For sandwiches you can eat without cutlery on a picnic, sliced toast or sandwich bread labelled as wholemeal is an obvious choice. If you prefer a more substantial loaf or are buying your bread in advance, consider sliced rye or seeded bread. To compare options, check the nutritional information per 100 g, the ingredients and the allergen information on the specific pack.
You want to choose wholemeal bread by checking its ingredients and nutritional information, rather than relying on a dark colour or visible seeds. The German Nutrition Society recommends looking for the wholemeal label when choosing bread.
You want slices that suit your planned fillings and portions, and are easy to eat without cutlery. As well as sliced wholemeal bread, you could choose sandwich or toast bread specifically labelled as wholemeal.
If several people are eating, it’s important to check the information on every pack. The breads considered here differ in ingredients such as wheat, soya and sesame, as well as possible traces of other allergens.
First decide whether you’d prefer soft sandwich slices or a more substantial sliced loaf. Then compare the information on the packs, especially if fibre or allergens are important to your choice.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for the wholemeal label and compare the fibre content per 100 g. | If you want to choose wholemeal bread for your picnic and compare its nutritional information, colour alone isn’t enough. Around 33 % of consumers make this their main consideration. |
| Slices and portions | Check that the slice size, number of slices and pack size suit the sandwiches you’re planning to make. | If you’re sharing sandwiches and eating them without cutlery, ease of handling is key. It’s the most important criterion for around 27 % of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients list, highlighted allergens and any precautionary allergen statements on the pack. | If people with different intolerances are eating, the specific recipe needs to suit everyone. This check takes priority for around 20 % of consumers. |
| Freshness and transport | Check the condition of the pack and the best-before date, and plan how much you’ll need. | If you’re buying the bread before your trip or want to avoid leftovers, pay particular attention to storage and pack size. This is the top priority for around 20 % of consumers. |
Colour and visible seeds alone don’t prove that a loaf is wholemeal. Choosing bread on that basis could mean you miss the mark on what you’re really looking for.
Look for the wholemeal label and compare the ingredients list and fibre content per 100 g.
Depending on the recipe, the bread itself may contain wheat or other gluten-containing ingredients, soya or sesame. Precautionary statements about traces may also matter to the people you’re sharing with.
Check the information on the pack you’re actually buying before making sandwiches for other people.
Choose a pack size that matches the number of sandwiches you’re planning to make and how fresh you need the bread to be. Once opened, bread can dry out or go mouldy.
Plan your portions before shopping and, if needed, freeze any leftover bread in individual portions. The consumer advice centre recommends storing bread somewhere dry and away from light.
Packaged wholemeal toast bread for classic sandwiches.
Wholemeal toast and a larger wholemeal sandwich loaf for sandwiches.
Sliced wholemeal bread and speciality loaves as an alternative to soft sandwich toast.
Baked goods for picking up shortly before your picnic.
This selection includes pumpernickel and other breads for a more substantial picnic meal, as well as a protein bread as a speciality option. If you’re looking for soft wholemeal toast slices, don’t assume that the bread styles shown here are the same as sandwich toast.
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An option for picnic sandwiches if you’d prefer pumpernickel to soft toast.
Pack size: 500 g. If you have allergies, check the information on the current pack.
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For a more substantial picnic meal, if the dense texture of pumpernickel suits your chosen fillings.
Pack size: 500 g. The milk information differs between the ingredients and allergen lists. If you have a milk allergy, check the information on the pack before eating.
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A smaller speciality loaf if the protein content is also important to your choice of bread.
Pack size: 250 g. To compare fibre content, check the value per 100 g on the pack. If you have allergies, read the ingredients and allergen information too.
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Another bread option for your picnic, if the slice size suits your planned fillings.
Pack size: 500 g. Compare the fibre content per 100 g using the information on the pack. The allergen information differs between the ingredients and allergen lists. If you need to consider allergies, check this before eating.
Look for the wholemeal label, and check the ingredients list and nutritional information too. The German Nutrition Society points out that you can’t tell whether bread is wholemeal by its colour alone.
No. The wholemeal toast and sandwich products considered here contain wheat or other gluten-containing grains. If you need to avoid gluten or wheat, check the information for the specific product rather than relying on the bread label alone.
Keep it clean, dry and away from light until your trip. If you’re buying it well in advance, you can freeze it in individual portions. The consumer advice centre recommends throwing away the whole loaf if you see any mould.
Yes, especially before sharing the bread with others. EDEKA notes in its product information that details may differ from those on the packaging. So check the ingredients, allergens, best-before date and condition of the product you receive.