If you’re buying breakfast cake for the week, first decide whether you’d prefer a larger pack to keep at home or individual portions to take with you. Then compare the sugars, fibre, ingredients and allergens in the exact variety you’re considering: the name Zero or wholegrain alone doesn’t tell you how much sugar a slice contains.
If breakfast cake regularly finds its way into your shopping basket, look beyond the name Zero or wholegrain. The nutritional information per 100 g and per slice, the ingredients and any sweeteners can help you distinguish between varieties.
For a lunchbox, work or a day out, it can make a difference whether the cake is simply pre-sliced or whether the slices are individually wrapped. The weight per slice also affects how much you take with you each time.
If you need to avoid ingredients such as rye, wheat, milk or nuts, check the label for the exact variety. Read both the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ warnings.
First decide whether nutritional information, a practical pack for the week, individual portions or allergens matter most to you. Then check the details on the pack you’re actually choosing.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars and fibre | Compare sugars and fibre per 100 g and per slice; for Zero varieties, also read the ingredients and any warnings about consumption. | If I eat breakfast cake regularly, I want to know what’s in my usual slice rather than relying on the name alone. For around 31% of consumers, sugars and fibre are the main considerations when choosing. |
| A week’s supply | Check the pack size, the number of slices and the storage instructions after opening. | The pack needs to suit how much breakfast cake we get through in a week, without needing individual portions. Around 31% of consumers prioritise a pack that works as a week’s supply. |
| Portions to take with you | Check whether the slices are individually wrapped or simply pre-sliced, and look at the weight per slice. | For work, school or a day out, I want to be able to set aside a slice in advance without portioning it myself. Around 23% of consumers say convenience when taking it with them is their main reason for choosing. |
| Allergens | Read both the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the current label for the exact variety. | If someone at home needs to avoid certain ingredients, I first need to establish whether the cake I’ve chosen is suitable. This check comes first for around 15% of consumers. |
A variety with no added sugars can still contain sugars. The Peijnenburg and Jumbo Zero varieties examined also list sweeteners or polyols and carry a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Check the nutritional information and ingredients for the variety you’ve chosen, including any warning on the pack.
A pack for home and individually wrapped slices meet different practical needs. Pre-sliced pieces aren’t necessarily individually wrapped either.
Compare the number of slices, the weight per portion and the storage instructions with how you’ll use the cake during the week.
The breakfast cake products examined list ingredients such as rye, wheat or gluten-containing cereals. Some varieties also carry warnings about other possible allergens.
Always check the current label for the exact variety; don’t rely on the brand name or a previous purchase.
Among the varieties examined, you can compare a Zero version with individually wrapped plain slices.
The range includes different varieties and pack sizes of breakfast cake.
This ALDI own-brand range includes a pre-sliced Zero breakfast cake.
The Bakkers plain breakfast cake examined comes in a standard 500 g pack.
The wholegrain breakfast cake examined is an option if you want to compare the proportion of wholegrain rye with the nutritional information.
No, it may still contain naturally occurring sugars. Compare the amount of sugars per 100 g and per slice in the nutritional information for the exact variety.
Not without checking the ingredients. The Peijnenburg and Jumbo Zero varieties examined list sweeteners or polyols and warn that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Not necessarily: pre-sliced simply describes how the cake has been cut. Check whether the pack says that each slice is individually wrapped; for example, Peijnenburg describes its plain 10-pack examined as containing 10 individually wrapped slices of 28 g each.
Read the current label for the exact variety, including the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ warnings. The products examined list ingredients such as rye, wheat or gluten-containing cereals; some also mention possible traces of milk or nuts.
No, don’t assume this without checking. Voedingscentrum refers to iodised baker’s salt in connection with bread; check the ingredients list for the variety you’ve chosen to find out what’s in a breakfast cake.
