Choose a dark chocolate breakfast cake only if the current ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ warnings are compatible with the allergens you need to avoid. According to Albert Heijn, Peijnenburg Chocolade Dubbel Donker contains rye, soya and barley, and may contain nuts and milk. A gluten-free alternative needs checking too: Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten contains milk and lupin.
You want to know which allergens the breakfast cake contains and which may be present as traces. The Voedingscentrum stresses that even a small amount can cause a reaction if you have a food allergy. So check both types of information before choosing based on flavour.
You’re looking for chocolate breakfast cake made with cocoa powder, but only consider the flavour once you’ve checked that its allergens are compatible with what you need to avoid. For Peijnenburg Chocolade Dubbel Donker, Albert Heijn lists 13% chocolate and cocoa powder, as well as allergens present and possible traces.
A gluten-free breakfast cake may meet your gluten requirements without being suitable for your other dietary needs. For Lekker Vrij van Gluten, Jumbo lists milk and lupin as present, and nuts and egg among the possible traces.
Start with the allergens you need to avoid. Then check whether you need a gluten-free option and whether the current dark variety suits your taste.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Specific allergens | Check the current packaging for both the allergens present and any ‘may contain’ warning. | If I need to avoid an allergen, I want to assess the breakfast cake before flavour comes into it. Around 50% of consumers put this allergen check first. |
| Gluten and other allergens | Check the gluten-free claim, then read the full allergen information separately. | For me, gluten-free may be the first requirement, while milk, lupin or possible traces may still determine my choice. Around 30% of consumers put this combined check first. |
| Dark flavour and up-to-date information | Compare the chocolate and cocoa information, and read the label on the variety you’re actually buying. | I’m looking for a rich chocolate flavour, but I don’t want to base my choice on outdated product information. Around 20% of consumers put this flavour choice and current label check first. |
According to Albert Heijn, Peijnenburg Chocolade Dubbel Donker contains rye, soya and barley, and may contain nuts and milk. Its dark flavour doesn’t change that.
Check the allergens on the packaging first, then compare the chocolate, cocoa or serving size.
Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten is labelled gluten-free, but contains milk and lupin. The product information also lists possible traces of nuts, egg and sesame, among other things.
Use the gluten-free claim to check whether it meets your gluten requirements, then check every other allergen you need to avoid.
An online description of a particular variety may differ from the packaging you eventually buy. Albert Heijn also marks its listing for Peijnenburg Chocolade Dubbel Donker as discontinued.
Check whether the variety is available and read the packaging of the product you receive.
According to PLUS, PLUS Ontbijtkoek Zero contains rye flour and may contain wheat, barley and oats. The name doesn’t tell you whether it’s suitable if you need to avoid grains or gluten.
Check information about sugars and allergens separately.
These examples show why the information for a specific breakfast cake variety matters more than the brand name alone.
Chocolade Dubbel Donker is an option to consider if you’re looking for a dark chocolate breakfast cake.
A gluten-free breakfast cake for when a dark chocolate flavour isn’t essential.
PLUS Ontbijtkoek Zero is another option to consider if you also want to compare the sugar information.
You can’t tell from the dark colour. For Peijnenburg Chocolade Dubbel Donker, Albert Heijn lists rye, soya and barley as present, and nuts and milk as possible traces. Check the current packaging against the allergens you need to avoid.
A gluten-free claim doesn’t answer that question. According to Jumbo, Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten contains milk and lupin; it may also contain almonds, hazelnuts and walnuts, among other things. Check the full allergen information as well as the gluten-free claim.
For prepacked foods, relevant allergens must be highlighted in the ingredients list. Your Europe’s information on EU rules gives a different font or background colour as examples of how they can be distinguished. Also check for any separate warning about possible traces.
Use an online list to help you prepare, but check the label on the actual packaging before eating the product. Product information and recipes can change, so check again for the allergens that matter to you.
No, the name ‘Zero’ doesn’t say anything about gluten on its own. PLUS lists rye flour as an ingredient in Ontbijtkoek Zero and says it may contain wheat, barley and oats. Check the ingredients and allergens separately.
