Fibre-conscious home workers
You regularly have bread for lunch at home and want to check the wholemeal label and fibre content. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread contains more fibre than white bread.
Who is this guide for?
Home workers who don’t eat bread often
You don’t have bread at home every working day and want to avoid a whole loaf going stale. A half-loaf or freezing the bread in portions may be more practical.
Shoppers who need to check allergens
You need clear information about ingredients and allergens before buying, especially when choosing loose bread. Check the latest information on the packaging or ask in store.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start by checking that it is labelled wholemeal. Then choose the pack size and texture, and check the label information according to how often you have lunch at home and what you need to look out for.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Check the wholemeal label and ingredients; compare the fibre per 100 g in the loaves you’re considering. | When choosing bread for my lunch, I want to know whether it’s genuinely wholemeal and how much fibre it contains. Around 36% of consumers say this is their top priority. |
| Portions and storage | Compare a whole loaf with a half-loaf, and consider whether freezing it in portions would work for your lunch days. | When I only have lunch at home a few days a week, I don’t want to be left with stale bread. Finding the right amount to keep in stock is the main concern for around 29% of consumers. |
| Texture and taste | Choose fine or coarse wholemeal bread to suit your preferred texture; if you’re choosing bread with seeds, check that it is labelled wholemeal too. | For lunch, I want bread I enjoy eating, whether it’s fine or more coarse in texture. This is the main preference for around 21% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the latest allergen information. If you’re interested in iodine, check whether baker’s salt is listed among the ingredients too. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients or check for baker’s salt, I need to be able to read the label. This check is the top priority for around 14% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming dark bread or bread with seeds is wholemeal
The colour and visible seeds don’t tell you whether the flour used is wholemeal. In 2024, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority reported that 51 of the 190 wholemeal products it examined were not allowed to use that label.
Check the wholemeal label and ingredients list. Use the fibre value per 100 g to compare specific loaves more closely.
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Buying a whole loaf when you only have lunch at home occasionally
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s storage guide, opened wholemeal bread typically keeps for 2 to 4 days in a kitchen cupboard. If you only eat bread occasionally, a whole loaf may be too much.
Choose a half-loaf or freeze a whole loaf in portions as soon as you buy it.
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Relying only on online allergen information
Product information can change. If you need to check for allergens, information on a product page you viewed earlier may not be enough to make your final choice.
Read the latest information on the packaging. If you’re buying loose bread, ask about allergens before you buy.
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Assuming every loaf contains baker’s salt
Baker’s salt is iodised salt, but the Netherlands Nutrition Centre says bakers aren’t required to use it. Organic bread usually doesn’t contain baker’s salt.
To find out whether this bread contains baker’s salt, check the ingredients list or ask about it if you’re buying loose bread.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists a range of wholemeal breads online, including round, coarse and sourdough loaves.
- Product pages give you information to help compare specific loaves.
- Albert Heijn warns that product information can change, so check the packaging before use.
Jumbo
Jumbo stocks fine wholemeal bread as well as other wholemeal options.
- Jumbo Fine Wholemeal includes information on ingredients, allergens and nutritional values.
- This information applies to that specific loaf; check the label on other varieties to compare them.
Lidl
Lidl offers packaged bread and freshly baked bread; the fresh range may vary by store.
- Wholemeal rolls may also be an option if you’re looking for individual portions.
- Check the packaging or ask in store for information about ingredients and allergens.
ALDI
ALDI lists daily fresh wholemeal bread and a product labelled extra-high-fibre wholemeal bread.
- Product descriptions can help you decide which loaves to compare more closely.
- Check any extra-fibre claim against the latest nutritional information per 100 g and the loaf you’re comparing it with.
PLUS
PLUS lists products including farmhouse wholemeal bread, with information available for specific packaged loaves.
- PLUS Farmhouse Wholemeal Loaf includes information on ingredients, allergens and fibre.
- Check the label on the loaf you buy, as product information can change.
Dirk
Dirk lists wholemeal breads from Bakker van der Akker, including a variety labelled extra fibre.
- The different product names can help you find a wholemeal option that suits you.
- Compare the fibre content and other nutritional information for the specific loaf on its label.
Wholemeal flatbreads and round loaves at Joybuy
These products offer two types of bread for a work-from-home lunch: Lebanese wholemeal flatbread and round wholemeal loaves, available individually or in packs of two. Choose according to the shape of bread you prefer, the quantity you need and how you plan to prepare it.
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Souq Lebanese wholemeal flatbread, 6 pieces
A flatbread option if you’d rather not use sliced bread for lunch.
If you have allergies, check the latest packaging and look at the nutritional information per 100 g too.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij round wholemeal farmhouse loaf, 550 g
A 550 g round loaf for anyone who wants to choose a single loaf for their lunch supply.
Allow time for defrosting and baking, and follow the preparation instructions on the latest packaging. Compare nutritional values using the same quantity, for example per 100 g.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij round wholemeal farmhouse loaves, 2 × 550 g
This pack contains two round loaves, each weighing 550 g, and suits anyone who wants to keep more bread for lunches later on.
Allow time for defrosting and baking, and follow the latest preparation instructions. Before buying, consider whether you’ll be able to use or store both loaves.
Frequently asked questions
How can I check whether bread is wholemeal?
Check both the wholemeal label and the ingredients list. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, the flour referred to by that label must be made from the entire grain. So don’t rely on colour or visible seeds instead of checking the label.
Is dark multigrain bread automatically wholemeal?
No, the term multigrain doesn’t necessarily mean the bread is wholemeal. Check the specific wholemeal label and the ingredients in the loaf you want to buy.
How long can I keep wholemeal bread?
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s storage guide, opened wholemeal bread typically keeps for 2 to 4 days in a kitchen cupboard and 1 to 3 months in the freezer. If you want to eat it later, it’s best to freeze the bread in portions as soon as you buy it. Follow the storage instructions on the packaging.
Where can I find allergen information for loose bread?
Before buying, ask for allergen information at the display or speak to a member of staff. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information must also be available for unpackaged foods. Don’t rely solely on information from a product page you viewed earlier.
Does all wholemeal bread contain baker’s salt?
No, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre says bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. For packaged bread, check the ingredients list. If you’re buying loose bread and want to know whether it contains iodised baker’s salt, ask in store.