If you’re a senior looking for Dutch spiced cake to enjoy with your afternoon coffee, don’t choose based only on words such as ‘zero’ or ‘less sugar’. Check whether the packaging actually says ‘no added sugars’, then compare the sugars, fibre and portion size. An individually wrapped bar may be convenient, but it can still contain added sugars.
You’re looking for Dutch spiced cake to enjoy with your afternoon coffee and want to know whether ‘no added sugars’ also means there are no sugars at all. A Jumbo product listing for Peijnenburg shows why the distinction matters: it states that the product contains no added sugars, but does contain naturally occurring sugars.
You also want to check the fibre content for a regular coffee break, without treating one feature as a verdict on the whole product. Nutrition information per 100 g and per portion helps you compare different varieties on a like-for-like basis.
You prefer pre-sliced cake or individually wrapped bars, and want to be able to check the ingredients, allergens and any warnings before buying. The product format alone tells you nothing about its sugar content.
Decide what matters most to you for your afternoon coffee: the sugar claim, fibre, a set portion or a particular ingredient requirement. Then check the label of the variety you actually want to buy.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Added sugars | Read the exact claim and compare sugars in the nutrition information per 100 g. | I want to avoid added sugars and not assume that ‘no added sugars’ also means ‘sugar-free’. Around 33% of consumers put this distinction first. |
| Fibre and wholegrain | Compare fibre per 100 g and per portion; check separately whether the packaging says ‘wholegrain’. | For a regular coffee break, I want to compare the fibre in different types of Dutch spiced cake. This is the main consideration for around 27% of consumers. |
| Portion and format | Check the number of slices or bars and the weight per portion. | I want to be able to serve or take one portion with my coffee easily. This practical consideration comes first for around 20% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and dietary requirements | Read the current ingredients, allergens and warnings; check for a gluten-free label separately from the sugar claim. | If an ingredient or dietary requirement is essential to me, I want to check the packaging before buying. Around 20% of consumers give this check top priority. |
EU rules for the claim ‘no added sugars’ relate to what has been added to the product. For a Peijnenburg variety carrying this claim, Jumbo also states that it contains naturally occurring sugars.
As well as checking the claim, read the ingredients and compare sugars per 100 g, especially if the products come in different portion sizes.
A zero label doesn’t tell you which sweeteners a particular Dutch spiced cake contains. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, products with more than 10% added polyols must carry a warning about a possible laxative effect if consumed in excess.
Check the ingredients list and any warning text on the packaging.
Fibre and sugar content are different features. A Dutch spiced cake with a fibre claim won’t automatically meet your preference for less or no added sugars.
Check fibre, sugars and portion size separately in the nutrition information.
Dutch food regulations allow iodine to be added to bakery products through baker’s salt, subject to certain conditions. This doesn’t mean that every Dutch spiced cake contains baker’s salt.
If iodine is something you need to consider when choosing food, check the ingredients of the specific product or ask the manufacturer.
Jumbo lists Peijnenburg varieties labelled ‘no added sugars’, including individually wrapped slices, as well as a Zero Dutch spiced cake.
Albert Heijn lists a pre-sliced AH Ontbijtkoek zero and an AH Kruidkoekreep zero. A spiced cake bar isn’t necessarily the same format as a slice of Dutch spiced cake.
Jumbo lists pre-sliced Dutch spiced cake labelled ‘less sugar’ and a separate Lekker Vrij gluten-free Dutch spiced cake.
PLUS lists Dutch spiced cake bars labelled ‘less sugar’ in a pack of six.
PLUS lists Snelle Jelle Dutch spiced cake labelled ‘less sugar’ in a pack of four, as well as a zero spiced cake bar.
This Dutch spiced cake bar may suit you if you’re mainly looking for an individual portion to enjoy with your afternoon coffee and want to consider a lower-sugar variety. If you’re specifically looking for Dutch spiced cake with no added sugars, check the ingredients and exact claim: according to the product information, this bar contains glucose-fructose syrup.
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Worth considering if an individual portion with your afternoon coffee matters more to you than choosing a product with no added sugars.
The product information lists sugars and glucose-fructose syrup. Check the current packaging for the nutritional values per 100 g and per bar, and read the allergen information if it’s relevant to you.
No, these labels don’t mean the same thing. The EU claim ‘no added sugars’ sets conditions on adding sugars and other foods used for their sweetening properties; naturally occurring sugars may still be present in the product. Jumbo explicitly mentions these sugars for a Peijnenburg variety. If the total amount matters to you, compare the sugars in the nutrition information.
Check the ingredients and warnings on the packaging for the specific variety. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, products containing more than 10% added polyols must carry a warning about a possible laxative effect if consumed in excess. The word ‘zero’ doesn’t tell you whether this applies to your product.
Look for a gluten-free-labelled variety if gluten-free is a requirement for you. Jumbo says its Lekker Vrij Dutch spiced cake carries the Crossed Grain mark. Check sugars, fibre and other ingredients separately: the gluten-free label doesn’t tell you about these.
No, Dutch regulations don’t mean that every Dutch spiced cake contains iodine. The Warenwetbesluit Toevoeging micro-voedingsstoffen aan levensmiddelen, in force since 14 November 2014, allows iodine to be added to bakery products through baker’s salt, at a maximum of 65 mg of iodine per kg of salt. To find out whether a particular Dutch spiced cake contains baker’s salt, check the label or ask the manufacturer.
