If your staff canteen wants to offer breakfast cake with no added sugars, choose a variety that explicitly says so, rather than one labelled ‘less sugar’. AH and PLUS state that their zero varieties contain 0 g of added sugars, but also 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g. For serving at lunchtime, also check the fibre content, portion size and allergen information. If you serve the cake unpackaged, this information must be available under guidance from the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority.
Look for a product specification that says ‘no added sugars’ or lists 0 g of added sugars. Also check the total sugars and ingredients: according to product information from Peijnenburg and AH, these are not the same as the amount of added sugars.
Compare the fibre content per 100 g and check whether the chosen variety is actually labelled as wholegrain. Peijnenburg lists 17 g of fibre per 100 g for its Original variety with no added sugars; the wholegrain variety is a separate product.
Individually wrapped slices make portion sizes clear when serving: Albert Heijn lists a box of Peijnenburg slices weighing 28 g each. If you serve the breakfast cake unpackaged, make sure guests can access up-to-date allergen information.
First decide whether ‘no added sugars’ is a firm requirement. ‘Less sugar’ describes a comparison with another product and does not automatically meet that requirement. Then compare the nutritional information and consider how the breakfast cake will be served in your canteen.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Added and total sugars | Check ‘added sugars’, ‘of which sugars’ and the ingredients per 100 g and per portion. If the product says ‘less sugar’, check what it is being compared with. | If I don’t want to offer added sugars, I want this to be stated on the label without overlooking the total sugars. This is the top priority for around 33% of consumers choosing breakfast cake for their canteen. |
| Wholegrain and fibre | Check whether the chosen variety is labelled wholegrain and compare fibre per 100 g or per portion. | Alongside the choice of sugar content, I want to be able to assess how much fibre a slice contains and whether this particular breakfast cake is wholegrain. This is the top priority for around 27% of these consumers. |
| Portion size and serving | Compare the number of slices, the weight of each one and whether each slice is individually wrapped. | For self-service, I want guests to be able to pick up a clearly defined portion easily. A standard portion is the most important consideration for around 20% of these consumers. |
| Allergen information | Check what each product contains or may contain, and make sure up-to-date allergen information is accessible if you serve it unpackaged. | If I serve breakfast cake unpackaged, I need to be able to give guests accurate information about allergens. For a further 20% or so of these consumers, this information at the point of serving is the top priority. |
AH and PLUS state that their zero breakfast cakes contain 0 g of added sugars and 4.9 g of total sugars per 100 g. These two claims therefore answer different purchasing questions.
When serving the cake in your canteen, use the exact wording for the product and also compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and per portion.
Jumbo states that its Less Sugar Breakfast Cake contains at least 30% less sugar than its Original variety, but also lists 24.2 g of sugars per 100 g. PLUS states that its Less Sugar breakfast cake bars contain 11.82 g of added sugars per 100 g.
If no added sugar is a firm requirement, choose only a variety whose product specification confirms this.
The Peijnenburg and AH zero varieties reviewed contain xylitol or other polyols. Their product information also warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Check the ingredients and warnings for your chosen variety, and take the portion size into account when serving it.
For unpackaged foods, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority requires information about 14 allergens. Guests cannot automatically access the information on packaging that has been thrown away.
Keep up-to-date product information available where the food is served, and update it if the product or recipe changes.
Compare breakfast cake by variety: ‘zero’, ‘no added sugars’ and ‘less sugar’ do not mean the same thing when it comes to nutritional information.
Peijnenburg offers, among other options, breakfast cake with no added sugars, a separate wholegrain variety and individually wrapped slices.
AH Breakfast Cake Zero Sliced is an Albert Heijn own-brand option for anyone comparing sliced cake with no added sugars.
PLUS offers a Zero Breakfast Cake and separate Less Sugar breakfast cake bars. Choose based on the description of the specific variety.
Jumbo Less Sugar Breakfast Cake is an example of a relative sugar comparison, not a zero variety.
Lidl Netherlands lists a 485 g Breakfast Cake Zero as a separate variety.
No, the name ‘zero’ does not mean that. For the zero varieties reviewed, Albert Heijn and PLUS state that they contain 0 g of added sugars, but also 4.9 g of total sugars per 100 g. Consider which of these two figures matters most when choosing products for your canteen.
Yes. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, information about 14 allergens must be available for unpackaged foods. If the information is given verbally, staff must be able to provide it directly before purchase, and a visible notice must tell guests they can ask for it.
Start with the current allergen information for your chosen variety, including what it ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’. For AH Breakfast Cake Zero, Albert Heijn lists rye and gluten, and possible traces of barley, oats and wheat. Don’t assume the same information applies to another product without checking.
You can’t assume this is the case for every breakfast cake. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the conditions under which iodine may be present in bakery products through baker’s salt; this does not confirm that it is present in a specific breakfast cake. If iodine content matters for your purchasing decision, ask the supplier for the product specification.
