Who is this choice relevant to?

Regular lunch buyers

You take Dutch breakfast cake with you regularly and want to choose a pack you can finish within its stated shelf life.

Those planning to take or hand out portions

You want to take slices with you or hand out portions easily, without cutting anything. In that case, the difference between pre-sliced and individually wrapped portions matters.

Label-conscious buyers

You’re looking for a specific variety, such as wholemeal or lower in sugar, or you need to avoid allergens. The ingredients and nutritional information for the product you choose will help you decide.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, decide whether you’ll use a whole loaf regularly or mainly need individual lunch portions. Then compare the packaging and labels of the varieties that suit your lunch.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Pack size and how you’ll use it Check the weight and shelf-life information. Think about whether you’ll finish the pack over several lunches. I take Dutch breakfast cake with me regularly and don’t want to have slices left over that I won’t use. Around 39% of consumers prioritise this practical consideration.
Taking and handing out portions Check whether pre-sliced portions will do or whether you need individually wrapped ones. I want to be able to take or hand out a slice during a short break without cutting it. Convenience is the main priority for around 23% of consumers.
Sugar and wholemeal Compare the ingredients and nutritional information for the exact varieties, including sugars and fibre per 100 g. If I choose a variety based on its ingredients, I want to know what the claim on the front means for that product. For around 23% of consumers, comparing labels is the most important factor.
Allergens and ingredients Check the allergen information on the pack you’ve chosen; don’t assume what it contains based on the product category. I need to know before taking it with me whether the Dutch breakfast cake fits my dietary requirements. This check comes first for around 15% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Treating a ‘zero’ claim as a complete picture of the label

    A claim on the front doesn’t tell you which sweeteners or other ingredients a variety contains. Albert Heijn lists a sweetener in AH Ontbijtkoek zero and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

    Read the ingredients, nutritional information and warnings on the pack before choosing that variety.

  • Assuming all Dutch breakfast cake contains the same allergens

    Jumbo lists gluten, rye and wheat for its Ontbijtkoek Naturel, while also offering a separate gluten-free range. So the name ‘Dutch breakfast cake’ doesn’t tell you enough about a specific variety.

    Check the allergen information for the exact product you want to take with you. If you have questions about iodine, too, refer to the product-specific ingredient information rather than making assumptions about all Dutch breakfast cake.

Brands and own-label ranges compared

Peijnenburg

Jumbo stocks Peijnenburg, including sliced plain Dutch breakfast cake, wholemeal varieties and individually wrapped portions.

  • You can choose between a larger sliced pack and individual portions to take with you or hand out.
  • Check which type of packaging you actually need: individual portions and a sliced loaf aren’t quite the same solution.

AH

Albert Heijn’s own label includes regular 600 g Dutch breakfast cake and a sliced Zero variety.

  • The two varieties offer a choice between regular Dutch breakfast cake and a product with a different sugar content.
  • According to Albert Heijn, the Zero variety contains a sweetener and excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Read the warning on the pack.

Koek & Bakker

This ALDI own-label brand includes sliced wholemeal Dutch breakfast cake and a sliced Zero variety weighing 485 g.

  • Both of these varieties are pre-sliced.
  • Wholemeal and Zero are different product choices; compare the label of the variety you want to use.

Jumbo

Jumbo stocks regular Dutch breakfast cake and a separate range called Lekker Vrij van Gluten.

  • The different ranges make it easier to choose based on allergen information.
  • Jumbo Ontbijtkoek Naturel lists gluten, rye and wheat. Don’t confuse it with a product from the gluten-free range.

Dutch breakfast cake for a campus lunch at Joybuy

These products offer two ways to pack a lunch to take with you: a sliced loaf and individual portions. Choose the format that works for you, and check the label if you have specific dietary requirements.

g'woon wholemeal Dutch breakfast cake, sliced, 485 g

g'woon wholemeal Dutch breakfast cake, sliced, 485 g

A sliced loaf for anyone who wants to take portions to campus. Check the allergen information on the pack before choosing it for someone who needs to avoid certain ingredients.

View at Joybuy
Snelle Jelle Dutch breakfast cake Less Sugar-Free, 250 g

Snelle Jelle Dutch breakfast cake Less Sugar-Free, 250 g

Individual portions can be handy to take with you or hand out. Don’t assume the product’s sugar content from its name: check the nutritional information and ingredients on the pack. Check the allergen information too if it’s relevant to your choice.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘zero’ tell me enough about the ingredients in Dutch breakfast cake?

No. Check the ingredients, the sugar content in the nutritional information and any warnings for the exact variety. For example, Albert Heijn warns that excessive consumption of AH Ontbijtkoek zero may have a laxative effect.

Can I choose regular Dutch breakfast cake if I need to avoid gluten?

Don’t rely on the product category alone: Jumbo Ontbijtkoek Naturel lists gluten, rye and wheat. Check the allergen information on the exact pack; Jumbo also offers a separate range of gluten-free Dutch breakfast cake.

Does all Dutch breakfast cake contain iodine?

You can’t tell from the product name. Check the ingredients of the variety you’ve chosen, and ask the manufacturer for product-specific information if iodine is relevant to your choice.

How should I store Dutch breakfast cake for several lunches?

Follow the storage advice and shelf-life information on the pack you’ve chosen. Reseal an opened pack properly to help prevent it from drying out.