Who will find this comparison useful?

Parents looking to limit added sugars

You’re looking for an extra for lunch or snack time and want to understand the difference between 0 g of added sugars, sugars that are present and a claim such as ‘less sugar’.

Lunch planners who also consider fibre and wholegrains

You compare the nutritional information and ingredients before packing a slice of Dutch breakfast cake as an extra in a lunchbox.

Shoppers looking for a portion to take with them

You’re looking for a sliced or individually wrapped option, but also want to check the allergens, ingredients and any warnings about polyols on the exact variety.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide how the Dutch breakfast cake will fit alongside lunch. Then compare the sugar claim, portion size and label on the exact variety.

What to consider What to check before buying Who should pay particular attention?
Added sugars and sugars present Check both ‘added sugars’ and ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. For a ‘less sugar’ claim, check which product it is being compared with. If I want to limit added sugars, I don’t want a zero claim to distract me from the sugars that are present. This distinction is a priority for around 36% of consumers.
Role at lunch and portion size Consider whether you’d rather cut a slice yourself or take an individually wrapped cake bar, and check the nutritional information per portion too. When I’m putting together a lunchbox, I’m mainly looking for a practical extra, rather than treating the cake as the whole lunch. This is the first consideration for around 29% of consumers.
Allergens and polyols Check the ingredients, allergen statement and warnings on the packaging of the exact variety. If I need to consider allergens or how well ingredients are tolerated when packing food, the label matters more than the sugar claim. This check is a priority for around 21% of consumers.
Fibre, wholegrains and salt Compare the fibre and salt per 100 g, and check which flour is listed in the ingredients. If several options meet my preference for added sugars, I want to compare their ingredients and nutritional value too. This is the deciding factor in the first choice for around 14% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘zero’ means completely sugar-free

    AH Ontbijtkoek zero lists 0 g of added sugars, but 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g. Jumbo Ontbijtkoek Minder Suiker lists 22.7 g of sugars per 100 g; the ‘less’ claim compares this bar with Jumbo ontbijtkoekreep naturel.

    Read the sugar claim alongside ‘of which sugars’, and compare products on the same per-100 g basis.

  • Treating Dutch breakfast cake as a complete lunch

    Fibre content or a zero claim doesn’t make Dutch breakfast cake a substitute for a varied lunch for children. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends basing lunches mainly on foods from the Dutch Wheel of Five, including wholemeal bread and vegetables or fruit.

    Plan the lunch first, then decide whether a slice or bar of Dutch breakfast cake would make a suitable extra.

  • Overlooking allergens and polyols

    The varieties described may contain rye and gluten; some also state that they may contain milk or nuts. Zero varieties may contain polyols, and the label may warn that excessive consumption can have a laxative effect.

    Before packing it, check the ingredients, allergens and warnings on the packaging you’ve chosen.

  • Inferring iodine content from the product name

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So the name ‘Dutch breakfast cake’ doesn’t tell you whether a particular cake contains iodine from baker’s salt.

    Only draw a conclusion about the iodine content if the information for that specific product supports it.

Brands to consider

Peijnenburg

Sliced plain and wholemeal Dutch breakfast cake with no added sugars, as well as an individually wrapped variety.

  • For the sliced plain and wholemeal varieties mentioned, Peijnenburg lists 4.9 g of sugars and 17 g of fibre per 100 g for both. The wholemeal variety contains wholemeal rye flour.
  • Both varieties contain rye and xylitol; according to the label, the wholemeal variety may contain milk and nuts. Check the allergens for the variety you choose.

Albert Heijn

Own-brand options include sliced AH Ontbijtkoek zero and individually wrapped AH Kruidkoekreep zero.

  • Per 100 g, AH Ontbijtkoek zero lists 0 g of added sugars, 4.9 g of sugars, 16 g of fibre and 22 g of polyols.
  • AH Kruidkoekreep zero also lists 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g. Its 80% less sugar claim specifically compares the bar with AH Kruidkoekreep naturel.

Jumbo

Own-brand option with a Dutch breakfast cake bar carrying a comparative less-sugar claim.

  • According to Jumbo, Jumbo Ontbijtkoek Minder Suiker contains 30% less sugar than Jumbo ontbijtkoekreep naturel.
  • The bar lists 22.7 g of sugars per 100 g, so it isn’t a zero variety. Also check the listed rye and wheat, and whether it may contain milk and nuts.

Lidl

Lidl lists Ontbijtkoek zero as a 485 g in-store product.

  • The size may be useful if you want to portion out slices for lunch yourself.
  • In store, check the nutritional information, ingredients and allergens on the packaging before comparing this variety with another.

ALDI / Koek & Bakker

Koek & Bakker Gesneden Ontbijtkoek Zero is a pre-sliced 485 g variety.

  • ALDI describes this variety as having ‘no added sugars’; its pre-sliced format makes it easy to portion out.
  • Check the packaging to see how much sugar is present, and read the other nutritional information and allergen details before choosing.

PLUS

Own-brand sliced PLUS Ontbijtkoek Zero.

  • Per 100 g, PLUS lists 0 g of added sugars, 4.9 g of sugars, 15.6 g of fibre and 0.57 g of salt.
  • The product information also lists 21.7 g of polyols per 100 g and rye; check the warning about the possible presence of other gluten-containing cereals too.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does zero Dutch breakfast cake mean it contains no sugars?

No. AH Ontbijtkoek zero lists 0 g of added sugars, but 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g. Peijnenburg Naturel zonder toegevoegde suikers also lists 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g, so check ‘of which sugars’ for every variety.

Can Dutch breakfast cake with no added sugars replace a child’s whole lunch?

No. Treat Dutch breakfast cake as an extra at most. For children’s lunches, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends using foods from the Dutch Wheel of Five as the mainstay, including wholemeal bread and vegetables or fruit.

Should I check for polyols in zero Dutch breakfast cake?

Yes. Check the ingredients and any warnings for the exact variety. Some of the products described contain xylitol or other polyols; labels may state that excessive consumption can have a laxative effect.

Is zero Dutch breakfast cake suitable if gluten needs to be avoided?

Don’t assume that it is. The Peijnenburg, AH and PLUS varieties described contain rye or list gluten-containing cereals. If you need to follow a gluten-free diet, always check the current allergen information and only choose a product explicitly labelled gluten-free.

Does Dutch breakfast cake naturally contain iodine from baker’s salt?

No, you can’t tell from the product name. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt; you’ll need clear product information to draw a conclusion about a particular Dutch breakfast cake.