Who is this choice relevant to?

People with coeliac disease

Your starting point is the ‘gluten-free’ label on the packaging of the exact product variant. The product name or brand alone doesn’t tell you whether a breakfast cake is suitable.

People looking for a snack to take with them

A gluten-free breakfast cake bar can be handy if you don’t want to cut a slice at school, at work or when you’re out and about. With an unsliced cake, you can choose the size of your portion.

People comparing nutritional values

If fibre, sugars or salt also matter to you, check the ingredients and nutritional information per 100 g and per portion after confirming the gluten-free label. The name on the front doesn’t tell you the full nutritional profile.

What should you look for when choosing?

If you have coeliac disease, first check that the exact breakfast cake is labelled gluten-free. Then choose a format that suits your snack break and compare the nutritional information if needed.

What to look for What to check when buying Who it matters to
Gluten-free label Look for ‘gluten-free’ on the packaging of the variant you’ve chosen; don’t rely on the brand alone. If I have coeliac disease, I don’t want to accidentally pick up the regular variant. For around 42% of consumers, suitability is the top priority when buying.
Format and portion Compare a bar with an unsliced cake and check the stated portion size. For a snack on the go, I want something I can take with me without having to cut it first; convenience is the most important factor for around 25% of consumers.
Nutritional information Compare fibre, sugars and salt per 100 g and per portion. When choosing between gluten-free options, I want to know what a portion contributes to my daily diet. This nutritional profile is the main consideration for around 17% of consumers.
Availability Check whether the exact gluten-free variant is available where you do your shopping. I want to be able to find a breakfast cake that meets my requirements; for around 16% of consumers, availability tips the balance between suitable options.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing regular breakfast cake with the gluten-free variant

    According to Peijnenburg, its regular Peijnenburg Naturel unsliced breakfast cake contains rye flour. That doesn’t tell you what’s in the separate gluten-free variant, but it does show why the brand name alone isn’t enough.

    Check the full product name and the ‘gluten-free’ label on the packaging of the cake you’re buying.

  • Taking a claim on the front as the full nutritional profile

    ‘Gluten-free’ doesn’t tell you everything about the nutritional values. A reference to fibre won’t tell you how much sugar or salt a portion contains either.

    Read the ingredients and compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion.

  • Assuming it contains iodine from baker’s salt

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, baker’s salt contains iodine, but bakers aren’t required to use it. So you can’t tell from ‘breakfast cake’ or ‘gluten-free’ whether it has been used.

    If iodine matters to your choice, check the label or ask the manufacturer.

  • Relying only on online product information

    Albert Heijn points out that ingredients and allergen information can change. So a product page you looked at earlier isn’t a substitute for checking the packaging of the cake you actually receive.

    Check the current packaging before eating or giving someone the breakfast cake.

Brands to consider

Peijnenburg

Peijnenburg offers a 285 g gluten-free unsliced breakfast cake; Jumbo lists the Crossed Grain symbol for this specific variant.

  • An unsliced cake lets you choose the size of your portion.
  • According to Peijnenburg, its regular Peijnenburg Naturel unsliced breakfast cake contains rye flour. So always check which variant you have.

Jumbo Lekker Vrij

The range includes a 300 g gluten-free unsliced breakfast cake. Jumbo lists the Crossed Grain mark for this product.

  • The product page links the gluten-free label and certification mark to this specific breakfast cake.
  • You’ll need to cut an unsliced cake yourself if you want to take a portion with you; also check the current packaging.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Can I choose regular breakfast cake if I have coeliac disease?

If you have coeliac disease, choose only breakfast cake labelled ‘gluten-free’ on the current packaging. For example, Peijnenburg lists rye flour as an ingredient in its regular Naturel unsliced cake; don’t confuse it with the separate gluten-free variant.

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

Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, ‘gluten-free’ may only be stated if the food contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten for the final consumer. Check that the label appears on the packaging of the exact breakfast cake variant.

Does gluten-free breakfast cake have to carry the Crossed Grain logo?

No. The requirements for using the ‘gluten-free’ label under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014 don’t require that logo. Jumbo does list the symbol for its Lekker Vrij van Gluten Ongesneden Ontbijtkoek and for the gluten-free Peijnenburg variant mentioned above; check the packaging of the product you choose.

Does gluten-free breakfast cake always contain iodine from baker’s salt?

No, you can’t tell from the product category. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that baker’s salt contains iodine, but bakers aren’t required to use it. Check the label or ask the manufacturer about the breakfast cake you’ve chosen if this matters to you.

How do I compare the nutritional value of gluten-free breakfast cake?

Compare the ingredients and the fibre, sugars and salt listed per 100 g and per portion. This shows you how the variants compare on the same weight basis, as well as what’s in the portion you plan to eat; the gluten-free label alone won’t tell you this.