Only choose a sourdough version of breakfast cake to go with pea soup if the label or baker confirms that sourdough is used in that specific cake; rye or wholemeal flour alone tells you nothing about this. If sourdough isn’t essential, compare the nutritional information and size of regular breakfast cakes based on what you want to serve with your meal.
You specifically want the character of sourdough with or after your meal. Ask a baker about the ingredients in the particular breakfast cake, or check the packaging for an explicit mention of sourdough. A rye or wholemeal version isn’t automatically an alternative.
You want to serve breakfast cake, but are particularly mindful of sugars, fibre and salt. Compare the same values per 100 g, then consider the size of the slice you’ll actually serve. A version with no added sugars isn’t necessarily sugar-free.
You’re looking for breakfast cake to serve to several people. Pre-sliced portions are ready to serve, while an unsliced cake lets you decide the portion sizes. Before buying, check which size will suit the number of people eating.
First decide whether confirmed use of sourdough is essential. If it isn’t, compare the nutritional information and choose a size that’s convenient for serving.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Confirmed use of sourdough | Check the ingredients for sourdough or sourdough starter in the specific cake, or ask the baker which sourdough was used. | I specifically want breakfast cake with pea soup for its sourdough character; rye alone isn’t enough for me. For around 42% of consumers, confirmed use of sourdough would be the main requirement. |
| Sugars, fibre and salt | Compare the nutritional values per 100 g and per serving, and read the ingredients alongside any claims on the front of the pack. | If I serve a slice with my meal, I want to know what’s in that portion. Around 33% of consumers would look at the nutritional information first. |
| Size and availability | Check whether the cake is sliced or unsliced, how much you need and where the size you’ve chosen is available. | When serving a group, I want to be able to share the cake easily without ending up with too many or too few portions. For around 25% of consumers, practical considerations would come first. |
Rye flour and wholemeal flour describe the ingredients, not necessarily the method of preparation. Peijnenburg lists raising agents, but no sourdough, in the ingredients for the plain and wholemeal versions in question.
If sourdough is essential, check that sourdough is explicitly mentioned for the cake you’re buying.
This doesn’t mean that a breakfast cake contains no sugars. Other ingredients and portion size also matter when you compare different versions.
Read the full ingredients list and compare sugars, fibre and salt per 100 g and per slice.
The name ‘breakfast cake’ doesn’t tell you which salt was used in a particular cake. So don’t draw conclusions about iodine based on the product category alone.
If the type of salt matters to your choice, check the ingredients on the pack you’re considering.
Range and recipe vary between versions; a brand name alone doesn’t confirm that sourdough is used.
A breakfast cake brand offering, among other options, plain and wholemeal versions.
An own-brand range that includes pre-sliced plain and wholemeal breakfast cake.
An own-brand range with a choice of breakfast cake sizes and versions.
An ALDI brand offering, among other options, pre-sliced wholemeal breakfast cake and a zero version.
An own-brand range that includes pre-sliced plain breakfast cake.
You can compare these breakfast cakes by size and label if confirmed use of sourdough isn’t essential. If you specifically want sourdough, check this for the exact cake before choosing.
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An option if you want to serve sliced wholemeal breakfast cake and don’t require it to be sourdough.
Compare the nutritional information on the pack if sugars, fibre or salt matter to your choice. Check separately whether sourdough is used if that’s important to you after all.
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An option if you want to compare the Less Sugar-Free version with other breakfast cakes to serve with your meal.
Don’t assume from the version name that the cake contains no sugars: read the nutritional information and ingredients on the pack. Also check separately whether sourdough is used.
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A pre-sliced breakfast cake to share when you don’t need a confirmed sourdough version.
Compare the ingredients and nutritional information on the label with those of other pre-sliced versions. The product name alone doesn’t confirm that sourdough is used.
Check whether sourdough or sourdough starter is listed in the ingredients or product description for the specific breakfast cake, and ask a baker if necessary. The plain and wholemeal versions of Peijnenburg examined, and the plain version of PLUS examined, list raising agents but no sourdough.
No. The claim ‘no added sugars’ doesn’t mean the product contains no sugars. Read the nutritional information per 100 g and per serving, and compare the other ingredients in the versions you’re considering too.
No. Wholemeal describes the flour used and doesn’t confirm that sourdough is used. The ingredients list for the Peijnenburg wholemeal version examined includes raising agents; if you specifically want sourdough, choose a cake only when its use has been explicitly confirmed.
Always read the allergen information on the exact pack. For the plain version examined, PLUS lists rye and possible traces of wheat, barley and oats; you can’t automatically apply this information to another breakfast cake.
