If less sugar is your top priority, only choose an egg cake on the basis of a reduced-sugar claim if it is supported by a comparison with a similar product showing at least 30% less sugar, as required by the EU regulation on nutrition claims. Wholemeal doesn’t replace this check: Albert Heijn lists 31 g of sugars per 100 g for both its plain and wholemeal egg cakes. Before packing one, check the allergens on the packaging and make sure it complies with your school’s rules.
What matters is not the impression given by the front of the pack, but a substantiated comparison with a similar egg cake. Under the EU regulation on nutrition claims, a reduced-sugar claim requires a reduction of at least 30%.
They can compare the fibre content of plain and wholemeal egg cakes without assuming that wholemeal also means less sugar. The AH varieties we looked at have different amounts of fibre, but list the same amount of sugars per 100 g.
If your child has an allergy or the school has rules about food brought from home, it’s important to check the specific pack. The AH and Jumbo varieties we looked at list, among other things, cereals containing gluten, egg, milk and soya. You should also check your school’s own rules.
First, decide what matters most for your child’s school lunch: proven sugar reduction, fibre content, allergens or pack size. Consider each separately: a favourable result on one point doesn’t tell you anything about the others.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Proven sugar reduction | Compare sugars per 100 g with a similar egg cake. The EU regulation on nutrition claims requires a reduction of at least 30% for a reduced-sugar claim. | If my main aim is to choose something with less sugar, I want to know what the egg cake is being compared with. Around 40% of consumers put proven sugar reduction first. |
| Fibre and wholemeal | Compare both fibre and sugars per 100 g; don’t treat the word ‘wholemeal’ as a sugar claim. | If fibre is my main priority when putting lunch together, I want to be able to assess wholemeal options without assuming they have less sugar. Around 30% of consumers put fibre first. |
| Allergens and school rules | Read the allergen information on the pack you’re buying and check your school’s rules. | If there’s an allergy or a school rule to consider, I need to know before packing whether this particular egg cake is suitable. Around 20% of consumers say this check is their top priority. |
| Packaging | Check the number of pieces and the pack size so you can choose an amount that suits how you’ll use it. | If I only put an egg cake in the lunchbox occasionally, I want a pack size that suits me. For around 10% of consumers, packaging is the first thing they consider. |
Albert Heijn lists 31 g of sugars per 100 g for both AH wholemeal egg cakes and AH plain egg cakes. The wholemeal variety lists 3,5 g of fibre per 100 g, compared with 1,4 g for the plain variety.
Compare fibre, total sugars and any added sugars separately; don’t treat wholemeal as proof of sugar reduction.
Values per serving can be difficult to compare when pack sizes or serving sizes differ. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing products per 100 g.
First compare similar egg cakes per 100 g, then consider how much of your chosen product will go in the lunchbox.
A reduced-sugar claim is about a comparison, not just how low a number looks. The EU regulation on nutrition claims requires the sugar content to be at least 30% lower than that of a similar product.
Check the evidence behind the claim and the nutrition information before choosing an egg cake labelled as reduced sugar.
The AH and Jumbo egg cakes we looked at list, among other things, cereals containing gluten, egg, milk and soya. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the importance of clear allergen information on prepacked foods.
Read the allergen information on the specific pack and make sure taking food to school complies with the school’s rules.
Compare the specific egg cake variety from each brand; a brand name on its own tells you nothing about the sugar content or allergens.
AH’s plain and wholemeal egg cakes let you compare sugar and fibre within the same own-brand range.
Jumbo provides nutrition information for its plain and wholemeal own-brand egg cakes.
Bolletje describes its Brosse Egg Cake as having a different texture and a sprinkling of sugar.
Lidl has a product listing for egg cakes.
ALDI lists free-range egg cakes under its Heerlijck Banket own-brand range.
Under the EU regulation on nutrition claims, the sugar content must be at least 30% lower than that of a similar product. Check the comparison and the sugars per 100 g; a lower-looking figure on its own doesn’t substantiate the claim.
No. Albert Heijn lists 31 g of sugars per 100 g for both AH egg cakes and AH wholemeal egg cakes. The listed fibre values do differ: 1,4 g and 3,5 g per 100 g respectively.
Read the allergen information on the pack of the variety you’re buying. The AH and Jumbo egg cakes we looked at list, among other things, cereals containing gluten, egg, milk and soya; also check for any precautionary warnings on the pack.
Don’t use an egg cake as a replacement for a usual lunch. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre describes a school lunch in terms of foods from the Wheel of Five; consider an egg cake as a possible addition, and take the portion size and nutrition information into account.
That depends on your school’s rules and the specific egg cake. Before packing it, ask what the school allows. If your child has an allergy, read the allergen information on the pack.
