For a Boxing Day buffet, you can only choose an eierkoek as reduced-sugar if the claim can be verified for that specific product and is based on a comparison with a similar product. Otherwise, compare the sugars per 100 g and per portion, without presenting a standard, wholegrain or gluten-free eierkoek as reduced-sugar. Before serving, also check the allergens and shelf life on the packaging.
You’re not just looking for a small biscuit, but an eierkoek for which the sugar reduction can be verified. Standard, wholegrain or gluten-free does not in itself mean that the sugar content has been reduced.
You want to know how many pieces to put out on the buffet and how much sugar each serving contains. So check the nutritional values per 100 g as well as the weight per piece and the number of pieces in the pack.
If a guest needs a gluten-free option, you’ll still need to check the other ingredients and allergens. Also read any warnings about the possible presence of other allergens on the pack you buy.
First decide whether a verifiable reduction in sugar is essential. Then take portion size and your guests’ dietary needs into account.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Verifiable sugar reduction | Check the exact claim and the comparison with a similar product. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that a ‘reduced sugars’ claim requires at least a 30% reduction. | If less sugar is a must for my buffet, I don’t want to call a standard eierkoek reduced-sugar just because it has a lower sugar figure. Around 50% of consumers prioritise a verifiable reduction. |
| Portion and number of pieces | Compare sugars per 100 g, then check the weight per piece and how many pieces you want to serve. | When catering for several guests, I want to be able to decide how many eierkoeken or smaller portions to put out. Around 30% of consumers prioritise portion choice. |
| Dietary needs and allergens | Read the ingredients, allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the current packaging. | If a guest needs to eat gluten-free or has an allergy, I want to know whether the specific product I’ve bought is suitable. This is the main concern for around 20% of consumers. |
These words describe a different product characteristic. Albert Heijn lists 31 g of sugars per 100 g for its wholegrain eierkoeken and 33 g per 100 g for its spelt version. A gluten-free version from Gluten Free Bakery Holland also lists 33 g per 100 g.
So don’t use these descriptions as proof of a sugar reduction. Check any specific claim separately and always compare sugar values on the same basis.
A small piece can show a modest figure per portion without having a lower sugar content per 100 g. Jumbo lists around 15.5 g per piece for Bolletje Brosse Eierkoeken met melklaagje, with 6.6 g of sugars per piece and 42 g of sugars per 100 g.
Use the value per 100 g to compare products, then decide what portion you’ll actually serve.
The gluten-free eierkoeken from Gluten Free Bakery Holland listed by Jumbo contain egg, milk and soya, and may contain nuts and sesame. The gluten-free label does not answer other questions about allergens.
Ask which allergens are relevant to your guests, read the label on the pack you’ve bought and keep a separate serving aside if cross-contamination is a concern.
The date and storage conditions apply to the specific pack you buy. Ingredients and allergens may also differ from information you’ve seen before if the product has changed.
When buying and before serving, check the best-before date, storage advice and ingredients on the packaging.
The standard, wholegrain and spelt versions give you different product characteristics to compare for a buffet.
The standard and wholegrain eierkoeken show why the type of grain and the sugar value need to be considered separately.
The small Brosse Eierkoek met melklaagje is mainly an option for choosing the size of a sweet buffet item.
The gluten-free eierkoeken described by Jumbo are relevant if a guest specifically needs a gluten-free option.
Only when the claim meets the applicable requirements for that specific product. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that a ‘reduced sugars’ claim requires at least 30% less sugar than a similar product. So check the specific claim and what it is being compared with; a sugar value per 100 g on its own does not prove a reduction claim.
No. Albert Heijn lists 31 g of sugars per 100 g for both AH Eierkoeken and AH Eierkoeken volkoren. The wholegrain version also lists fibre, but that is a different characteristic from having a lower sugar content.
No. According to the product information at Jumbo, the gluten-free eierkoeken from Gluten Free Bakery Holland contain egg, milk and soya, and may contain nuts and sesame. For any guest with a relevant allergy, check the current packaging; don’t rely on the words ‘gluten-free’ alone.
Check the best-before date and storage advice on the pack you buy. Follow the instructions until the buffet, and check the ingredients and allergens again before serving, especially if you’ve only previously read the product information online.
