Film fans keeping an eye on sugar
You’re looking for breakfast cake with no added sugars, but you also want to know how much sugar there is in each slice.
Who are these options relevant to?
Shoppers looking at fibre
As well as the sugar claim, you want to compare the wholemeal content and the amount of fibre per 100 g.
Shoppers who check ingredients carefully
You check for ingredients such as rye, gluten, possible traces of milk or nuts, and sweeteners. If there are pets nearby, you’ll also look out for xylitol.
What should you look for when choosing?
Decide which feature matters most to you, then compare the labels on the options you’re considering. ‘No added sugars’ doesn’t, on its own, tell you how much sugar there is in a slice.
| What to look for | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Added sugar and sugars present | Compare the claim on the pack with ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and per serving. | If I’m having a slice during a film, I don’t want to assume from ‘zero’ that it contains no sugars at all. Around 45% of consumers would make limiting added sugars their top priority. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Check the wholemeal claim and the fibre content per 100 g for the option you’ve chosen. | I don’t want my choice of breakfast cake to depend solely on the sugar claim; I also want to consider what’s in the cake. For around 33% of consumers, wholemeal and fibre would be the deciding factors. |
| Ingredients and warnings | Check which sweetener has been used, and look at the allergens and any serving warnings. | When I’m sharing the cake with others, I want to be able to check the ingredients; if there are pets around, I keep cake containing xylitol out of their reach. This choice of ingredients would be the top priority for around 22% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘zero’ means ‘sugar-free’
Breakfast cake with no added sugars can still contain sugars from its ingredients. Voedingscentrum states that breakfast cake with no added sugar contains an average of 0.8 g of sugars per 30 g slice.
Use the nutrition information per 100 g and the size of your serving to compare options.
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Assuming every zero option is wholemeal
Peijnenburg labels its specific wholemeal option as 100% wholemeal. That doesn’t tell you the wholemeal content of another breakfast cake with ‘zero’ on the pack.
Check the wholemeal claim and fibre content of the exact option you want to buy.
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Overlooking sweeteners and allergens
The Peijnenburg options reviewed contain xylitol and rye. The product information warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect and, for one option, mentions possible traces of milk and nuts.
Before serving, check the ingredients, allergens and warnings on the current packaging. Keep cake containing xylitol out of pets’ reach.
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Assuming ‘breakfast cake’ means it contains iodine
The product name doesn’t tell you whether iodised baker’s salt has been used in a particular breakfast cake.
Check the ingredients for that option, or ask the manufacturer if this matters to your choice.
Brands to consider
Peijnenburg
Peijnenburg has plain and wholemeal options with no added sugars that have been reviewed.
- For the wholemeal option reviewed, Peijnenburg states that it is 100% wholemeal. The product information lists 17 g of fibre and 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g.
- The options reviewed contain xylitol and rye. Check the warning about excessive consumption and any statements about possible traces on each pack.
AH
AH offers a pre-sliced zero breakfast cake as its own-brand option.
- The pre-sliced format makes it easy to set aside slices in advance.
- Before comparing it with another option, check the nutrition information, ingredients and allergens on the current packaging.
Koek & Bakker
According to ALDI Nederland, Koek & Bakker offers a 485 g pre-sliced breakfast cake with no added sugars.
- ALDI Nederland lists the product format, pack weight and no added sugars claim.
- Use the nutrition information and ingredients on the pack you choose to compare sugars, fibre and sweeteners.
Breakfast cake at Joybuy
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Is breakfast cake with no added sugars the same as sugar-free?
No. ‘No added sugars’ doesn’t rule out sugars that occur naturally in the ingredients. Voedingscentrum states that breakfast cake with no added sugar contains an average of 0.8 g of sugars per 30 g slice; check ‘of which sugars’ on the pack to help you choose.
Can I choose any zero breakfast cake if I need to avoid gluten?
No. The Peijnenburg wholemeal option reviewed contains rye and cereals containing gluten. Check the ingredients and the gluten-free claim on the specific product you’re considering.
What should I look out for in breakfast cake containing xylitol?
Read the serving warning: the Peijnenburg option reviewed states that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Think about how many slices you plan to serve, and keep products containing xylitol out of pets’ reach.
What should I do if a pet has eaten breakfast cake containing xylitol?
Contact a vet immediately. The product information reviewed warns that xylitol is not suitable for animals.
Does baker’s salt mean that all breakfast cake contains iodine?
No. The name breakfast cake doesn’t tell you which salt was used in a particular option. Check the ingredients on the pack or ask the manufacturer if you want to know whether it contains iodised baker’s salt.