When doing your Christmas shopping, check the exact claim: ‘no added sugars’ doesn’t mean that the gingerbread contains no sugars at all. Choose a wholemeal option if wholemeal ingredients and the stated fibre content matter to you; also compare the ingredients, pack size and where you can buy it.
You’re looking for gingerbread without added sugars for breakfast or a snack. The word ‘zero’ on its own doesn’t tell you how much sugar the product contains: check ‘of which sugars’ in the nutrition information too, and look at the ingredients for sweeteners.
As well as the sugar claim, you want to know whether the gingerbread is wholemeal and how much fibre it contains. Compare the product description and nutrition information per 100 g rather than assuming that ‘zero’ tells you anything about the fibre content.
You’re buying gingerbread to enjoy on several occasions over Christmas. In that case, the net weight, whether it comes sliced or in individual portions, and where you can buy it are practical differences to consider.
Start by checking the precise sugar claim and the ingredients. Then compare wholemeal content and fibre, before choosing a pack and shopping option that suit your Christmas plans.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar claim and sweeteners | Read the full claim and check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. Check the ingredients if you want to avoid a particular sweetener. | I want to choose something without added sugars for Christmas breakfast, but I also want to know which sugars and sweeteners the gingerbread contains. Around 42% of consumers put these checks first. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Check whether it is explicitly labelled as wholemeal and compare the fibre content per 100 g. | If I regularly serve gingerbread, I want to choose an option whose wholemeal label and fibre content I can check. This matters most to around 33% of consumers. |
| Packaging and where to shop | Compare the net weight and whether it comes sliced or in portions; also check whether the option is available at the shop you plan to visit. | For several breakfasts and coffee breaks, I want a pack that’s easy to share and fits in with my shopping plans. This is the first thing around 25% of consumers consider. |
A product with no added sugars may still contain sugars that occur naturally. PLUS lists 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g for Peijnenburg Naturel without added sugars.
Check the exact claim and the ‘of which sugars’ row on the packaging before comparing options.
A ‘zero’ label alone says nothing about whether a product is wholemeal or how much fibre it contains. The product information for Peijnenburg Volkoren without added sugars separately states that it is 100% wholemeal and contains 17 g of fibre per 100 g.
For the option you’re buying, look for an explicit wholemeal label and the fibre content on the packaging.
Peijnenburg’s Naturel option without added sugars contains xylitol. PLUS warns that this product is not suitable for animals because it contains xylitol.
Keep this gingerbread out of reach of pets. If they eat any, contact a vet immediately, as PLUS advises for this product.
For each of these brands, compare the specific gingerbread option. A brand name or ‘zero’ label is no substitute for checking the ingredients and nutrition information.
Worth considering if you want to choose between plain and wholemeal gingerbread without added sugars, including sliced options.
ALDI lists a 485 g pre-sliced Ontbijtkoek Zero with no added sugars.
AH Ontbijtkoek zero gesneden is an option to include when comparing sliced products.
Lidl lists a 485 g Ontbijtkoek zero as an in-store product.
Jumbo’s gingerbread range includes, among other options, Peijnenburg without added sugars and Jumbo Ontbijtkoek Minder Suiker.
No. Don’t rely on the word ‘zero’ alone. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that ‘no added sugars’ is a claim used when no sugars, or foods used for their sweetening properties, have been added; the product may still contain sugars that occur naturally. For example, PLUS lists 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g for Peijnenburg Naturel without added sugars.
Yes. The Peijnenburg plain and wholemeal options reviewed list xylitol. Check the ingredients on the option you’re buying to find out which sweetener it contains, and follow the warnings on the packaging.
No. Don’t give gingerbread containing xylitol to pets. PLUS warns that Peijnenburg Naturel without added sugars is not suitable for animals because it contains xylitol, and advises contacting a vet immediately if it is eaten.
Not necessarily. According to PLUS, Peijnenburg’s plain option without added sugars contains rye and cereals containing gluten. Check the allergen information for every option; don’t assume it’s gluten-free based on the sugar claim.
Don’t assume it does. If the type of salt used matters to you, check the ingredients of the specific gingerbread or ask the manufacturer.
