Millions of people across the UK buy bread every week when doing their supermarket shop. Whether it is for toast in the morning, sandwiches for lunch or alongside soup for dinner, bread remains one of the most popular staples in British kitchens.

But shoppers picking up a loaf at supermarkets such as Tesco, Waitrose, Lidl, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's, Aldi or Morrisons are often faced with dozens of options. From white sliced loaves to sourdough and seeded varieties, the choice can make it difficult to know which one is the best to buy. However, experts say there is one simple thing shoppers should always look out for before putting a loaf in their trolley.

Checking the ingredients list can reveal a lot about the quality of the bread. In particular, specialists say loaves with fewer ingredients are often the better choice.

According to a report by the BBC, many pre-packaged sliced breads sold in supermarkets are classed as ultra-processed foods.

Registered dietitian Reema Pillai told the BBC that these loaves "often contain additives and preservatives, as well as artificial colours, added during production".

However, experts say bread should not automatically be seen as unhealthy.

Ms Pillai explained that bread can still contain important nutrients and can be part of a balanced diet.

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She said: "Ideally, we want to reduce our intake of UPFs, so if you eat bread often, it is worth considering a better quality, less-processed loaf."

One of the easiest ways to do that is by checking the ingredient list on the packaging.

Ms Pillai said: "The shorter the ingredients list, the better. Typically, a good quality wholemeal bread will contain wholemeal wheat flour, yeast and salt and typically nothing else, except some seeds."

She added that sourdough breads also tend to contain only a few ingredients. "Sourdough contains wheat flour, water and salt, and perhaps rye flour," she said.

Ms Pillai also advised shoppers to be cautious of loaves that contain extra oils, sugars, syrups, preservatives or artificial additives.

Another thing experts say to consider is fibre. Nutritionist Jenna Hope told the BBC that bread can be an important source of fibre and other nutrients.

"A good quality bread can be a rich source of fibre, complex carbohydrates and B-vitamins," she said.

Ms Hope explained that fibre plays an important role in digestion and gut health. Wholegrain breads and seeded loaves often contain more fibre than standard white bread.

Ms Pillai echoed those comments saying that shoppers should check the fibre content on the label.

"Ideally, 100g of the bread should contain at least 6g of fibre. Even better if this is over 8g of fibre per 100g," she said.

While wholegrain and seeded loaves are often considered more nutritious, experts say white bread can still have a place in a balanced diet.

Ms Hope explained that white bread contains less fibre but can release energy more quickly. Some white breads are also made with fortified flour, which contains added nutrients such as B vitamins and iron.