If you want a small bite with a drink
You want to have one piece without cutting into a whole breakfast cake. Jumbo says each of the four individually wrapped bars in the Peijnenburg plain 4-pack weighs 28 g.
Who might find an individually wrapped bar useful?
If you’re comparing sugars and sweeteners
Look beyond claims such as ‘less sugar’ or ‘zero’ and compare the figures per bar. In the Peijnenburg no added sugars and Snelle Jelle Zero varieties reviewed, xylitol and polyols are also relevant to your choice.
If you need to check ingredients and allergens
You’re looking for a bar that meets your requirements around gluten or other allergens. The rye-containing bars reviewed are not the same product as the separate gluten-free breakfast cake bar sold by Albert Heijn. Always check the packaging of the variety you’re buying.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want a small bite with a drink or a larger bar. Then compare the nutritional information per piece and check the ingredients and allergens if they affect your choice.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Small, individual portion | Check the weight of each bar and whether the pieces are individually wrapped. | If I want one small piece with a drink, I don’t want to cut into a whole cake. For around 38% of consumers, a small portion would be the main reason for choosing one. |
| Sugars and sweeteners | Compare sugars and polyols per bar, and check which sweeteners have been used. | If you’re watching your sugar intake, you’ll want to know what a whole bar contains and whether it includes sweeteners. For around 31% of consumers, this would be the main consideration. |
| Larger bar | Compare the weight and nutritional information per piece, not just per 100 g. | If I want a bar to double as a snack, I’d prefer a larger piece than a small bite with a drink. For around 23% of consumers, portion size would be the main reason for choosing one. |
| Gluten and allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the specific packaging. | If I need to avoid gluten or certain allergens, the product packaging determines whether a bar is suitable for me. For around 8% of consumers, this would be the most important consideration. |
Common mistakes
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Confusing ‘less sugar’ with ‘sugar-free’
A claim about having less sugar or no added sugars doesn’t tell you how much sugar a bar contains. Jumbo lists 1.4 g of sugars and 6.5 g of polyols per 28 g bar for Peijnenburg no added sugars.
Compare the nutritional information per piece and, for products containing polyols, read the warning on the packaging too.
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Comparing figures per 100 g only
When you’re having a drink, you’ll usually eat a piece of a particular weight, not a set amount of 100 g. Jumbo lists Peijnenburg plain bars at 28 g and Snelle Jelle (Te) Krachtige Kruidkoek bars at 65 g.
As well as the figures per 100 g, check the weight and nutritional information for the bar you actually want to eat.
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Relying on the product name for allergen information
Breakfast cake bars may contain rye, and statements about the possible presence of other allergens vary by product too. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority points out that allergens must be declared on the labels of prepacked foods.
Before buying or serving a bar, read the up-to-date ingredients and allergen information for that exact variety.
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Assuming a general rule about baker’s salt applies to every bar
Information about iodine in baker’s salt doesn’t tell you whether a particular breakfast cake bar contains baker’s salt or how much iodine that bar contains.
Check the ingredients for the specific product and ask the manufacturer for more information if its composition matters to your choice.
Brands with relevant bars
Peijnenburg
Jumbo lists individually wrapped breakfast cake in a plain 4-pack and a no added sugars 4-pack.
- The plain bar weighs 28 g per piece.
- According to Jumbo, the no added sugars variety contains 6.5 g of polyols per 28 g bar. Check the allergens for your chosen variety too.
Snelle Jelle
Jumbo lists, among other products, 42 g Zero Kruidkoek bars and 65 g (Te) Krachtige Kruidkoek bars.
- The two varieties mentioned come in different portion sizes.
- Jumbo lists 9.7 g of polyols per 42 g bar for Zero Kruidkoek. If you’re choosing based on sugar, check the rest of the nutritional information too.
AH
Albert Heijn sells a plain breakfast cake bar in a 6-pack and also offers a separate gluten-free breakfast cake bar.
- According to Albert Heijn, the plain bar has a portion size of 55 g.
- Don’t assume the gluten-free variety has the same characteristics as the plain bar. Check each product separately.
PLUS
PLUS lists plain breakfast cake bars and a ‘Less sugar’ variety, both in 6-packs.
- The two varieties give you a choice between a plain bar and one with a different sugar claim.
- The ‘Less sugar’ claim doesn’t replace the nutritional and allergen information on the packaging.
Lidl
Lidl lists biscuit bars in raisin-spiced cake and ‘less sugar’ breakfast cake varieties, with six bars per pack.
- The pack size tells you how many bars you’re buying.
- Compare the ingredients and nutritional information on the packaging before choosing either variety.
A breakfast cake bar on Joybuy
This Snelle Jelle bar is an option to consider for an individual snack. For a drinks occasion, focus on whether the portion size, nutritional information and ingredients suit your preferences.
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Snelle Jelle Breakfast Cake Less Sugar-Free 250g
An option to consider as an individual bar for a snack. The product information lists rye and the possible presence of milk and nuts. If allergens matter to your choice, check the current packaging.
Before choosing based on the sugar claim, compare the nutritional information per bar on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Is a breakfast cake bar automatically gluten-free?
No. The regular bars reviewed contain rye, a cereal that contains gluten. Albert Heijn sells a gluten-free breakfast cake bar as a separate product. If you need to avoid gluten, always check the claim and allergen information on the packaging of the bar you want to buy.
Does ‘no added sugars’ mean a bar contains no sugars?
No. Jumbo lists 1.4 g of sugars and 6.5 g of polyols per 28 g bar for the Peijnenburg no added sugars variety. Compare the figures per portion and read the warning about excessive consumption on the packaging.
What label information can help you choose a bar?
The ingredients, allergens, quantity and nutritional value can help you assess the specific bar. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority lists this information, along with details such as the use-by date, as part of the labelling of prepacked foods where applicable.
Can you work out how much iodine a breakfast cake bar contains from information about baker’s salt?
No. Information about baker’s salt doesn’t give you the iodine content of a specific breakfast cake bar. Check the ingredients and ask the manufacturer for product-specific information if the amount matters to your choice.