Who is this choice important for?

If wholemeal and fibre come first

You want to be sure your bread is wholemeal. So check the wording on the packaging and compare the fibre per 100 g, rather than relying on a dark colour or visible seeds.

If you’re looking for seeds and a hearty texture

For a simple lunch, you might want bread with ingredients such as linseed, sesame seeds or sunflower seeds. The ingredients list tells you what the variety contains; check the wholemeal label and allergens separately.

If you live alone and don’t eat bread every day

A half loaf may suit the way you eat better. If you buy a whole loaf, you can freeze the slices in portions on the day you buy it.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you want sliced wholemeal bread and how much you’ll use. Then compare the seeds and nutritional information for the exact variety: multiseed bread isn’t automatically wholemeal.

What to consider What to check when buying Who should pay particular attention?
Wholemeal and fibre Look for the wholemeal label and compare fibre per 100 g; if values are given per slice, also check the slice weight. If wholemeal needs to be the basis of my meal, I want to be able to see that on the packaging. Around 36% of consumers put this combination of wholemeal and fibre first.
Seeds and texture Check which seeds are listed in the ingredients and separately confirm that the bread is wholemeal. For my lunch, I’m mainly looking for the texture of seeds, without assuming that visible seeds tell me anything about the flour. For around 29% of consumers, texture is the first requirement when choosing.
Quantity and storage Compare whole and half loaves, and check whether you can freeze a whole loaf in slices. I don’t eat bread every day and don’t want to buy more than I can use. The right quantity comes first for around 21% of consumers.
Salt, iodine and allergens Check the salt per 100 g and the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of your chosen variety. If I need to watch my salt intake or avoid a particular ingredient, the label for this variety could determine my choice. For around 14% of consumers, checking this is the main priority.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming seeds or a dark colour mean the bread is wholemeal

    Brown multiseed bread can contain seeds too. So if you’re specifically looking for wholemeal bread, the seeds or colour won’t tell you what you need to know.

    Check for the wholemeal label, then compare the fibre per 100 g or per slice.

  • Overlooking the allergens in seeded bread

    Ingredients vary from one loaf to another. For example, Albert Heijn’s wholemeal muesli and nut variety contains nuts; other varieties may contain sesame.

    If you have a relevant allergy, check the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging, including any warnings about possible traces.

  • Buying a whole loaf without a storage plan

    If you only use a few slices, the rest may dry out before you get to it. According to the Voedingscentrum, bread dries out more quickly in the fridge.

    Choose a half loaf if that suits the amount you use, or freeze a whole loaf in slices or meal-sized portions on the day you buy it.

  • Expecting every loaf to have the same salt content or ingredients

    What’s stated on one variety doesn’t tell you what’s in another loaf. You should also check whether the product you choose contains iodised salt.

    Compare the salt content in the nutritional information and read the ingredients list on the packaging you’re buying.

Brands to compare

Always compare the exact variety within a range: the seeds, wholemeal labelling, nutritional values and pack size may differ.

Albert Heijn

AH’s Volkoren muesli notenbrood variety shows why the full product name matters.

  • Albert Heijn lists the ingredients, nutritional values and allergens for this variety.
  • The bread contains seeds, nuts and dried fruit, among other ingredients, so it isn’t a typical example of every wholemeal seeded loaf.

Jumbo

At Jumbo, you can compare wholemeal bread and half loaves; Bus Korn Volkoren is one example with seeds.

  • For Bus Korn Volkoren, Jumbo lists ingredients including linseed, sesame seeds and sunflower seeds.
  • Check the nutritional information and allergens for the variety you choose, even if the ingredients in another Jumbo loaf appeal to you.

Lidl

Lidl’s fibre guide gives you a useful starting point for comparing the fibre in breads per 100 g.

  • Lidl has a category for breads containing 8 g or more of fibre per 100 g.
  • The fibre guide alone doesn’t confirm that seeded bread is wholemeal or suitable for someone with an allergy.

ALDI

ALDI describes both Boeren volkoren meergranenbrood with grains and seeds and a separate extra-fibre variety.

  • This lets you focus on the seeds or the nutritional information for a specific wholemeal variety.
  • A feature or claim for one variety doesn’t automatically apply to another; check the packaging of the one you’re buying.

PLUS

At PLUS, you can weigh up wholemeal bread against a half loaf of multiseed bread, among other options.

  • Korenlanders Rond licht meerzaden half is one example of a smaller pack for anyone who doesn’t use much bread.
  • PLUS categorises this multiseed variety as brown bread. If wholemeal is your main requirement, check the label.

Dirk

Dirk lists products including Bakker van der Akker Boeren Extra vezels volkoren heel.

  • The product name makes it clear which wholemeal variety you can look into further.
  • If you live alone, whether a whole loaf is right for you still depends on how much you use and how you store the rest.

Product on Joybuy

If you’d prefer crispbread to soft, sliced bread for a lunch for one, this wholegrain product is worth a look. Crispbread is a different type of bread, so don’t compare it as though it were a half or whole loaf of soft bread.

Bolletje Whole Grain Crispbread, 265 g pack

Bolletje Whole Grain Crispbread 265 g

An option if you’d like to have crispbread with a simple meal instead of soft bread.

The pack contains 265 g. If you have an allergy, check the current information about sesame and possible traces of lupin.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell if seeded bread is also wholemeal?

Check that the bread you choose is explicitly labelled wholemeal. Visible seeds, a dark colour or the word ‘multiseed’ aren’t enough on their own; then compare the fibre in the nutritional information.

Is a half loaf more convenient if I live alone?

A half loaf may be a better fit if you only use a few slices. If you’d rather buy a whole loaf, you can freeze it in slices on the day you buy it; according to the Voedingscentrum, bread dries out more quickly in the fridge.

Can I assume every loaf contains iodised salt?

No, don’t assume that every loaf has the same ingredients. Check the packaging of the variety you choose to see whether iodised salt is listed, and refer to the nutritional information for the salt content.

What should I look for in seeded bread if I have an allergy?

Read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack, including any warnings about possible traces. Seeded breads vary in their ingredients; a variety may contain sesame or nuts, for example.