Let your main priority during a night shift guide your choice: choose sliced wholemeal breakfast cake if you’re looking for wholemeal ingredients and fibre, a variety with less or no added sugar if you mainly want to compare sugars, or a bar or individually wrapped portion if easy packing is your priority. Always check the nutrition information per 100 g and per portion: wholemeal doesn’t tell you how much sugar a product contains, and a zero variety may contain polyols such as xylitol.
You’re looking for a slice that’s easy to take with you, and want to consider wholemeal ingredients and fibre. Check the sugar content per 100 g too: the wholemeal breakfast cakes from AH and PLUS show why it’s worth comparing these separately.
You want to understand the difference between less sugar, no added sugar and the total amount of sugars. For varieties containing xylitol or other polyols, it’s also worth noting the warning about excessive consumption.
You want a flavour and texture you enjoy, without having to take a large pack to work. Compare sliced cake, bars and individually wrapped portions; don’t rely on a product’s name if you specifically want a mix of white and wholemeal ingredients.
First decide whether flavour and wholemeal ingredients, sugar content or a portion that’s easy to take with you matters most. Then compare the ingredients and nutrition information of the products that meet your needs.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal ingredients, fibre and flavour | Compare the wholemeal flour in the ingredients list, and the fibre and sugar content per 100 g. Also consider whether you like the flavour. | If I like to have a familiar slice during my shift, I want the wholemeal variety to suit my taste too. For around 42% of shoppers, wholemeal ingredients, fibre and whether they enjoy the taste would be the main considerations. |
| Sugars and polyols | Check the total sugars per 100 g and per portion. For reduced-sugar and zero varieties, look at the ingredients and any warnings about polyols. | If I mainly want to keep an eye on sugar, the nutrition table tells me more than the word ‘zero’ alone. For around 33% of shoppers, sugar content would be the main consideration. |
| Taking it with you and storage | Check the portion size, the number of slices or bars, and the storage instructions once opened. | For a shift that varies, I want to be able to take a portion with me without having to carry a large opened pack each time. Convenience and portion size would matter most to around 25% of shoppers. |
AH lists 34 g of sugars per 100 g for its sliced wholemeal breakfast cake; PLUS lists 34.1 g per 100 g for its wholemeal variety. The wholemeal label therefore answers a different question from the sugar content.
For the products you’re considering, compare both the ingredients and the sugar and fibre content per 100 g.
AH Zero lists 4.9 g of total sugars and 22 g of polyols per 100 g. AH warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Check the total sugars, polyols and portion size alongside the claim on the front of the pack. Choose another variety if you want to avoid polyols.
Sliced cake, breakfast cake bars and individually wrapped portions each require a different approach to taking them with you and storing them. PLUS offers both bars and individually wrapped portions.
Decide how much you want to take with you for each shift, then check the nutrition information per portion and the storage instructions.
The product information for xylitol-containing varieties from AH and Peijnenburg warns against giving them to animals.
Keep these products and any leftovers out of reach of pets. If a pet eats any, contact a vet immediately.
The breakfast cakes reviewed from these brands vary in their ingredients, nutritional values and packaging. So compare specific varieties rather than looking at brand names alone.
Peijnenburg offers regular wholemeal breakfast cake as well as varieties with less or no added sugar. This makes the brand worth considering if you want to compare these claims.
AH offers sliced wholemeal breakfast cake and a Zero variety. Compare the nutrition information for each separately.
PLUS offers sliced wholemeal breakfast cake, a zero variety and breakfast cake bars. The packaging may influence your choice if you’re looking for a snack to take to work.
Lidl lists a 485 g sliced wholemeal breakfast cake as a shop product.
These products offer two options for a snack during a night shift: sliced wholemeal breakfast cake and breakfast cake in bar form. Check the current packaging to compare nutritional values and allergens for the option you choose.
No image available
The sliced format is handy if you want to take a slice with you for a night shift. Check the sugar and fibre content per 100 g on the pack, and check the allergen information.
No image available
This bar-shaped breakfast cake is handy if you want to take a portion with you. Check how many bars are individually wrapped, and compare the sugar, fibre and allergen information per bar on the pack.
No. AH Zero lists 4.9 g of total sugars and 22 g of polyols per 100 g, despite the claim that it contains no added sugars. AH also warns of a possible laxative effect if consumed excessively, so check the nutrition information and ingredients.
No. AH Wholemeal lists 34 g of sugars per 100 g, while PLUS Wholemeal lists 34.1 g per 100 g. Compare the sugar content separately from the wholemeal ingredients and fibre.
Follow the instructions on the packaging for your product. For its sliced wholemeal variety with no added sugar, Peijnenburg recommends storing it in a cool, dry, dark place in a sealed container or tin to keep the cake soft.
Check the current allergen information on the pack you buy. The wholemeal examples discussed here contain rye. If you have an allergy, don’t rely on the product name alone or on information about a different variety.
You can’t tell from the product name ‘breakfast cake’. Check the ingredients list for baker’s salt, or ask the manufacturer about the specific product if iodine content is important to your choice.
