Who are these considerations relevant to?

Festival-goer watching their sugar intake

You want to take egg cakes with you, but first want to know whether a claim about reduced sugar is substantiated and how much sugar the product contains per 100 g.

Practical host handing out snacks

You’re taking egg cakes to hand out, so you’ll want to check whether they’re individually wrapped and read the storage instructions, especially if they might be exposed to heat.

Buyer checking allergens

You’re buying for yourself or someone with a food allergy, so you check the ingredients and allergens on the current packaging of the exact variety you’ve chosen.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start by deciding whether you’re looking for a demonstrable sugar reduction or simply a practical egg cake to hand out. Then check the allergens and how many you need.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Demonstrably less sugar Check whether the claim specifically refers to sugar and which comparable standard product it is measured against. Also compare the sugar content per 100 g. If my main reason for choosing egg cakes is to have less sugar, I want more evidence than just a lower figure in the nutrition information. Around 36% of consumers would put a demonstrable sugar reduction first.
Taking them with you and handing them out Check whether the cakes are individually wrapped and read the storage instructions, including any advice about heat. When I’m handing them out to several people while out and about, I want to be able to carry and offer the portions easily. For around 29% of consumers, this would be their first consideration.
Allergens Read the ingredients, allergens and any warnings on the packaging of the exact variety. If someone I’m buying for has a food allergy, I need to be able to check whether this particular egg cake is suitable. Around 21% of consumers would give this check priority.
Right-sized quantity Compare the number of cakes, net weight and shelf life with how many you want to take with you. I don’t want to take more egg cakes than I’m likely to hand out, even if only a small number of people feel this way. Around 14% of consumers would put choosing the right quantity first.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a lower sugar figure proves a claim

    A standard egg cake with less sugar per 100 g than another variety isn’t automatically a product that makes a sugar-reduction claim. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that a claim such as ‘light’ must make clear which characteristic has been reduced. For sugar, it cites a reduction of at least 30% compared with a similar standard product.

    Read the claim and the basis for comparison on the packaging. If these aren’t stated, use the per-100 g value only to compare products.

  • Assuming wholemeal means less sugar

    Jumbo lists 3,9 g of fibre and 33,6 g of sugar per 100 g for Jumbo Eierkoeken Volkoren. The wholemeal description doesn’t tell you whether the sugar content has been reduced compared with a similar egg cake.

    Check fibre and sugar as separate values in the nutrition information.

  • Confusing individual wrapping with a nutritional benefit

    According to the product information at Jumbo, Bolletje Brosse Eierkoeken met Melklaagje are individually wrapped. However, they also contain 42 g of sugar per 100 g and should be protected from heat.

    Choose individually wrapped cakes for practical reasons; assess the sugar content and storage instructions separately.

  • Relying on allergen information for a different variety

    Ingredients and allergens can vary between varieties. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergens must be listed on the label of prepacked foods.

    Before buying and handing them out, check the current packaging of the egg cake you’re actually using.

Brands as a point of comparison

Albert Heijn

AH Eierkoeken are a standard egg cake you can use to compare sugar content per 100 g.

  • Albert Heijn lists 31 g of sugar per 100 g for AH Eierkoeken.
  • That figure doesn’t confirm a claim of reduced sugar. Also check the allergens on the current packaging.

Jumbo

Jumbo offers a wholemeal egg cake, among other products, with fibre and sugar values that can be compared separately.

  • Jumbo lists 3,9 g of fibre per 100 g for Jumbo Eierkoeken Volkoren.
  • The same variety lists 33,6 g of sugar per 100 g; wholemeal doesn’t mean a claim about reduced sugar applies.

Bolletje

Bolletje Brosse Eierkoeken met Melklaagje are an example of individually wrapped egg cakes.

  • According to the product information at Jumbo, this variety is individually wrapped, which is useful when handing them out.
  • The product information lists 42 g of sugar per 100 g and advises protecting the cakes from heat.

Egg cakes at Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

When does ‘light’ tell you something about the sugar in an egg cake?

You can only read ‘light’ as an indication of reduced sugar when it’s clear that the claim refers to sugar. For a ‘light’ claim, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre cites at least 30% less of the stated characteristic than in a similar standard product; the reduction could also relate to fat or energy. So check which characteristic is stated on the packaging and what it’s being compared with.

Does a wholemeal egg cake automatically contain less sugar?

No. ‘Wholemeal’ doesn’t confirm a lower sugar content. Jumbo lists 33,6 g of sugar and 3,9 g of fibre per 100 g for Jumbo Eierkoeken Volkoren. Compare the sugar content separately with that of a similar egg cake.

What should I look for when taking egg cakes to a street festival?

Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the variety you buy. Albert Heijn advises storing AH Eierkoeken in a cool, dry, dark place and sealing the packaging tightly after opening. According to the product information at Jumbo, Bolletje Brosse Eierkoeken met Melklaagje should be protected from heat.

How should I handle allergen information when handing out egg cakes?

First, check the allergens on the current packaging and keep that information available for anyone you offer the egg cakes to. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, when selling unpackaged foods, allergen information must be provided in a way other than on a packaging label. Make sure consumers can access that information before buying.