The solo traveller packing light
If you want to take one portion without carrying a knife or lunch box, look for individually wrapped slices or bars. Albert Heijn, for example, says that its plain Peijnenburg slices are individually wrapped.
Which portion size suits you?
The traveller comparing sugar content
If you want to choose a lower-sugar variety of Dutch breakfast cake, check the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion. A sugar claim alone tells you nothing about a bar’s allergens.
The traveller weighing up flavour and pack size
If you’re taking bars for future journeys too, compare the number of portions, the weight of each bar and the flavour. Jumbo and PLUS list both plain and raisin varieties; check the details for the one you choose.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide whether you want to take one sealed portion from the pack. Then compare the nutritional information and flavours of the varieties that meet your packaging needs.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Individually wrapped portions | Check whether each bar is individually wrapped and how much one portion weighs. | I want to take one bar out of my bag without carrying a cake I’ve already cut into; around 42% of consumers put this convenience first. |
| Sugars | Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g, and also check the weight of each bar. | If I’m choosing between plain and a lower-sugar variety, I want to know the difference on the same nutritional basis; this is the main consideration for around 33% of consumers. |
| Flavour and pack size | Check the flavour, the number of bars and whether the portions are individually wrapped. | For several journeys, I want enough bars in a flavour I enjoy; around 25% of consumers give this combination the most weight. |
Common misconceptions
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A multipack isn’t the same as a bar sold individually
A pack may contain individually wrapped portions, even though you still have to buy the whole pack. That matters if you only need one bar.
Check the number of bars, the weight per portion and whether it says ‘individually wrapped’.
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‘Less sugar’ doesn’t tell you the whole story
According to the product information, the PLUS lower-sugar variety reviewed still contains rye and gluten. The amount of sugar in each bar also depends on the portion size.
Check the nutritional values per 100 g, as well as the ingredients and allergen information for the variety you choose.
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Dutch breakfast cake isn’t automatically a source of iodine
Voedingscentrum discusses iodised baker’s salt in bread and notes that bakers aren’t required to use it. So don’t assume that Dutch breakfast cake contains a particular amount of iodine.
Base your choice on iodine only on specific product information, not on the product category.
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The wrapper is left over after you’ve eaten
An individually wrapped bar creates packaging waste. NS asks passengers to put their rubbish in a bin.
Keep the empty wrapper until you can dispose of it.
Brands to compare
Peijnenburg
For its 10-pack of plain slices, Albert Heijn lists ten individually wrapped slices weighing 28 g each.
- The individually wrapped slices make it easy to take one portion with you.
- For this variety, check the label for rye, gluten and any stated possibility of traces of other allergens.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists plain and raisin Dutch breakfast cake in packs of six portions.
- According to Jumbo, portions of the plain variety weigh 55 g, while those of the raisin variety weigh 65 g.
- Compare the nutritional information and allergens for each variety: the same pack size doesn’t mean the portions are the same size.
PLUS
PLUS lists plain, raisin and lower-sugar Dutch breakfast cake bars in packs of six.
- For its lower-sugar variety, PLUS lists 22,9 g of sugars per 100 g and the claim ‘30% less sugar than regular Dutch breakfast cake bars’.
- The varieties reviewed contain rye and gluten; check the other allergen information on the pack you choose too.
Lidl
Lidl lists raisin spiced cake and lower-sugar Dutch breakfast cake bars in packs of six, available in store.
- You can choose between the varieties listed in store.
- Before choosing a variety, check the nutritional information, ingredients and allergens on the pack.
ALDI
The GOUD GEBAKKEN plain Dutch breakfast cake listed by ALDI is an uncut cake weighing 550 g.
- This is an option if you want to cut your own portions from a whole cake.
- The uncut cake listed doesn’t meet the need for one individually wrapped bar that’s ready to take with you.
Dutch breakfast cake at Joybuy
This Dutch breakfast cake variety may suit you if you’re looking for a bar to take on the go and want to compare sugar content. Check the pack to see whether the portions are individually wrapped.
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Snelle Jelle Breakfast Cake Less Sugar-Free, 250 g
For anyone who wants to take one bar on a train journey and compare this variety’s sugar content. Check the pack to see whether each portion is individually wrapped, compare sugars per 100 g and per bar, and read the ingredients and allergen information if you have allergies.
Frequently asked questions
Can you buy an individually wrapped bar on its own?
Not necessarily: an individually wrapped bar may be part of a multipack. Check whether you’re buying one bar or a whole pack.
Which allergens should I check in Dutch breakfast cake bars?
Check the allergen information for the specific variety. The plain, raisin and lower-sugar varieties reviewed list rye and gluten; some packs also mention the possibility of traces of other allergens.
Does Dutch breakfast cake automatically contain iodine because of baker’s salt?
No, you can’t tell from the name Dutch breakfast cake. Voedingscentrum says that using iodised baker’s salt isn’t compulsory; check the information for the specific product if this matters to you.
How should I store bars bought for a later train journey?
Follow the storage advice on the pack and check that each individual wrapper is intact when you take a bar with you. The Jumbo and PLUS varieties reviewed say to store in a cool, dry place.