If you want to taste actual seeds in a late-night snack, look for a grain-and-seed bar rather than relying on the word ‘wholemeal’: the Peijnenburg bar we looked at contains 9% sunflower seeds, but also xylitol and a warning about excessive consumption. If portion size or sugar content matters most to you, compare slices and bars both per piece and per 100 g, and check the current packaging for ingredients and allergens.
If you want noticeable seeds in a late-night snack, ‘wholemeal’ on its own doesn’t tell you enough. The Peijnenburg bar we looked at contains oats and 9% sunflower seeds; the ingredients list for Jumbo Wholemeal Ontbijtkoek contains no seeds.
An option with no added sugars may suit you if you’re mainly comparing sugar content. Peijnenburg lists 1.4 g of sugars per 28 g slice for the variant we looked at. Also check which sweeteners it contains and what warnings appear on the packaging.
Individually wrapped slices and bars give you a clear portion in advance, but one piece isn’t always the same size as another. The Peijnenburg plain slice we looked at weighs 28 g, while its grain-and-seed bar weighs 36.7 g.
First decide whether seeds, sugar content or a pre-portioned snack matters most to you. Then compare the nutrition information using the same weight and portion size.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Seeds and fibre | Look for specific seeds in the ingredients list and compare fibre per 100 g. | If I mainly want a bar with noticeable seeds, a wholemeal claim alone isn’t enough. Around 42% of consumers prioritise seeds and fibre when making this choice. |
| Sugars and sweeteners | Compare sugars per piece and check the sweeteners used and any warnings. | If you want a slice later on but are watching your sugar intake, the nutrition information per portion is more useful than a claim on the front of the pack. Lower sugar is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Portion size | Check the weight of each slice or bar; compare nutritional values per 100 g as well. | I want to be able to grab one piece without cutting off a portion myself, but I also want to know how big it is. A pre-portioned snack is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
Wholemeal breakfast cake can contain fibre without any seeds. So you won’t necessarily get the texture you’re looking for in a seeded variety.
Read the ingredients list and look for the seeds you actually want to eat.
That claim doesn’t tell you which sweeteners a product contains. The grain-and-seed bar we looked at contains xylitol and carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Compare the nutrition information per portion, and check the ingredients and warnings on products containing polyols.
The Jumbo portion we looked at weighs 25.5 g, while the Peijnenburg grain-and-seed bar weighs 36.7 g. So the per-piece values don’t relate to the same amount of product.
Compare the nutritional composition per 100 g first, then check what you actually get from one slice or bar.
The grain-and-seed bar we looked at lists rye and oats; it may also contain milk, hazelnuts and almonds.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the piece you’re going to eat.
The product ranges we looked at include sliced breakfast cake and an individually wrapped Tussendoor+ bar with grains, seeds and fruit.
The Jumbo Wholemeal Ontbijtkoek we looked at is a sliced option for anyone looking for wholemeal rye without needing it to contain seeds.
ALDI lists a pre-sliced wholemeal breakfast cake and a separate Zero variant under this own-label brand.
Lidl lists a 485 g pre-sliced wholemeal breakfast cake from Tastino as a store product.
No, ‘wholemeal’ on its own says nothing about added seeds. The ingredients list for the Jumbo Wholemeal Ontbijtkoek we looked at doesn’t mention any; check the ingredients list if seeds are the reason you’re choosing it.
That depends on the nutrition information for the specific bar. The Peijnenburg bar we looked at contains xylitol and 16 g of polyols per 100 g; compare sugars per portion and read the warning about excessive consumption too.
Check the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging before eating the breakfast cake. The grain-and-seed bar we looked at contains rye and oats and may contain milk, hazelnuts and almonds. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that allergens must be listed on the labels of prepacked foods.
You can’t tell from the product category alone. Check the ingredients on the packaging of the specific breakfast cake if the type of salt used or iodine is important to you.
Follow the storage instructions and use-by or best-before information on your product’s packaging. For the Wholemeal Ontbijtkoek we looked at, Jumbo recommends storing it in a cool, dry place.
