Choose an individually wrapped slice if you want a clearly defined portion to take with you: Albert Heijn lists Peijnenburg Natural as a pack of ten 28 g slices, while Jumbo no longer lists the Peijnenburg Mini products we looked at in its online range. Then compare a mini, slice or bar by looking at sugars and ingredients per 100 g and per portion, and check the allergens. A ‘less sugar’ or ‘zero’ label doesn’t automatically make a product suitable for every snack occasion.
For a day out during the holidays, an individually wrapped slice or a bar is easy to pack without having to cut the breakfast cake first. The weight of each piece still matters: ‘individually wrapped’ doesn’t automatically mean it’s a small cake. Albert Heijn lists Peijnenburg Natural in a 10-pack of 28 g slices.
A regular portion, a less-sugar bar and a zero option each call for different label checks. Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per actual portion. For a zero option, also read the ingredients and check for any warnings about sweeteners or polyols.
The breakfast cake options we looked at list rye and gluten. Information about nuts, milk and possible traces varies by product. So check the allergen information on the packaging you buy, even if you choose a familiar brand or a different portion size.
Start with the portion size you want for when you’re out and about. Then compare the nutritional information and ingredients for the exact product, and only then check whether the size you’re looking for is available.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Ready-to-go portion | Check the number of pieces, the weight of each piece and whether they’re individually wrapped. | I want to take one portion with me on a day out without having to cut it there. For around 31% of consumers, having a set portion is the deciding factor. |
| Sugars and ingredients | Compare sugars and fibre per 100 g and per portion; for less-sugar and zero options, also read the ingredients and any warnings. | If I’m choosing between a natural and an adjusted option, I want to know what’s actually in my portion. Around 31% of consumers prioritise this comparison. |
| Allergens | Read the allergen information and the ‘may contain’ statement on the packaging of the option you’ve chosen. | I need to check whether rye, gluten, nuts or possible traces are relevant to my family. For around 23% of consumers, this is their top priority. |
| Available size | Check current stock, especially if you’re specifically looking for small mini cakes. | I’m looking for small bites and want to know before our day out whether I can buy that particular size. Availability is the main consideration for around 15% of consumers. |
A smaller size doesn’t, in itself, tell you anything about the nutritional value per 100 g. For the Peijnenburg Pearl Sugar Mini products we looked at, Jumbo lists 43.1 g of sugars per 100 g; PLUS lists 38 g per 100 g for Peijnenburg Natural portion packs. The amount in the portion you eat also depends on the weight of each piece.
First compare the nutritional information per 100 g, then check how many grams you’ll actually be giving them.
A less-sugar claim is based on a specific comparison. A zero option may still contain naturally occurring sugars and polyols; for Peijnenburg Zero slices, Albert Heijn also gives a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Read what the claim is based on, then check the full ingredients list and any warnings on the packaging you’ve chosen.
Jumbo no longer lists the Peijnenburg Nut Mini and Pearl Sugar Mini products we looked at in its online range. So a product information page doesn’t confirm that you can buy those minis now.
Check your shop’s stock shortly before buying, and consider whether a portion-wrapped slice or a bar would also suit the portion size you want.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So you can’t tell which salt has been used in a specific product just from the name ‘breakfast cake’.
Check the ingredients on the packaging or ask the manufacturer if you want to know.
The differences below relate to the product ranges mentioned, not every breakfast cake made by each brand. Always check the information for the option you’ve chosen when buying.
Offers individually wrapped Natural slices and the mini cake options we looked at.
Offers spiced cake bars, including options labelled less sugar or zero.
Offers breakfast cake bars in Natural 6-packs and Less Sugar 6-packs.
This is a breakfast cake bar to take with you, not a bag of small mini cakes. When choosing, check the weight of an individual portion and assess any sugar claim against the information on the packaging.
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A bar-shaped option to take with you if you don’t need a mini cake. The stated pack weight is 250 g; check the weight of each piece before choosing this as a small portion.
Check the packaging to see what the sugar claim means for this option, and read the nutritional information and allergen details.
No. Its small size doesn’t determine where breakfast cake fits into your daily diet. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends options such as vegetables, fruit and wholegrain products for children’s snacks. Vary what you offer, and check the portion size, nutritional information and ingredients when choosing breakfast cake.
No. A zero label doesn’t automatically mean that a product is sugar-free. For Peijnenburg Zero slices, Albert Heijn lists naturally occurring sugars and a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Read the nutritional information and ingredients for the specific option.
Read both the allergen information and the ‘may contain’ statement on the pack you’re buying. The portion packs we looked at list rye and gluten; the Peijnenburg Nut Mini products we looked at contain almonds and hazelnuts. A product page for a different option is no substitute for the information on the label.
No, you can’t tell from the product category. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check the ingredients of the specific product or ask the manufacturer which salt has been used.
