Organisers who want to keep self-service simple
An individually wrapped portion can be placed on the buffet without needing to be cut. For example, Jumbo lists Peijnenburg Original as containing ten individually wrapped slices, each weighing 28 g.
Who are individually wrapped bars useful for?
Organisers who want to offer a different sugar profile
As well as the Original variety, you could consider a reduced-sugar option. Check the nutritional information, ingredients and any warnings for each bar you choose; the label does not tell you anything about allergens.
Organisers who want to keep allergen information visible
For guests who need to check ingredients, it helps if product information is available with each bar. If a food business offers unwrapped bars, it must also follow the rules on allergen information for non-prepacked food, as set out by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide how many ready-to-serve portions you want to put out. Then compare the allergen information for each variety and, if you’re looking for an alternative to the Original, compare the sugars per 100 g and per portion.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Self-service and portions | Count the individually wrapped pieces and check the weight of each one. Jumbo lists Peijnenburg Original as containing ten slices of 28 g each; this size is not a standard for other bars. | I want guests to be able to help themselves to a set portion, without anyone having to cut the cake. Around 39% of consumers prioritise this portion convenience. |
| Allergen information | Check the current label for ingredients such as rye and gluten, and keep the information with the right bar. If you offer a gluten-free option, check for other allergens too and serve it separately. | If guests need to avoid certain allergens, I want to be able to identify which bar is suitable for them. Allergen information is the top priority for around 38% of consumers. |
| Sugar profile | Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and per portion. For reduced-sugar and zero-sugar varieties, also check the comparative claim, sweeteners and packaging warnings. | I want to offer a bar with a different sugar profile alongside the Original and keep any relevant warnings visible. Around 23% of consumers prioritise this profile. |
Common choices that need careful consideration
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Offering a zero-sugar bar as the default for all guests
The zero-sugar varieties described by Albert Heijn and PLUS contain sweeteners and state that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. ‘Zero’ also doesn’t mean a bar is free from allergens.
Make this variety easy to identify next to the other bars, and keep the full product information available.
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Treating regular Dutch spiced cake as a gluten-free option
The regular bars reviewed contain rye and gluten. According to PLUS, Peijnenburg’s separate gluten-free Dutch spiced cake is unsliced and contains milk and lupin.
For guests who need to avoid gluten, choose only a product explicitly labelled gluten-free, check for all other allergens and serve it separately.
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Removing wrappers without keeping the product information
Without the wrapper, guests can no longer check the ingredients and allergens directly on the bar’s packaging. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority sets out the information requirements for food businesses offering non-prepacked food to consumers.
Leave individual wrappers on wherever possible. If a caterer or another food business removes them, make sure guests can access the allergen information for the right product before eating it.
Brands to consider
Peijnenburg
The product ranges reviewed include both individually wrapped Original portions and a separate gluten-free Dutch spiced cake.
- Jumbo lists the Original pack as containing ten individually wrapped slices of 28 g each; PLUS also describes Original bars individually wrapped in packs of five.
- The gluten-free Dutch spiced cake listed by PLUS is unsliced and contains milk and lupin. It is therefore not necessarily a direct substitute for an individually wrapped buffet bar.
Snelle Jelle
The spiced cake bars reviewed include Reduced Sugar and Zero varieties for anyone looking to offer a different sugar profile alongside the Original.
- PLUS lists the Reduced Sugar variety as being compared with regular spiced cake.
- The Zero variety described by PLUS carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Check the label for allergens too.
PLUS
The own-brand range reviewed includes Original and reduced-sugar bars in packs of six.
- PLUS lists an Original pack weighing 330 g and a Reduced Sugar pack weighing 300 g.
- A pack of six does not, on its own, tell you whether the individual bars are wrapped separately. Check the label and portion size for your buffet setup.
Related Joybuy products
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
What allergen information is needed if the wrappers are removed at the buffet?
If a caterer or another food business offers the bars to consumers unwrapped, information about the allergens specified by law must be available before consumption. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, this can be provided in writing or, subject to certain conditions, verbally. In the latter case, make it clear that guests can ask for it. You should not automatically assume that the same business requirement applies to a buffet organised by a private individual, but keep the product information with the bars all the same.
Is a reduced-sugar bar a suitable default choice for everyone?
No. ‘Reduced sugar’ compares a product with a reference product and tells you nothing about allergens. Compare the nutritional information for the bars you choose, and check zero-sugar varieties for warnings about sweeteners or polyols too.
Can regular Dutch spiced cake be served as a gluten-free buffet option?
No. The regular Dutch spiced cake bars reviewed contain rye and gluten. Check for other allergens in a separate gluten-free product too: PLUS lists milk and lupin in Peijnenburg’s unsliced gluten-free Dutch spiced cake.
Can I assume Dutch spiced cake bars contain iodine from baker’s salt?
No. Information about baker’s salt in bread does not tell you which ingredients a specific Dutch spiced cake bar contains. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains how bread made with baker’s salt contributes to iodine intake. If baker’s salt is relevant to your choice, check the current ingredients list for the bar you’re considering.