Who is this bread suitable for?

Stock-up shoppers who freeze their bread

You buy several loaves at once and only want to defrost what you need. Clear freezing advice and a recommended storage period help you match your stock to how much you use.

Label-conscious wholemeal shoppers

You want both wholemeal bread and seeds. That’s why it’s worth checking the bread description and ingredients separately: a dark colour or the word ‘multigrain’ doesn’t confirm that the loaf has both.

Shoppers with dietary or allergy requirements

You might compare fibre, protein, carbohydrates or salt, or need to avoid particular allergens. In that case, the current nutritional information and allergen declaration matter more than the product name alone.

What should you look for when buying?

When buying wholemeal bread with seeds to keep at home, first check the freezing advice and how much you’ll use. Then look at the bread base, seeds and label for any other requirements.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Freezing and storage Check whether you can freeze the bread on the day you buy it and what storage period the retailer recommends. Consider whether you can easily divide it into suitable portions. I buy several loaves at once and don’t want unused slices to go stale. For around 40% of consumers, convenience when stocking up is the top priority.
Wholemeal base and seeds Read the bread description and ingredients list: which wholemeal flour, seeds or kernels are named? I want the texture of seeds, but I also want to know what the bread is made from. Around 30% of consumers prioritise this combination.
Allergens Check the ingredients and allergen declaration every time you buy, including for cereals containing gluten, sesame and soya. If I need to avoid certain ingredients, the current label determines whether this bread is suitable. For around 20% of consumers, this is the first thing they check.
Nutritional information Compare fibre, protein, carbohydrates and salt per 100 g. To find out about iodine, check whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed. I want to compare loaves on the same nutritional basis and also check which salt they use. Around 10% of consumers give this nutritional profile top priority.

Common mistakes when stocking up on bread

  • Assuming ‘multigrain’ or ‘with seeds’ means wholemeal

    Multigrain refers to different types of grain; it doesn’t automatically mean the bread is made entirely from wholemeal flour. According to PLUS, PLUS Korenlanders Rond licht meerzaden half contains 30% wholemeal wheat flour as well as 22% wheat flour.

    Read both the bread description and the ingredients list, and check the wholemeal flour and seeds separately.

  • Keeping all your bread outside the freezer

    Bread you don’t use in time can dry out or go stale. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends freezing wholemeal bread in portions as soon as you buy it.

    Divide your purchase into portions that suit how much you use, and only defrost what you need.

  • Relying on the product name alone to check for allergens

    Wholemeal bread with seeds may contain cereals containing gluten, sesame or soya, among other ingredients. Precautionary ‘may contain’ statements can also vary from product to product.

    Check the current ingredients and allergen declaration on the packaging every time you buy.

  • Assuming every loaf contains iodised baker’s salt

    The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may be added to bread through baker’s salt.

    Check whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed in the ingredients, rather than assuming it from the type of bread.

Brands to compare

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn offers products including AH ELL Eiwitrijk volkoren meerzaden half and AH Extra lang lekker waldkorn volkoren heel, with product information about ingredients and freezing.

  • According to Albert Heijn, the ELL loaf contains linseed, sunflower seeds and sesame. Both of the loaves mentioned can be frozen on the day you buy them.
  • The ELL loaf is a half loaf. Check the current ingredients, allergens and nutritional values of your chosen variety when you buy it.

Jumbo

Jumbo describes Rond Korn Volkoren as a whole multigrain wholemeal loaf with seeds and kernels.

  • Jumbo recommends freezing it on the day you buy it and using it within one month.
  • The stated 8.3 g of fibre and 0.97 g of salt per 100 g apply to this loaf, not to all Jumbo breads.

ALDI

ALDI includes Boeren volkoren meergranen heel in its fresh-baked range and describes its wholemeal breads as made with wholemeal flour.

  • ALDI describes the multigrain bread in its range as bread made with grains and seeds.
  • For the specific Boeren volkoren meergranen heel loaf, check the ingredients, seeds and storage instructions on the packaging.

PLUS

PLUS Korenlanders Rond licht meerzaden half shows why a name suggesting several types of seed doesn’t mean the bread is made entirely from wholemeal flour.

  • PLUS lists ingredients including sunflower seeds, linseed and sesame, and says the loaf can be frozen on the day you buy it.
  • According to PLUS, this brown multigrain bread contains 30% wholemeal wheat flour and 22% wheat flour. Don’t choose it on the assumption that it’s 100% wholemeal.

Dirk

Dirk describes Bakker van der Akker Vloerbrood meergranen heel as a loaf made with grains and seeds.

  • The product name makes clear that it’s a whole multigrain artisan loaf.
  • Before choosing it to stock up on wholemeal bread, check the bread base, ingredients, nutritional values and freezing instructions.

Lidl

Lidl includes wholemeal products in its range, including wholemeal kids’ bread.

  • Its range can be a starting point when looking for wholemeal bread locally.
  • For a specific loaf, check separately whether it contains seeds and what the label says about ingredients and storage.

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Frequently asked questions

How can I stock up on wholemeal bread with seeds for several weeks?

Divide the bread into portions after buying it and freeze whatever you won’t use straight away. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends freezing it immediately; also follow the storage period on the packaging for that particular loaf. For example, Jumbo recommends using Rond Korn Volkoren within one month.

Is multigrain bread with seeds automatically wholemeal?

No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain means that the bread is made from at least three types of grain. Check the bread description and ingredients too: PLUS lists both wholemeal wheat flour and wheat flour for Korenlanders Rond licht meerzaden half.

What should I check if I have an allergy to ingredients in bread?

Check the current ingredients and allergen declaration for each loaf separately. Wholemeal bread with seeds may contain cereals containing gluten, sesame or soya; you can’t tell whether a product is suitable for your needs from the words ‘wholemeal’ or ‘with seeds’ alone.

Does all Dutch bread contain iodised baker’s salt?

No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. For packaged bread, check the ingredients for baker’s salt or iodised salt rather than assuming iodine has been added.

How do I compare the nutritional values of two loaves I’m stocking up on?

Compare the same nutrients per 100 g so that different slice sizes don’t distort the comparison. Jumbo lists 8.3 g of fibre and 0.97 g of salt per 100 g for Rond Korn Volkoren; Albert Heijn lists 11 g of fibre and 0.9 g of salt per 100 g for AH ELL Eiwitrijk volkoren meerzaden half. These individual values alone don’t determine which loaf meets your other requirements.