When stocking up on breakfast cake, choose products explicitly labelled ‘without added sugars’, then compare the sugars per 100 g: ‘zero’ does not mean the product contains no sugars. A large pack of sliced cake is suitable for home, while individually wrapped slices are more convenient to take with you. Before buying several packs, check the ingredients, warnings and storage instructions for both formats.
You buy several packs for home and want to look beyond the claim on the front, comparing the sugars per 100 g too. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre distinguishes between sugars that have not been added and sugars that are present in a product.
You want to take slices with you individually or share them out. For example, Albert Heijn lists a box of Peijnenburg containing 80 individually wrapped slices of 28 g each.
You look at multipacks in the supermarket and check the nutritional information, ingredients and warnings on the packaging. Lidl and ALDI each list a 485 g zero breakfast cake as an in-store option.
Start by understanding what the sugar claim means. Then choose a pack format you’ll actually use, and check the ingredients and warnings for each product.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Added sugars and sugars present | Read the claim and compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. For the zero varieties mentioned, Albert Heijn and Peijnenburg both list 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g. | I want to avoid added sugars, but also know how much sugar the breakfast cake contains. For around 42% of consumers making this choice, both considerations come first. |
| Packaging and portions | Compare the pack size, number of slices and choice between a pack of sliced cake and individually wrapped portions. | If I keep a supply at home or take slices with me, the packaging needs to suit how I use them. Around 33% of consumers give this practical consideration top priority. |
| Ingredients and warnings | Check the current ingredient and allergen information, and read any warnings about sweeteners and excessive consumption. | In my household, the ingredients or warnings determine which packs I can store and use. This is a key consideration for around 25% of consumers. |
The breakfast cakes from Albert Heijn and Peijnenburg mentioned here each list 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘without added sugars’ does not mean that the product contains no sugars at all.
Use the claim to shortlist products, then compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure on the same per-100 g basis.
Jumbo lists 24.2 g of sugars per 100 g for its Ontbijtkoek Minder Suiker; the ingredients include glucose-fructose syrup. A relative reduction therefore does not answer the same buying question.
If you specifically want a product without added sugars, check both the claim and the ingredients list.
A large pack of sliced cake for home and individually wrapped slices to take with you are not equally practical in every situation.
Check how many slices you use, how they’re packaged and what the storage instructions say.
The Albert Heijn and Peijnenburg varieties mentioned here contain rye. Peijnenburg also includes warnings about excessive consumption and pets on its products containing xylitol.
Before buying several packs, check the current ingredients, allergens and warnings for the variety you’ve chosen.
These brands and places to shop can help you compare packaging and labels. The details below apply to the specific varieties mentioned.
Peijnenburg offers breakfast cake without added sugars as sliced plain and wholegrain varieties, as well as individually wrapped slices.
AH Ontbijtkoek zero gesneden is a 485 g pack of sliced cake for stocking up at home.
Jumbo lists both Peijnenburg breakfast cake without added sugars and its own variety called Ontbijtkoek Minder Suiker.
ALDI lists a 485 g pack of sliced Koek & Bakker Ontbijtkoek Zero without added sugars.
Lidl lists a 485 g Ontbijtkoek zero as an in-store product.
PLUS lists Peijnenburg plain breakfast cake without added sugars in a 455 g sliced pack.
No. The Albert Heijn zero variety and the Peijnenburg variety without added sugars mentioned here both list 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘without added sugars’ does not mean that the product contains no sugars. So check the ‘of which sugars’ figure in the nutritional information.
Follow the storage instructions on the pack you’ve chosen. For its zero variety, Albert Heijn recommends a cool, dark and dry place. Peijnenburg advises keeping the variety mentioned in a dry, dark place, and says you can store it in a sealed tin or container.
Keep breakfast cake containing xylitol out of reach of pets. Peijnenburg states that xylitol is not suitable for animals and advises contacting a vet immediately if it is eaten. Also read the warnings on the pack of the variety you buy.
Don’t assume this for a specific breakfast cake without checking the label. The official Government Gazette publication from 2008 describes an agreement on the use of baker’s salt in bakery products; the ingredients list for the product you choose determines what it contains. Look, for example, for references to baker’s salt or iodised table salt.
