People who read sugar claims carefully
You’re looking for Dutch breakfast cake with a specific sugar claim and want to know how much sugar the product actually contains per 100 g. A ‘no added sugars’ claim doesn’t answer that question on its own.
Who is this choice important for?
People who look for wholegrains and fibre
You want to compare ingredients and fibre when choosing something for breakfast or a snack, without losing sight of the sugar content. Peijnenburg lists both the proportion of wholemeal rye flour and the fibre content per 100 g for its wholemeal variety.
People who want to take Dutch breakfast cake with them or share it
For King’s Day, you’re looking for a pack that suits the number of people and how you’ll use it on the go. Sliced cakes and individually wrapped bars offer different portion sizes; also check the nutritional information and ingredients.
What should you look for when choosing?
When choosing Dutch breakfast cake for King’s Day, first decide what you mean by ‘less sugar’. Then compare the fibre and wholemeal flour content, or the portion size if you’re planning to take it with you or share it out.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar claim | Read the exact claim and the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g; ‘no added sugars’ doesn’t mean sugar-free. | If I’m specifically looking for sugar-free, I don’t want to rely on a claim that sounds similar. For around 42% of consumers, checking the sugar content comes first. |
| Wholegrains and fibre | Check which flour is listed in the ingredients and compare fibre per 100 g alongside the sugar content. | For a quick breakfast, I want to choose Dutch breakfast cake based on the type of flour and fibre content, not just the front of the pack. These features matter most to around 33% of consumers. |
| Portions and packaging | Compare the number of slices or bars, their weight and the nutritional value per serving. | If I’m taking Dutch breakfast cake with me or sharing it out, I want to know how many portions are in the pack. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this practical convenience. |
Common mistakes
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Confusing ‘no added sugars’ with ‘sugar-free’
These claims don’t mean the same thing. The Diabetes Fund defines sugar-free as containing no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g; Peijnenburg states that its wholemeal Dutch breakfast cake with no added sugars contains 4.9 g per 100 g.
Read the claim alongside the ‘of which sugars’ figure on the packaging. If sugar-free is what you need, ‘no added sugars’ isn’t enough.
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Overlooking the warning about xylitol
Peijnenburg’s product information lists xylitol in the varieties reviewed and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. It also states that xylitol is not suitable for animals.
Check the ingredients and warnings on the packaging, and keep Dutch breakfast cake containing xylitol out of reach of pets.
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Treating online ingredient information as definitive
Ingredients and nutritional information can change. This is particularly important if you need to check for rye or other allergens.
Before serving, check the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging, even if you’ve looked at the product online before.
Brands to consider
Peijnenburg
Peijnenburg offers sliced Dutch breakfast cake varieties labelled ‘no added sugars’, including a wholemeal and a plain variety.
- According to Peijnenburg, its wholemeal variety contains 40% wholemeal rye flour, 4.9 g of sugars and 17 g of fibre per 100 g. The pack contains 12 slices of 28 g each.
- ‘No added sugars’ doesn’t mean sugar-free. Also check the ingredients and the warnings about xylitol.
Koek & Bakker
ALDI lists a pre-sliced 485 g pack of Koek & Bakker Ontbijtkoek Zero, labelled ‘no added sugars’.
- The pre-sliced pack may be handy if you’re sharing out slices.
- Before comparing this variety with other Dutch breakfast cakes, check the sugar and fibre content, ingredients and allergens on the packaging.
Jumbo
Jumbo Ontbijtkoek Minder Suiker comes in six individually wrapped bars of 50 g each.
- Jumbo compares the sugar content with its own plain Dutch breakfast cake bar and states that it contains 30% less sugar. The nutritional information lists 22.7 g of sugars per 100 g.
- This isn’t a ‘no added sugars’ claim: the ingredients include glucose-fructose syrup and sugar. According to Jumbo, a 50 g bar contains 11.4 g of sugars.
Dutch breakfast cake at Joybuy
These individually wrapped Dutch breakfast cake bars are worth considering if you want to take portions with you or share them out on King’s Day. Check the current label to assess the sugar claim.
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Snelle Jelle Dutch breakfast cake Less Sugar-Free 250 g
Handy for taking with you or sharing out: according to the product description, the pack contains five individually wrapped bars of 50 g each.
Glucose-fructose syrup is listed in the ingredients. Don’t assume it’s sugar-free based on the product name; check the current sugar content per 100 g on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dutch breakfast cake with no added sugars also sugar-free?
No, these claims don’t mean the same thing. The Diabetes Fund defines sugar-free as containing no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g; Peijnenburg states that its wholemeal variety with no added sugars contains 4.9 g per 100 g. So always check the ‘of which sugars’ figure on the packaging.
Why does Dutch breakfast cake with no added sugars contain xylitol?
Xylitol is used as a sweetener. It’s listed in the ingredients of the Peijnenburg varieties reviewed; the product information warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Where should I store Dutch breakfast cake containing xylitol if I have pets?
Keep Dutch breakfast cake containing xylitol out of reach of pets. Peijnenburg states that xylitol is not suitable for animals.
How can I check whether Dutch breakfast cake contains iodine?
Check the current ingredients list for the specific product. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may be present in bakery products through bakers’ salt; this doesn’t mean that every Dutch breakfast cake contains iodine.
Can I rely on the allergen information on an online product page?
Check the current packaging before serving or eating the Dutch breakfast cake. Ingredients and allergen information can change, as Albert Heijn notes in its product information.