi describes Waddenbrood as wholemeal bread with seeds and grains, and also lists other wholemeal varieties.

This makes it easier to look specifically for bread with seeds, or for a variety without them.
Check the seeds, nutritional values and allergens on the packaging for the variety you choose.

PLUS

PLUS has a category featuring different types of wholemeal bread.

The category helps you find varieties to look at individually.
The category name won’t tell you which breads contain seeds; open the product information before you choose.

Dirk

Dirk lists wholemeal bread, as well as breads made with several grains or seeds.

You can compare the different types of bread based on the texture you’re looking for.
For seeded bread, check separately whether it is labelled as wholemeal; the presence of seeds doesn’t prove that it is.

Wholemeal bread at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is seeded bread automatically wholemeal?

No. Seeds or the name ‘multigrain’ don’t automatically make bread wholemeal. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, a product labelled as wholemeal must be made with grain ingredients that are 100% wholemeal flour. So check how the product is labelled.

How long can you keep opened wholemeal sunflower seed bread?

According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s storage guide, opened wholemeal sunflower seed bread can be kept for 2 to 4 days in a kitchen cupboard and 1 to 3 months in the freezer. If you want to stock up for your holiday, freeze it in portions on the day you buy it; keeping it in the freezer for longer can make the bread drier.

Does all wholemeal bread contain iodised salt?

You can’t tell from the wholemeal label. One Albert Heijn product example lists iodised salt, but you’ll need to check the ingredients list for any other bread.

Which allergens should you look out for in wholemeal bread with seeds?

At the very least, check which cereals containing gluten and which seeds, such as sesame, are in the bread you choose. Other allergens may also be relevant, depending on the recipe, so always read the latest allergen information on the packaging.