Who is this choice relevant to?

Tea drinkers with coeliac disease

You’re looking for breakfast cake that is explicitly labelled gluten-free, and want to avoid mistaking ordinary rye breakfast cake for a gluten-free option.

Anyone who wants to slice and share at home

You want to choose how thick to cut the slices to enjoy with your tea, and share an uncut cake with others.

Anyone who wants a portion to take with them

You’re looking for a single wrapped portion that you can take to work, school or a visit without needing to slice it.

What should you look for when choosing?

When choosing breakfast cake for someone with coeliac disease, first check for the gluten-free claim. Then choose a format that suits the occasion, and check the allergen and nutritional information too.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters most to
Gluten-free claim Look for ‘gluten-free’ on the current packaging. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, the claim applies to products containing no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg of finished product. If I have coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely on a claim such as ‘zero’ when looking for gluten-free breakfast cake to enjoy with tea; gluten-free suitability is the top priority for around 50% of consumers.
Portion and serving format Compare an uncut cake that you can slice yourself with an individually wrapped bar that gives you a set portion. At home, I want to be able to slice and share the cake, while when I’m out I’d rather take a single wrapped portion with me; the serving format is the deciding factor for around 30% of consumers.
Other label information Read the allergen statement and compare the sugars per 100 g and per portion. Don’t infer the iodine content from the gluten-free claim. If I also need to avoid milk or lupin, or want to assess the sugar and iodine content, I need more information than just ‘gluten-free’; these other label details are the top priority for around 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing ‘zero’ with gluten-free

    The ‘no added sugars’ claim on the ontbijtkoek zero described by ALDI Netherlands doesn’t mean the cake is gluten-free. For example, the ingredients for Peijnenburg naturel list 37% rye flour.

    If you have coeliac disease, check that the current packaging explicitly says ‘gluten-free’.

  • Overlooking other allergens

    The gluten-free breakfast cakes described by Jumbo and Peijnenburg contain milk and lupin. Albert Heijn lists milk/lactose and lupin for its AH Glutenvrij Ontbijtkoekreep.

    If you need to avoid ingredients other than gluten, check the allergen information on the packaging again.

  • Assuming gluten-free means low in sugar

    According to the product information, the gluten-free options described contain between 42 g and 43.4 g of sugars per 100 g. The gluten-free claim tells you nothing about the nutritional value.

    Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and consider how much you’ll actually have as a portion.

  • Assuming all breakfast cake contains iodine

    According to the Voedingscentrum, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So neither salt in the ingredients nor a gluten-free claim tells you the specific iodine content of a product.

    If iodine is important to your choice, look for an explicit statement on the label rather than assuming baker’s salt has been used.

Brands to consider

Jumbo Lekker Vrij

The gluten-free range described includes a 300 g uncut breakfast cake that you can slice and share at home.

  • Jumbo labels this cake gluten-free and displays the Crossed Grain symbol. It also lists 12 portions of 25 g.
  • The product information lists milk and lupin, possible traces of ingredients including nuts, egg and oats, and 43.4 g of sugars per 100 g.

Peijnenburg

The 285 g gluten-free, uncut breakfast cake is designed to be sliced at home.

  • Albert Heijn lists 9 portions of 30 g for this variety.
  • This variety contains milk and lupin; the nutritional information lists 42 g of sugars and 0.5 g of salt per 100 g. Check which variety you’re buying: the ingredients for Peijnenburg naturel list 37% rye flour.

AH Glutenvrij

The 65 g breakfast cake bar is a single wrapped portion for enjoying with tea when you’re out.

  • According to Albert Heijn, this bar is made in a completely gluten-free environment.
  • You can’t cut the portion to the size you want. The bar contains milk/lactose and lupin; the nutritional information lists 43 g of sugars per 100 g.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

What does ‘gluten-free’ mean on breakfast cake?

Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, the ‘gluten-free’ claim may be used if the finished product contains no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg. When choosing breakfast cake for someone with coeliac disease, look for this claim on the current packaging.

Is breakfast cake with ‘zero’ on the packaging suitable for people with coeliac disease?

The ‘zero’ claim doesn’t, on its own, confirm that breakfast cake is gluten-free. ALDI Netherlands describes its ontbijtkoek zero as a product with no added sugars; if you have coeliac disease, check separately that the current packaging says ‘gluten-free’.

Is gluten-free breakfast cake also free from milk and lupin?

The gluten-free breakfast cakes described here aren’t: Jumbo and Peijnenburg list milk and lupin, while Albert Heijn lists milk/lactose and lupin for its breakfast cake bar. Check the current allergen information for each variety you choose.