When choosing Dutch breakfast cake for Sunday breakfast, don’t rely on the word ‘zero’ alone: compare the claim on the pack with the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g and the ingredients. If wholegrain and fibre are your priorities, check those details too. For varieties containing xylitol, pay attention to the warning about excessive consumption and the allergen information.
You’re looking for Dutch breakfast cake for Sunday breakfast with less added sugar. Compare the precise claim, the sugar content and the ingredients: ‘zero’ doesn’t automatically mean a product contains no sugars.
You want to be able to check whether a breakfast cake is labelled as wholegrain and how much fibre it contains per 100 g, alongside the sugar claim.
You want to know whether a variety contains xylitol or gluten-containing cereals. Xylitol is also something to bear in mind in a household with pets.
Start by checking what the sugar claim means, then compare the nutritional information and ingredients on the same basis: per 100 g. The feature that matters most will depend on what you’re looking for in this breakfast.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar claim and sugar content | Read the precise claim and the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g; check the ingredients too. | If I want less added sugar, I need to be able to see how much sugar the breakfast cake still contains. This clarity is a priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| Wholegrain and fibre | Look for an explicit wholegrain claim and compare fibre per 100 g, as well as the sugar content. | For my Sunday breakfast, I prioritise a clearly stated wholegrain base and fibre content, not just ‘zero’. Around 33% of consumers prioritise wholegrain and fibre. |
| Sweeteners and allergens | Check for xylitol or E967, the usage warning and the allergen information. | I want to know whether the breakfast cake fits with how I manage polyols or gluten, and whether I need to keep it out of reach of pets. This is the most important consideration for around 25% of consumers. |
According to their nutritional information, the zero varieties listed by Albert Heijn and PLUS each contain 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g, despite stating 0 g of added sugars. These are two different figures.
Check the full claim and the ‘of which sugars’ figure before comparing two packs.
A sugar claim doesn’t tell you whether a breakfast cake is wholegrain or how much fibre it contains. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre distinguishes between wholegrain cereal products and products made with flour.
If fibre is a priority, look for an explicit wholegrain claim and compare the fibre content per 100 g.
The varieties described by Albert Heijn, PLUS and Peijnenburg contain xylitol and list rye or other information about gluten-containing cereals. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre notes that large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems.
Read the ingredients, allergen information and usage warning. Keep breakfast cake containing xylitol out of reach of pets; PLUS advises contacting a vet immediately if an animal eats it.
A product name alone won’t tell you all the current ingredients and nutritional values. This is especially important when choosing between different zero varieties in store.
Check the pack you’re actually buying for its sugar content, ingredients and allergens.
Compare each variety separately: information about a plain, wholegrain or zero version doesn’t automatically apply to other breakfast cakes from the same brand.
Peijnenburg lists plain and wholegrain breakfast cakes with no added sugars. The plain variety is pre-sliced and contains ingredients including rye flour, chicory root fibre and xylitol.
AH Ontbijtkoek zero is a pre-sliced own-label variety in a 485 g pack.
PLUS Ontbijtkoek Zero is a 485 g pre-sliced own-label variety. PLUS also lists a separate Peijnenburg variety with no added sugars.
ALDI lists Koek & Bakker Gesneden Ontbijtkoek Zero as a 485 g pre-sliced variety.
Lidl lists Ontbijtkoek zero in a 485 g pack as a store product.
No, don’t assume that. The Albert Heijn and PLUS zero varieties described list 0 g of added sugars, but also 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g. So check the precise claim and the nutrition table; the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority treats ‘sugar-free’ as a separate nutrition claim.
This warning relates to added polyols such as xylitol. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre notes that large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems. Check which sweetener the breakfast cake contains and read the warning on the pack.
Contact a vet immediately. For the Peijnenburg variety described, PLUS states that xylitol is not suitable for animals and advises contacting a vet straight away if an animal eats it. Keep products containing xylitol out of reach of pets.
You can’t tell from the product name. The version of the Commodities Act Decree published on Overheid.nl on 14 November 2014 describes baker’s salt as iodised table salt for bread and other baked goods; that description doesn’t tell you whether a particular breakfast cake was made with it. Check the ingredients or ask the manufacturer if this matters to your choice.
