Who is this choice relevant to?

Organisers with a sugar target for the buffet

You want to compare plain rice cakes by the sugar content listed per 100 g, rather than relying only on the wording on the front of the pack.

Caterers running a self-service buffet

You need to make allergen information available to guests before they choose, and want to display the rice cakes in a way that lets you keep the rest of the stock sealed.

Organisers who value organic options or variety

You’re considering organic plain rice cakes or an additional flavour, but want to assess the sugar content per 100 g and the allergens in each product separately.

What should you look for when choosing?

For a conference in the Netherlands, start by comparing the nutritional information per 100 g. Then check allergens, how the rice cakes will be served, and whether an organic or flavoured option is right for the buffet.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Sugars per 100 g Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g on the current packaging; check added sugars separately if they matter to your choice. If keeping sugar low is the aim for my buffet, I don’t want to assume plain rice cakes have the same sugar content as flavoured varieties just because of their name. This would be the first consideration for around 36% of consumers buying for a conference.
Allergens for self-service Check the label on the exact product and make sure guests can get allergen information before choosing. For an open buffet, I want to be able to tell guests which allergens are relevant, even when I’m serving plain rice cakes. This would be the main concern for around 29% of consumers.
Portions and stock Match the number of packs to the serving times, and store reserve stock in a dry, sealed place. When guests help themselves throughout the day, I want to be able to top up without opening every pack in advance. Around 21% of consumers would see buffet planning as their main consideration.
Organic options or flavour variety Check the sugar content per 100 g and the allergens for each additional variety; if choosing an organic product, check its product description too. If buying organic or offering more choice is important for my event, I want to weigh that against the sugar content of the core selection. This would be the main priority for around 14% of consumers.

Common buffet mistakes

  • Assuming flavoured varieties have the same sugar content as plain ones

    Jumbo lists 19 g of sugars per 100 g for Snack A Jacks Dreamy Chocolade Chip. PLUS lists 0.4 g per 100 g for its plain rice cakes. The product name alone doesn’t tell you how these varieties compare.

    Use the nutritional information per 100 g to choose your core selection, and assess any flavoured variety separately as an extra option.

  • Assuming plain rice cakes are suitable for every guest

    Jumbo’s product information says that Rijstwafels Naturel may contain sesame and soya. Plain rice cakes are no substitute for checking allergen information.

    Keep the information from the pack you’ve chosen available. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, providers of unpackaged foods must inform consumers about any allergens present.

  • Opening every pack at the start of the day

    The storage advice for the rice cakes mentioned here is to keep them dry and seal them after opening. It’s harder to do this if all your stock is open during a long day of buffet service.

    Put out smaller quantities and top them up from sealed stock.

    Rice cakes left out and uneaten can lead to extra waste.

Relevant brands to compare

Zonnatura

An organic plain option to compare if buying organic is part of your decision.

  • PLUS lists organic brown rice and 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g for Zonnatura Rijstwafels Naturel.
  • Compare the latest nutritional information for other plain varieties too; organic status alone doesn’t tell you which option has the lowest sugar content.

Albert Heijn Biologisch

An organic plain option for organisers who also want to check added sugars.

  • Albert Heijn lists 0.9 g of sugars and 0 g of added sugars per 100 g for AH Biologisch Rijstwafels Naturel.
  • No added sugars doesn’t mean no sugars at all; check both figures separately.

Snack A Jacks

Flavoured varieties to assess separately as an addition to a selection of plain rice cakes.

  • The cheese and chocolate varieties reviewed offer different flavours alongside plain rice cakes.
  • Jumbo lists 2.4 g of sugars per 100 g and milk for the cheese variety, and 19 g of sugars per 100 g, milk and soya for Dreamy Chocolade Chip.

Joybuy products on this topic

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

How do I compare rice cakes if I want to keep sugar low at the buffet?

Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g on the packaging for the exact variety, and check added sugars separately if they matter to your choice. PLUS, Jumbo and Albert Heijn list 0.4 to 0.9 g of sugars per 100 g for the plain varieties mentioned; Jumbo lists 19 g per 100 g for Snack A Jacks Dreamy Chocolade Chip.

Does allergen information need to be available if rice cakes are served unpackaged?

Yes. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, providers of unpackaged foods must inform consumers about any allergens present. Make sure guests can get this information before choosing, and use the details for the product you’re actually serving.

Are plain rice cakes always suitable for guests with allergies?

No. Check the allergen information for the exact product. For example, Jumbo says that Rijstwafels Naturel may contain sesame and soya.

How should I store rice cakes during a conference day?

Open packs as needed and keep the remaining stock dry and sealed. Follow the storage advice on the packaging of the rice cakes you’ve chosen too.