Families looking to use up leftovers
For sandwiches filled with leftover meat or vegetables from your Sunday roast, you’ll want bread that suits the filling. Check how the loaf you choose is sliced and how many slices you’ll need.
Who is this relevant for?
People who buy wholemeal bread every day
If you’ll also be having the bread for breakfast or lunch, first check that it’s labelled ‘wholemeal’, then compare the nutritional information for the loaves you’re considering.
Shoppers who check ingredients
If you need to be mindful of allergens, read the information for the bread you’ve chosen before buying it. If baker’s salt matters to you, check the ingredients list too, or ask about it when buying unwrapped bread.
What should you look for when buying?
First, choose bread that is explicitly labelled wholemeal. Then consider how it’s sliced, its ingredients and how much you actually plan to use.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and nutritional value | Look for the label ‘wholemeal’ and, if you like, compare the nutritional information per 100 g for the loaves you’re considering. | If I want to eat wholemeal bread every day, it needs to be clear which loaf meets that requirement. Around 40% of consumers prioritise verifiably wholemeal bread and the nutritional information that comes with it. |
| Slicing and using up leftovers | Check how the bread is sliced on the packaging or in person; if you’re unsure, ask how thick the slices are. | For sandwiches made with Sunday roast leftovers, I want slices that suit the filling. For around 30% of consumers, that practical usability is their main concern. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the allergen information and, if relevant, check whether baker’s salt has been used. | If I need to check ingredients before buying, the bread’s name alone isn’t enough to help me choose. This is the main priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Quantity and storage | Choose a whole or half loaf according to when you plan to eat it, and follow the storage advice on the packaging. | If I mainly use bread around Sunday mealtimes, I don’t want to buy more than I can eat. Around 10% of consumers prioritise quantity and reducing waste above all else. |
Common assumptions
-
Brown bread is automatically wholemeal
Brown bread can be made from a mixture of wholemeal flour and white flour. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread labelled ‘wholemeal’ is made from 100% wholemeal flour.
Use that label as your first filter, then consider the texture, any seeds and how the bread is sliced.
-
All bread contains iodised baker’s salt
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt isn’t compulsory. So the type of bread alone won’t tell you whether this ingredient has been used.
Check the ingredients list or ask when buying unwrapped bread if baker’s salt matters to you.
-
‘Medium sliced’ means the same thickness for every loaf
A description of slice thickness doesn’t necessarily tell you what the slices of a particular loaf will be like. That matters if you’re serving them with your Sunday roast or topping them with leftovers.
Look at the bread or product photo, and ask how thick the slices actually are if necessary.
-
You don’t need to check allergens in sliced bread
Allergen information depends on the specific product, even when the bread is sliced. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, this information appears on the label of pre-packed bread.
Read the label on pre-packed bread, and ask for allergen information before buying unwrapped bread.
Brands to explore
These ranges give you a starting point for comparing bread shapes and textures. Check the details of the loaf you ultimately choose.
Albert Heijn
The range includes various wholemeal breads, including whole, half and sliced loaves.
- You can compare different bread formats across the range.
- Check how each loaf is sliced; its format doesn’t specify the slice thickness.
Jumbo
The range includes fine and coarse wholemeal bread, whole and half loaves, and bread sold by the slice.
- Fine and coarse varieties offer different textures to consider.
- Check the nutritional information and slicing details for your chosen variety separately.
PLUS
The range includes wholemeal bread in different formats, including whole and half loaves.
- Choosing a whole or half loaf helps you match the quantity to when you plan to eat it.
- Check how the specific loaf is sliced and read its ingredients information.
Dirk
The range features Bakker van der Akker wholemeal breads in different formats, including whole and half farmhouse wholemeal loaves.
- Choosing between a whole and half loaf helps you get the quantity you need.
- If you want a particular slice thickness, check the specific loaf rather than relying on its name alone.
Lidl
The bread range includes freshly baked and pre-packed varieties; Lidl also offers a rustic wholemeal wheat sourdough loaf.
- According to Lidl, pre-packed loaves have a fibre meter on the packaging.
- For the variety you choose, check how it’s sliced and read the ingredients and allergen information.
Related Joybuy products
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Is brown bread automatically wholemeal?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour, whereas brown bread can be made from a mixture of wholemeal flour and white flour. So if wholemeal is a requirement for your purchase, look specifically for the label ‘wholemeal’.
Does wholemeal bread always contain iodised baker’s salt?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers don’t have to use baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list for the loaf you’ve chosen, or ask if it’s sold unwrapped.
How do I check for allergens in sliced bread?
For pre-packed sliced bread, read the label: according to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, it must include allergen information. If the bread is unwrapped, ask before buying what allergen information is available for that loaf.
How much bread should I buy for Sunday roast?
Choose a whole or half loaf to suit the meal and what you’d like to eat afterwards, such as sandwiches made with leftovers. Follow the storage advice on the packaging; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists bread as one of the foods that is often wasted.