When choosing wholemeal toast for a quick lunch, look for an explicit wholemeal label rather than relying on the bread’s dark colour or visible grains. The German Nutrition Society explains that bread labelled as wholemeal must contain at least 90% wholemeal flour or meal, measured against the total grain used. Then compare the nutrition information per 100 g, as well as the ingredients and allergens. If you need to avoid gluten or wheat, choose a suitably labelled alternative, which doesn’t necessarily have to be toast bread.
If you’re planning to use wholemeal bread as the base for a quick lunch, the product name and fibre content per 100 g are more useful than the colour of the bread. You can also compare the salt content on the same basis.
Wheat wholemeal toast isn’t a like-for-like substitute for bread that’s explicitly labelled gluten-free or wheat-free. If you choose an alternative, check the ingredients and any allergens that are relevant to you, too.
If you need bread that’s quick to top or toast, the format, pack size and storage instructions after opening are practical things to consider. You should also check the ingredients and allergen information on the specific pack.
Start with the type of bread you need, then check the nutrition information, ingredients and how to store the pack. A wholemeal label doesn’t answer questions about allergens or storage.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Does the product name include “wholemeal”? Compare fibre and salt in the nutrition information per 100 g. | If I’m looking for bread for a fibre-conscious lunch, I want to be able to identify wholemeal products and compare them using the same nutritional measures. This is the top priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| Avoiding gluten and wheat | Check for explicit labelling and read the current ingredients and allergen list. Also make sure you’re buying toast bread or another type of sliced bread. | Anyone who needs to avoid gluten or wheat should choose a suitably labelled bread alternative and check for any other relevant ingredients. This is the main concern for around 25% of consumers. |
| Everyday lunches | Compare the pack size and type of bread, and read the storage instructions and guidance on how soon to use it after opening. | For lunch at work or at home, I want to open only as much bread as I can use within the time stated on the pack. Around 33% of consumers put this everyday practicality first. |
The colour and visible grains alone don’t prove that bread is wholemeal. According to the German Nutrition Society, bread labelled as wholemeal must contain at least 90% wholemeal flour or meal, measured against the total grain used.
First, look for “wholemeal” in the product name, then compare the nutrition information per 100 g.
Whether a bread is wholemeal and whether it’s suitable for someone with an allergy are two separate questions. Even a gluten-free bread alternative may contain ingredients you need to avoid.
Before buying, check the current ingredients list, highlighted allergens and, where relevant, any precautionary statements about traces on the specific pack.
Guidance on how soon to use the bread may be more important for planning lunches than the pack size alone. For its Golden Toast Wholemeal Sandwich, REWE recommends resealing the opened pack, storing it in a dry place and using the bread within a few days.
Choose a pack size that suits your planned meals and follow the instructions on the product you actually buy.
If you have slices left after the recommended time to use them, the bread could go to waste.
The information below relates to a specific bread product or product range, not to a brand’s entire selection.
The Wholemeal Sandwich is one specific example you can use to compare nutritional information for a lunch.
The Organic Wheat Wholemeal Toast Bread listed by EDEKA24 is an option if organic certification matters to you when choosing wheat wholemeal toast.
Schär Sliced Wholemeal Bread is another type of bread to consider if wheat wholemeal toast isn’t suitable for you.
These two Mestemacher breads are options for a lunch made with wholemeal bread. Their product names don’t specifically describe them as toast bread, so if you’re looking for wholemeal toast in particular, check the type of bread and the information on the pack before buying.
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An option if you’re looking for bread for a quick lunch and can check the exact type before buying. The product name states that the pack contains 250 g. For comparing fibre content, use the nutrition information per 100 g on the specific pack.
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Another bread option for lunch if you want to check the format and ingredients on the pack as well as its wholemeal description. The product name states that it contains 250 g. Check the allergen information in particular if there are ingredients you need to avoid.
No, the colour and grains alone aren’t enough. Look for an explicit wholemeal label: according to the German Nutrition Society, bread labelled as wholemeal must contain at least 90% wholemeal flour or meal, measured against the total grain used.
Check the ingredients list, highlighted allergens and, where relevant, any separate precautionary statements about traces on the specific pack. The wholemeal label doesn’t replace this check. Other ingredients may also be relevant to you in a gluten-free alternative.
No. Gluten-free, wholemeal and toast bread describe different characteristics. Schär describes its gluten- and wheat-free wholemeal bread as sliced bread. Check that it’s the format you want and read the current ingredients list before choosing it as an alternative.
Follow the storage and usage instructions on your pack. For its Golden Toast Wholemeal Sandwich, REWE recommends resealing the pack after opening, storing it in a dry place and using the bread within a few days.