Label-conscious wholemeal shoppers
You want to check whether a sourdough loaf is wholemeal too. Then you might compare fibre and salt per 100 g, and read the ingredients for the exact product.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Fresh sourdough fans
You’re looking for a fresh sourdough loaf to enjoy soon after buying it. Some varieties are only available in store: Jumbo and Lidl list loaves that can’t be ordered online.
Planners looking for convenience and a well-stocked cupboard
You spread your bread over several meals. In that case, the size of the loaf, whether you can freeze portions and, for bake-at-home bread, the preparation needed all matter.
What should you look for?
First decide whether you need both wholemeal and sourdough. Then choose between ready-to-eat bakery bread and bread you bake at home or keep for later.
Fresh sourdough from the bakery
A good fit if: you want to eat the bread soon after buying it and can check the exact variety in store.
Bear in mind: not every sourdough loaf is wholemeal, and the range can vary from store to store.
Wholemeal sourdough to bake at home
A good fit if: you want to choose when to bake it at home and have an oven available.
Bear in mind: preparation time and the storage instructions on the packaging.
Everyday wholemeal bread
A good fit if: wholemeal matters more to you than a specific sourdough preparation method.
Bear in mind: a wholemeal label doesn’t tell you whether sourdough has been used.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal status and nutritional information | Check the product description and ingredients for wholemeal flour; compare fibre and salt per 100 g. | When I buy sourdough, I first want to know whether the bread is genuinely wholemeal; only then do I compare the nutritional information. For around 33% of consumers, wholemeal comes first. |
| Sourdough and freshness | Look for sourdough on the details for the exact product and check whether it’s available in store. | If I want to eat a loaf soon after buying it, the sourdough style and fresh bakery bread matter most. Around 27% of consumers give these top priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the allergen information; to find out what type of salt is used, check the label or ask about unpackaged bread. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients or want to know what type of salt has been used, I need to be able to check the information for that loaf. This is the main consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
| Storage and preparation | Check the size and storage instructions; for bake-at-home bread, check what you’ll need to prepare it. | I want to be able to keep bread for later meals without buying more than I’ll use. For around 20% of consumers, planning is the most important factor. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming sourdough means wholemeal
Sourdough describes how the bread is made, not whether the flour used is wholemeal. So a sourdough loaf won’t automatically meet both of your requirements.
Look for both ‘wholemeal’ and ‘sourdough’ in the product description or ingredients list for the same loaf.
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Assuming iodised baker’s salt is always used
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread isn’t always made with baker’s salt. So don’t assume which type of salt has been used based on the bread category.
Check the label for ‘baker’s salt’ or ‘iodised salt’, or ask which salt is used for unpackaged bread.
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Reading only the front of the packaging
A rustic appearance won’t tell you which ingredients the bread contains or how much fibre and salt are listed in the nutritional information.
Read the ingredients list and compare the nutritional values per 100 g for the varieties you’re considering.
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Buying a large fresh loaf without a storage plan
If you won’t eat the bread within a few days, a large loaf could go to waste. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping wholemeal sourdough bread for 2–4 days in a bread bin and 1–3 months in the freezer.
Choose a size that suits your meals or freeze portions after buying it.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists products including AH Liefde & Passie Nederlands desem volkoren.
- The product page describes this variety as wholemeal sourdough bread made with grain grown in the Netherlands.
- Albert Heijn warns that product information can change. Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional values on the packaging you buy.
Jumbo
Jumbo describes a range of rustic sourdough loaves that are baked off in store.
- According to Jumbo, the loaves in this range are left to prove for more than 24 hours with fresh sourdough starter.
- Jumbo says these loaves can’t be ordered online. Check whether each variety is wholemeal too.
Lidl
Lidl lists a Rustiek volkoren desembrood in its oven-fresh range.
- The product listing describes this variety as wholemeal wheat sourdough bread.
- According to Lidl, the bread is only available in store, and the fresh bakery range may vary between branches.
ALDI
ALDI is worth comparing if everyday wholemeal bread without sourdough is also an option for you.
- ALDI says its standard wholemeal breads are made with 100% wholemeal flour.
- Check the details for the exact product if sourdough is also a requirement for you.
PLUS
PLUS lists both Korenlanders sourdough loaves and wholemeal sourdough rolls to bake at home.
- According to PLUS, the Dutch Bakery Bio desem volkorenbroodjes listed contain wholemeal wheat flour and 10% spelt sourdough.
- This bake-at-home variety comes with preparation and product-specific storage instructions; check the allergen information too.
Dirk
Dirk lists both wholemeal and sourdough options in its bread range, including a wholemeal batard.
- The wholemeal batard is a specific variety you can compare by checking its ingredients and nutritional information.
- A wholemeal listing in the range doesn’t mean every wholemeal variety is made with sourdough too.
Related Joybuy products
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Is sourdough bread automatically wholemeal?
No. Sourdough describes how the bread is made, while wholemeal refers to the flour used. Check both details for the exact variety; ‘sourdough’ on the packaging alone doesn’t confirm that the bread is wholemeal.
Does bread always contain iodised baker’s salt?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread isn’t always made with baker’s salt. Check the label or ask which type of salt is used for unpackaged bread.
What should I check if I need to avoid certain allergens?
Read the allergen information for the exact bread variety before choosing it. Ingredients can vary between loaves, so don’t rely on the name ‘wholemeal sourdough bread’ alone.
How long can I keep wholemeal sourdough bread?
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping wholemeal sourdough bread for 2–4 days in a bread bin and 1–3 months in the freezer. Also check the instructions on the packaging for your loaf; freeze portions if you won’t use them soon.
Can I order Jumbo and Lidl sourdough loaves online?
Not the in-store varieties mentioned here: Jumbo says its rustic sourdough loaves can’t be ordered online, while Lidl describes its Rustiek volkoren desembrood as ‘in store only’. Lidl also says that its fresh bakery range may vary between branches.