Who is this choice relevant to?

Consumers with a strict sugar-free requirement

You want to serve a biscuit with your drinks that meets the requirements for a ‘sugar-free’ claim, not simply one with less added sugar.

Consumers who keep an eye on added sugars

You’d rather compare ingredients and nutritional information than rely on the name on the packaging alone. If the egg-cake shape isn’t important, another type of biscuit could also work.

Hosts who check allergens

You’re buying for guests with different needs, so you need to check each chosen product’s allergen information as well as its sugars.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, decide whether ‘sugar-free’ is an absolute requirement. Then compare biscuit options per 100 g and check that the packaging and allergen information are suitable for your guests.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Strictly sugar-free Look for the ‘sugar-free’ claim and check that the nutritional information shows no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. The Dutch Bakery Centre gives this as the threshold for the claim. If sugar-free is a must for my drinks gathering, I don’t want to rely on a name that merely suggests less sugar. Around 37% of consumers put this first.
Added sugars Read the ingredients list and compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g; ‘no added sugars’ does not automatically mean ‘sugar-free’. I want to take the amount of added sugars into account, but I don’t necessarily need a strictly sugar-free product. For around 27% of consumers, this is the first consideration.
Sharing and portions Check the number of biscuits, the net weight and whether they’re individually wrapped, if applicable. Compare sugars per 100 g separately. For a get-together, I want to know how many biscuits I can put out and how they’re packaged. Around 18% of consumers prioritise this.
Allergens Check the up-to-date allergen information, including for egg cakes labelled gluten-free. If guests need to avoid certain ingredients, I need to check what’s in each biscuit I choose and which traces are listed. Around 18% of consumers put this check first.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘no added sugars’ means ‘sugar-free’

    A biscuit with no added sugars may still contain sugars from its ingredients. The Dutch Bakery Centre sets a limit of 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g for the ‘sugar-free’ claim.

    If sugar-free is a must, check both the claim and the nutritional information on the packaging.

  • Confusing wholemeal or gluten-free with sugar-free

    Albert Heijn lists 31 g of sugars per 100 g for its wholemeal egg cakes. The gluten-free egg cakes from Gluten Free Bakery Holland listed by Jumbo contain 33 g of sugars per 100 g.

    Check wholemeal ingredients, gluten and sugars separately using the label.

  • Looking only at the amount per biscuit

    The amount per biscuit doesn’t tell you how much sugar the product contains per 100 g. Albert Heijn lists 42 g of sugars per 100 g for Bolletje’s crisp egg cake.

    Compare biscuits using the nutritional information per 100 g, then check the portion size.

  • Overlooking allergens when choosing gluten-free

    A gluten-free label doesn’t tell you whether a product contains egg, milk, soya or other allergens. Listed ingredients and possible traces vary from product to product.

    Ask your guests which allergens are relevant and read the information on the packaging before buying.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn offers a range that includes regular and wholemeal egg cakes.

  • Product information includes ingredients and nutritional values for these varieties.
  • Albert Heijn lists 31 g of sugars per 100 g for both its regular and wholemeal egg cakes. These values don’t meet a strict sugar-free requirement.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists several egg cakes, including a gluten-free variety from Gluten Free Bakery Holland.

  • This means you can consider the gluten-free label separately when choosing between these products.
  • Jumbo lists 29.5 g of sugars per 100 g for its regular egg cakes and 33 g per 100 g for the gluten-free variety mentioned. Neither value meets the ‘sugar-free’ limit.

Bolletje

Bolletje makes crisp egg cakes, including varieties topped with sugar.

  • Albert Heijn’s product information for the crisp variety with a milk coating includes nutritional values and allergen information.
  • According to Albert Heijn, this variety contains 42 g of sugars per 100 g, so it doesn’t meet a strict sugar-free requirement.

ALDI / Heerlijck Banket

ALDI lists Heerlijck Banket free-range egg cakes in a pack of 12, weighing 360 g.

  • The number of biscuits and net weight can help you plan for a get-together.
  • If sugar-free is a requirement, check the claim and nutritional information on the packaging before choosing these egg cakes.

Lidl

Lidl lists egg cakes as a product available in its shops.

  • Check the pack to see how many biscuits you’ll need for your get-together.
  • If you have a strict sugar-free requirement, check the claim and sugars per 100 g on the packaging first.

Products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘no added sugars’ mean the same as ‘sugar-free’?

No. A product with no added sugars may still contain sugars from its ingredients. The Dutch Bakery Centre sets a maximum of 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g for the ‘sugar-free’ claim, so check the nutritional information too.

Can I serve regular, wholemeal or gluten-free egg cakes as sugar-free?

Not if their nutritional information exceeds the limit for ‘sugar-free’. Albert Heijn lists 31 g of sugars per 100 g for its regular and wholemeal egg cakes; Jumbo lists 29.5 g per 100 g for its regular egg cakes and 33 g per 100 g for the gluten-free variety mentioned. Always check the label of any other product you’re considering.

How do I compare biscuits with different portion sizes?

Start by comparing the nutritional information per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends using this basis for comparisons; then check the amount per portion to see what your chosen serving contains.

Which allergens should I check in egg cakes for guests?

Check the allergen information for every product you plan to serve. For the egg cakes discussed here, relevant allergens include egg, wheat or gluten, milk and soya. Even with gluten-free egg cakes, read the other ingredients and any traces information separately.