Households looking to replace white bread
If you mainly want to get more fibre from your daily sandwich, you can start with bread that is clearly labelled as wholemeal. A dark colour or the name multigrain doesn’t mean the same thing on its own.
Who is this choice relevant for?
Families looking for a finer texture
If coarser wholemeal bread isn’t a hit, finely milled wholemeal bread could be worth trying. Check the product description and nutrition information for this type too.
Shoppers checking salt or allergens
If you’re keeping an eye on salt or certain allergens as well as fibre, the right choice depends on the specific product. Compare nutritional values on the same basis and read the current ingredients and allergen information.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide why you want to replace white bread: because you want wholemeal bread, a more appealing texture or a particular label detail. Then compare breads that meet that main priority.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for the clear wholemeal label and compare fibre per 100 g or per equal serving. | If I want to replace my usual slice of white bread, I want to know whether the bread is genuinely wholemeal and how much fibre my serving provides. Fibre is the top priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| Taste and texture | Check whether the bread is described as finely milled wholemeal and whether its shape suits the way you’ll use it. | The switch needs to work at the table too: a finer texture could be the deciding factor for my household. Taste or texture matters most to around 33% of consumers. |
| Salt and allergens | Compare salt on the same serving basis; check the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging. | If I need to compare salt or avoid an allergen, I can’t rely on the wholemeal label alone. Checking the label is the main priority for around 25% of consumers. |
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s reference figures list 3.3 g of fibre for a 35 g slice of wholemeal bread and 1.2 g for a 45 g hand-cut slice of white bread. As the serving sizes differ, these figures aren’t directly comparable with the breads you see on the shelf. For that, check the nutrition information for the products themselves.
Common mistakes
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Mistaking dark or multigrain bread for wholemeal
The colour, visible grains and name multigrain don’t tell you whether all the grain ingredient is wholemeal flour. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, a product can only be called wholemeal if its grain ingredient is 100% wholemeal flour.
Look for the word wholemeal in the product name, then check the ingredients list.
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Assuming a fibre claim also means less salt
Bread promoted for its fibre doesn’t automatically contain less salt. For a reference product, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists 0.37 g of salt per 35 g slice of wholemeal bread; this isn’t a figure that applies to every wholemeal loaf.
Compare the salt values of the breads you’re considering per 100 g or per equal serving. If there’s a claim, check what comparison it is based on.
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Guessing the allergens from the name of the bread
A wholemeal label doesn’t tell you which gluten-containing grains or other allergens are in a particular variety. This is especially important if you need to avoid certain ingredients.
Check the current allergen information every time you try a new variety. If you need a gluten-free option, make sure the bread is clearly labelled as gluten-free.
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Relying only on the online product page
Albert Heijn and PLUS point out that product information, including ingredients and allergens, can change.
Use the product page to compare breads, but check the packaging of the loaf you buy.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
Worth considering if you’re looking for a particular style of wholemeal bread and want to check the product information first.
- Albert Heijn describes its Zaans wholemeal loaf as soft and light.
- Ingredients, nutritional values and allergens can change, so check the packaging you receive.
ALDI
Worth considering if you want to assess the claim made for a particular extra-high-fibre wholemeal loaf.
- According to ALDI, its Extra High Fibre Wholemeal Bread contains 30% less salt and 30% more fibre than standard wholemeal bread, using NEVO-Online 2021 7.0 as the reference.
- This comparison applies to this product and the reference mentioned, not to all breads from ALDI or other retailers.
Lidl
Worth considering if you’re looking for a finer wholemeal texture.
- Lidl describes a kids’ bread made with extra-finely milled wholemeal flour, saying it tastes like brown bread but contains as much fibre as wholemeal bread.
- This description applies to the bread mentioned; check the label, ingredients and nutrition information for other varieties.
PLUS
Worth considering if you’re looking for a wholemeal farmhouse loaf and want to factor in freezing for storage.
- For its PLUS Farmhouse Wholemeal Loaf, PLUS recommends freezing it on the day of purchase and using it within one month.
- Check the packaging for the current ingredients, nutritional values and allergens.
Dirk
Worth considering if you’re looking at a wholemeal batard.
- Dirk describes its wholemeal batard as a bread that contains fibre.
- Check the current label to compare the fibre and salt values and allergens for this specific bread.
Wholemeal bread on Joybuy
These products offer wholemeal bread as an alternative to white bread: two varieties of round loaf and Lebanese flatbread. Choose a shape that suits your meals, and remember to allow time to defrost and bake the round loaves.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread, 2 × 550 g
A good option if you want to replace white bread with a round wholemeal loaf and can use two loaves. It needs to be defrosted and baked; check the baking time for this variety. Only compare fibre and salt with other breads once you know the serving size used.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread, 550 g
A single round wholemeal loaf if you’d like to try this shape as an alternative to white bread. It needs to be defrosted and baked; check the baking time on the packaging. Only compare nutritional values on an equal-serving basis.
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Souq Lebanese Bread Whole Wheat, 6 pieces
A good option if you’d like to use wholemeal flatbread instead of a regular slice of white bread; it’s a different shape from a sliced loaf. This product contains wheat and gluten and may contain soya and milk. Check the current allergen information on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Is brown or multigrain bread automatically wholemeal?
No. A dark colour or the name multigrain isn’t enough. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, a product can be called wholemeal if its grain ingredient consists entirely of wholemeal flour; look for the clear wholemeal label.
How do I compare the fibre in white and wholemeal bread?
For the breads you’re thinking of buying, compare the fibre per 100 g or per equal serving. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s reference figures list 3.3 g of fibre for 35 g of wholemeal bread and 1.2 g for 45 g of white bread. As the slice weights differ, the figures aren’t directly comparable.
Does wholemeal also mean less salt?
No. Wholemeal on its own says nothing about the salt content being lower. Compare the salt values in the nutrition information per 100 g or per equal serving. If there’s a claim such as ‘less salt’, check what the product is being compared with.
Does all bread contain iodine?
You can’t assume that every loaf does. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine is added to bread through bakers’ salt. Check the ingredients for the bread you choose, or ask whether bakers’ salt has been used if the bread is sold unpackaged.
Is regular wholemeal wheat bread gluten-free?
No, wholemeal wheat bread contains gluten. If you need to avoid gluten, only choose bread that is clearly labelled as gluten-free, and check the current ingredients and allergen information.