Fibre-conscious households
If you’d like to serve wholemeal bread rather than white or mixed bread with your bratwurst, compare the labelling and fibre per 100 g. You can also compare the ingredients and salt content on the packaging.
Who should take care when choosing?
People who like a hearty bread texture
For a different bite, consider rye wholemeal bread with a coarse texture or added seeds. Check the specific products to see whether they contain seeds and how their nutritional values compare.
Shoppers checking ingredients and allergens
If a bread contains rye, oats or added seeds, it’s important to check the ingredients and product-specific may-contain warnings. The German Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety explains that ingredients in packaged foods are listed in descending order by weight.
What should you look for when buying?
First, check whether the bread is labelled as rye wholemeal. The texture, specific recipe and pack size will then help you decide which option is right for your evening.
| Criteria | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal content and fibre | Read the product name and ingredients list; compare fibre per 100 g. A dark colour and visible grains alone don’t prove that the bread is wholemeal. | If I want wholemeal bread for my bratwurst evening, I need clear labelling and nutritional information. This is a priority for around 36% of shoppers. |
| Texture | Check the ingredients list for meal and seeds; if the product highlights its seeds, check the stated percentage. | I want bread to go with my bratwurst that’s either simple and coarse or distinctly seeded. Around 29% of shoppers prioritise the bite they’re looking for. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients list, highlighted allergens and may-contain warnings on the pack. | If certain ingredients matter to me, I need to be able to check the details for the specific loaf. Checking the recipe and allergens is the main priority for around 21% of shoppers. |
| Pack size and availability | Match the pack size to the number of portions you’re planning and check what’s available where you shop. | For a one-off evening, I want to buy the right amount of bread and find it locally. This practical consideration comes first for around 14% of shoppers. |
Common shopping mistakes
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Assuming dark bread is wholemeal
Colour and visible seeds alone don’t tell you whether a bread meets the wholemeal composition described in the guidelines. Lebensmittelklarheit states that wholemeal bread should contain at least 90% wholemeal grain among the grain used, and points out that the guidelines are not legally binding.
Look for the name “rye wholemeal bread” or “wholemeal bread”, and check the ingredients list too.
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Choosing seeded bread without checking the nutritional information
Seeds change the recipe. REWE states that its Sonnenblumen Kernbrot contains 11% sunflower seeds. To see whether its fat and energy values suit your needs, compare the nutritional information per 100 g with a variety that has no added seeds.
Choose seeded bread for the texture you want, and check the fat, energy and other ingredients for the specific product.
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Overlooking may-contain warnings
Rye is a gluten-containing grain. EDEKA also lists oats as an ingredient in its GUT&GÜNSTIG rye wholemeal bread, with possible traces of tree nuts, sesame and soya.
If you have a relevant allergy, check the current label on the specific bread rather than relying on a product image or a previous purchase.
Brands and product ranges to consider
The details below refer to the specific breads or ranges named, not to every product from each brand.
REWE Bio
REWE Bio rye wholemeal bread is an option to compare if you’re looking for a variety without added seeds.
- REWE lists rye wholemeal meal and natural sourdough in the ingredients, as well as 10.4 g of fibre and 1.1 g of salt per 100 g.
- Check the details on the actual packaging before buying.
GUT&GÜNSTIG
The rye wholemeal bread listed by EDEKA is an option if you’re looking for a recipe with rye wholemeal meal and oat flakes.
- EDEKA lists rye wholemeal meal, natural sourdough and oat flakes as ingredients.
- It contains oats; EDEKA also states that it may contain traces of tree nuts, sesame and soya.
REWE Beste Wahl
Sonnenblumen Kernbrot is a rye wholemeal option with a seeded bite.
- REWE describes it as rye wholemeal bread containing 11% sunflower seeds.
- Compare the nutritional information and allergen details for this specific bread with those for a variety without added seeds.
NUR NUR NATUR
ALDI SÜD sells an organic rye wholemeal bread under this name for shoppers looking for a smaller pack.
- The listed pack contains 375 g.
- Check the range at your local store and the details on the packaging.
LIDL – Unser Brot
The in-store bakery range is worth considering if you’d like to choose your bread in person.
- Lidl says its in-store range is freshly baked several times a day and includes bread specialities made with rye sourdough.
- Check the exact name, ingredients and allergen information for the loaf you choose; “Unser Brot” doesn’t always mean rye wholemeal bread.
Bread options at Joybuy
This selection features pumpernickel and a wholemeal walnut variety as possible breads to serve with bratwurst. When choosing rye wholemeal bread, the product name and current packaging information are what matter.
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Mestemacher Traditional Westphalian Pumpernickel, 500 g
A pre-sliced pumpernickel option if you’d like the bread ready to serve with your evening meal, with no extra slicing needed.
The product description states that it contains 60% rye wholemeal and 9.6 g of fibre per 100 g. The 60% figure alone doesn’t confirm the wholemeal content of all the grain used, so check the product name on the packaging.
Rye contains gluten; according to the product information, traces of sesame and soya may be present. If you have a relevant allergy, check the current packaging.
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Mestemacher Westphalian Pumpernickel, 500 g
This pre-sliced option is worth considering if you’d like to serve pumpernickel as a side and compare fibre content.
The product information lists rye wholemeal meal and 11.5 g of fibre per 100 g. Check the product name and wholemeal content on the packaging.
The information about sesame as an allergen or possible trace is inconsistent. Check the sesame warning on the current packaging, particularly if it affects your choice.
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Mestemacher Sylt Walnut Wholegrain Bread, 250 g
This walnut variety is an option for a bratwurst evening if you’d like bread with pieces of walnut and a 250 g pack.
The description lists walnut pieces and 8.8 g of fibre per 100 g. Check the exact product name and wholemeal content on the packaging.
Before buying, read the full ingredients list and check the allergen and may-contain warnings on the current packaging.
Frequently asked questions
How can I identify rye wholemeal bread when shopping?
Look for the product name “rye wholemeal bread” and check the ingredients list. German bread guidelines state that at least 90% of the grain used in wholemeal bread should be wholemeal flour or meal; according to Lebensmittelklarheit, these guidelines are not legally binding. A dark colour or visible seeds are no substitute for clear labelling.
Is rye wholemeal bread gluten-free?
No, rye is a gluten-containing grain. The German Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety lists gluten-containing grains among the allergens that must be declared. Check the specific bread for other ingredients and may-contain warnings too.
Seeded or without added seeds: which is best for a bratwurst evening?
Choose a seeded variety if you specifically want a bite with seeds; for a simpler recipe, consider rye wholemeal bread without added seeds. REWE describes its Sonnenblumen Kernbrot as rye wholemeal bread containing 11% sunflower seeds. Compare the ingredients and nutritional information for the specific breads to help you decide.
How should I store bread after buying it?
The Verbraucherzentrale recommends storing bread at room temperature. For packaged bread, also follow the storage and best-before information on the pack, especially after opening.