If you have coeliac disease, an explicit gluten-free label is the first thing to look for; also check the latest allergen information on the packaging. A individually wrapped breakfast cake bar gives you one pre-determined portion, while an unsliced cake lets you cut your own portions for several snack occasions. For both formats, compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion.
For a late-night snack, a clear gluten-free label is essential. Also check the latest allergen information and avoid contact with gluten-containing foods in a shared kitchen. The Dutch Coeliac Society advises storing gluten-free food separately and in well-sealed packaging.
If you want one pre-portioned snack without having to cut into a larger cake, the individual AH Gluten-Free bar may suit you. Albert Heijn lists one portion per 65 g bar.
An unsliced cake lets you cut your own portions for different occasions. Jumbo lists twelve 25 g portions for its 300 g cake; Albert Heijn lists nine 30 g portions for its 285 g Peijnenburg cake. Remember to factor in the storage advice for after opening.
First, check that the breakfast cake meets your gluten-free requirements and any other allergen needs. Then compare the portion you’ll actually eat, the nutritional information and the packaging that suits your snack occasion.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free status and allergens | Look for an explicit gluten-free label and check the latest ingredients and allergen information, including any ‘may contain’ statement. At home, avoid contact with gluten-containing foods. | If I have coeliac disease, I want to check that the cake is gluten-free and see which other allergens it contains before my evening snack. This check comes first for around 36% of consumers. |
| Nutritional information and portion size | Compare sugars, salt and fibre per 100 g, among other things, and calculate the figures for the portion you’ll eat. | If you want a measured portion in the evening, nutritional information for that amount is more useful than figures per 100 g alone. This is the main consideration for around 29% of consumers. |
| Portion convenience and storage | Check whether the pack contains a single portion or whether you’ll need to cut the cake yourself. For a larger cake, read the storage advice for after opening. | I want to be able to grab one snack without having to cut into and store the rest of a cake. This convenience is the deciding factor for around 21% of consumers. |
| Availability of the variant | Check the retailer’s current product listing if you’re looking for a specific cake or pack size. | If I want to buy the same variant for several evenings, I want to know whether my retailer stocks it. For around 14% of consumers, this certainty is the most important buying criterion. |
A gluten-free breakfast cake may contain other allergens. According to their product information, the Peijnenburg and Jumbo cakes discussed here contain milk and lupin; the AH bar lists milk, lactose and lupin.
Check the latest allergen information on the packaging every time you buy, even if you’ve eaten the product before.
A pack containing one portion tells you nothing by itself about the product’s nutritional composition per 100 g. Albert Heijn lists 43 g of sugars per 100 g for its breakfast cake bar; Jumbo lists 43.4 g for its unsliced cake and Albert Heijn 42 g for its Peijnenburg cake.
Choose the packaging that suits your snack occasion, then compare the nutritional information for the amount you’ll actually eat.
You’ll need to check the back as well if you’re choosing based on ingredients and nutritional information. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends turning the pack over to see what’s inside.
Read the ingredients list and compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion eaten.
You can’t tell from the product category alone whether iodised salt has been used in a particular breakfast cake.
Check the ingredients list if the type of salt used is important to your choice.
These examples show different pack formats for gluten-free breakfast cake. Always check the information for the variant you choose before buying.
The 285 g gluten-free, unsliced breakfast cake is designed to be cut into portions at home.
The 65 g breakfast cake bar is a single portion for one snack occasion.
The 300 g unsliced gluten-free breakfast cake lets you cut your own smaller portions.
Checking for wheat alone isn’t enough. Choose a breakfast cake with an explicit gluten-free label and read the latest ingredients and allergen information on the packaging.
Yes. Gluten-free doesn’t mean free from other allergens. According to the product information, the Peijnenburg and Jumbo cakes discussed here contain milk and lupin; the AH bar lists milk, lactose and lupin. Also check each pack for statements about possible traces of other allergens.
Store gluten-free breakfast cake in well-sealed packaging, separately from gluten-containing products. The Dutch Coeliac Society advises keeping gluten-free food separate; use clean utensils and a clean work surface when cutting it, too.
Don’t assume this is the case for an individual product. Check the ingredients list if you want to know which type of salt was used in that breakfast cake.
Follow the storage advice on the pack you’ve chosen. For the gluten-free cake discussed here, Peijnenburg recommends storing it in a dry, dark place, preferably in an airtight container or tin; Jumbo says to store its variant in a cool, dry place.
