Snackers comparing fibre and sugars
You’re looking for something sweet in the evening and want to know how much fibre and sugar a portion contains. Consider any claim about added sugars alongside the full nutritional information.
Who is this relevant to?
Fans of grains and seeds
You want more texture than a soft slice of breakfast cake offers. So it’s important to check that grains and seeds are actually listed in the ingredients of your chosen variety.
Anyone who wants to share breakfast cake at the table
You’d rather serve slices than individual bars. Sliced breakfast cake is well suited to this way of serving; just remember to compare the nutritional values and allergens for each variety.
What should you look for when buying?
First decide whether you’d prioritise the bite of seeds or the ease of sharing slices. Then use the label to compare products on the same portion and nutritional basis.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fibre and sugars | Compare fibre and sugars per 100 g and per portion; consider any claim about added sugars separately from the sugar content. | When I have breakfast cake as a sweet evening snack, I mainly want to know how much fibre and sugar my portion contains. This is the top priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| Bite and portions | Check whether seeds are listed in the ingredients and compare the weight of a bar with the slices you want to serve. | I want a satisfying bite or individual snacks I can serve, rather than having to divide the cake into slices myself. This need takes priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Allergens and sweeteners | Check the current packaging for the ingredients, allergen information and any warnings about sweeteners. | If I need to consider ingredients someone wants to avoid, I need to be able to check this before serving. This is the main concern for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming wholemeal or seeds mean low sugar
According to Jumbo’s product information, the wholemeal breakfast cake reviewed contains 35.5 g of sugars per 100 g; PLUS lists 34.1 g per 100 g for its wholemeal variety reviewed. The grain base therefore doesn’t tell you how much sugar the cake contains.
Compare the sugar content per 100 g and work out what this means for the slice or bar you’re serving.
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Reading a claim about no added sugars as meaning sugar-free
Albert Heijn lists 7.6 g of sugars and 16 g of polyols per 100 g for the Peijnenburg Tussendoor+ grains, seeds & fruit product reviewed. The product information warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Also check the nutrition table, ingredients for sweeteners and the weight of one bar.
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Relying on the seeded name alone when checking for allergens
According to Albert Heijn, the Peijnenburg bar reviewed contains rye and oats and may contain milk, hazelnuts and almonds. The name of a breakfast cake doesn’t tell you enough about ingredients someone needs to avoid.
Before serving, check both ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ on the current packaging.
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Assuming all breakfast cake contains iodine from baker’s salt
According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, iodine compounds may be present in bakery products through baker’s salt, at a maximum of 65 mg of iodine per kg of salt. This allowance doesn’t tell you which salt was used in an individual breakfast cake.
Only treat iodine as a product feature if the label or manufacturer confirms it for the exact variety.
Brands worth comparing
Peijnenburg
Tussendoor+ grains, seeds & fruit is a breakfast cake bar for anyone looking for grains and seeds in an individual snack.
- Albert Heijn lists oats, 9% sunflower seeds and 15 g of fibre per 100 g for this variety.
- The same product information lists xylitol, rye and oats, and says the bar may contain milk, hazelnuts and almonds.
Albert Heijn
The AH plain sliced breakfast cake reviewed is an option for serving slices at the table, but it isn’t confirmed as a seeded variety.
- According to Albert Heijn, the sliced variety comes in a 485 g pack.
- Albert Heijn lists 36 g of added sugars and 3.3 g of fibre per 100 g for this plain variety.
Jumbo
Jumbo Wholemeal Breakfast Cake is a sliced option if you’d rather serve slices than individual bars.
- For the variety reviewed, Jumbo lists 35.9% wholemeal rye flour and 8.2 g of fibre per 100 g.
- The product information lists 35.5 g of sugars per 100 g and identifies rye and wheat as allergens; check the ingredients on your chosen pack if you’re looking for seeds.
PLUS
The PLUS Wholemeal Breakfast Cake reviewed is a sliced variety for anyone who wants to share slices.
- PLUS lists 41% wholemeal rye flour and 5.7 g of fibre per 100 g for this variety.
- PLUS also lists 34.1 g of sugars per 100 g and rye, and says it may contain wheat, barley and oats.
Koek & Bakker
This ALDI own brand has separate sliced wholemeal and zero varieties of breakfast cake.
- ALDI describes the wholemeal variety reviewed as pre-sliced and sold in a 485 g pack.
- According to ALDI, the zero variety is labelled ‘no added sugars’. To choose between the varieties, check the nutritional information and ingredients on each pack.
Lidl
Lidl lists a 485 g pack of sliced wholemeal breakfast cake as an option for sharing slices at the table.
- The product description confirms that it is sliced and gives the pack weight.
- Check the packaging for ingredients and nutritional values if seeds, fibre, sugars or allergens will influence your choice.
Breakfast cake at Joybuy
These products offer two ways to serve breakfast cake on a snack night: a snack variety and sliced wholemeal breakfast cake. If you’re specifically looking for a seeded bite, check that the ingredients are listed on the pack you choose.
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Snelle Jelle Breakfast Cake Less Sugar-Free 250 g
A breakfast cake variety to serve as an individual snack. The pack weighs 250 g; check the label on your chosen pack for seeds, sugars, sweeteners and allergens.
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g'woon wholemeal sliced breakfast cake 485 g
The sliced format is a good fit if you want to share slices at the table. The pack contains 485 g; check the current label for seeds, nutritional values and allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
Is breakfast cake with seeds automatically high in fibre?
No. Check the nutrition table for the exact variety. Albert Heijn lists 15 g of fibre per 100 g for the Peijnenburg Tussendoor+ grains, seeds & fruit product reviewed; according to Jumbo’s and PLUS’s product information, their wholemeal varieties reviewed contain 8.2 g and 5.7 g per 100 g respectively. Also compare this with the portions you actually serve.
Can I serve the Peijnenburg bar to someone who needs to avoid gluten or nuts?
Don’t assume it’s suitable: according to Albert Heijn, the Tussendoor+ grains, seeds & fruit product reviewed contains rye and oats, and the bar may contain hazelnuts and almonds. Check the allergen information on the pack you plan to serve.
Does ‘no added sugars’ mean the seeded bar is sugar-free?
No. Albert Heijn lists 7.6 g of sugars and 16 g of polyols per 100 g for the Peijnenburg Tussendoor+ grains, seeds & fruit product reviewed. The ingredients include xylitol; the product information warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Can I assume breakfast cake contains iodine from baker’s salt?
No, not for an individual product unless this is confirmed. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, iodine compounds may be present in bakery products through baker’s salt, at a maximum of 65 mg of iodine per kg of salt. Check the label for the exact variety or ask the manufacturer which salt was used.
How should I store an opened pack of breakfast cake after snack night?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging. For the wholemeal breakfast cake reviewed, Jumbo recommends storing it in a cool, dry, dark place and preferably in a sealed tin or container to keep the cake moist.