Parents comparing sugar content
You want to hand out an egg cake, so you’re comparing the sugars per 100 g as well as per portion. The nutritional information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo shows why the word ‘wholegrain’ alone isn’t enough.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Parents looking for a small treat
You want to tailor portions to the number of children. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping treats small and checking in advance whether the school or childcare setting has any rules.
Parents taking allergies into account
You need to know which ingredients matter for the children who’ll be there. Check the packaging of the variety you choose and agree the treat in advance with the venue and the parents or carers concerned.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether it has to be an egg cake. Compare sugars on the same basis within that product type, then consider the portion you’ll hand out and whether the treat is suitable for the children and the venue.
Regular egg cake
A good choice when: You want a familiar egg cake and would like to compare regular varieties by sugar content.
Things to consider: Jumbo lists 29.5 g of sugars per 100 g for its regular egg cake, while Albert Heijn lists 31 g per 100 g. These figures apply to those two products only, not all egg cakes.
Wholegrain egg cake
A good choice when: You specifically want to compare a wholegrain variety and are considering fibre as a separate factor.
Things to consider: According to Albert Heijn’s product information, both its regular and wholegrain egg cakes contain 31 g of sugars per 100 g. So, in this case, wholegrain doesn’t mean a lower sugar content.
Biscuit alternative
A good choice when: It doesn’t have to be an egg cake and you’re open to considering another type of biscuit.
Things to consider: Verkade describes San Francisco Zero as a biscuit with no added sugars, not an egg cake. Its shape and portion therefore aren’t directly comparable with those of an egg cake.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars | Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figures per 100 g for egg cakes, then check the amount per portion you’ll hand out. | If you want to hand out a familiar egg cake and sugar is your priority, you’ll need both a like-for-like product comparison and the actual portion size. Around 42% of consumers put this sugar comparison first. |
| Allergens and venue rules | Read the current ingredients and allergen information, and ask about the venue’s rules before buying. | If children with allergies will be there, or the school has its own rules about treats, your choice needs to meet those requirements. For around 33% of consumers, suitability is their first concern. |
| Portion sizes | Check the number of pieces and the weight per piece, then work out how many you’ll need for the number of children. | When handing out treats to a group, you’ll want to know in advance how big each one is and how many you need. Small, manageable portions are the priority for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming wholegrain means less sugar
Albert Heijn lists 31 g of sugars per 100 g for both its regular and wholegrain egg cakes. Jumbo lists 33.6 g per 100 g for its wholegrain variety, compared with 29.5 g per 100 g for its regular one.
Compare the sugar information for the exact varieties. Consider fibre separately if it matters to your choice.
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Reading ‘no added sugars’ as ‘sugar-free’
Verkade lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for its San Francisco Zero biscuit, even though Verkade says it contains no added sugars. It’s not an egg cake, either.
As well as checking the claim, read the nutritional information, ingredients and allergen details. Don’t present a biscuit as if it were the same treat as an egg cake.
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Looking only at the weight per piece
A small portion doesn’t tell you how products compare per 100 g. Jumbo lists 6.6 g of sugars per piece for Bolletje Brosse Eierkoeken met melklaagje, with each piece weighing around 15.5 g, and 42 g of sugars per 100 g.
Use the figure per 100 g to compare products and the figure per piece to plan your treats.
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Buying treats before checking with the venue
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends asking in advance about allergies, religious beliefs and the venue’s policy on treats. A suitable sugar content doesn’t automatically make a product suitable for every child or venue.
Ask the school, after-school club or party venue what you’re allowed to hand out, then check the current packaging of the product you’ve chosen.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn provides nutritional information for its regular and wholegrain egg cakes, so you can compare the varieties on a like-for-like basis.
- Both varieties list 31 g of sugars per 100 g. The wholegrain variety lists 3.5 g of fibre, compared with 1.4 g for the regular variety.
- Based on these sugar figures, the wholegrain variety isn’t a lower-sugar option. Check the current packaging, as product information may change.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists nutritional values for its regular and wholegrain egg cakes, allowing you to compare these specific varieties.
- The regular variety lists 29.5 g of sugars per 100 g, while the wholegrain variety lists 3.9 g of fibre per 100 g.
- The wholegrain variety lists 33.6 g of sugars per 100 g. So, if sugar is your main priority, don’t choose on the basis of the word ‘wholegrain’ alone.
Bolletje
Brosse Eierkoeken met melklaagje are a crisp, individually wrapped option if you want to plan treats by the piece.
- Jumbo lists a portion of around 15.5 g for this Bolletje variety, with 6.6 g of sugars per piece.
- The same product information lists 42 g of sugars per 100 g. Also check the allergen information for the children you’ll be handing them out to.
Verkade
San Francisco Zero is a biscuit to consider if your treat doesn’t have to be an egg cake.
- Verkade says this biscuit contains no added sugars; the nutritional information lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g.
- This isn’t an egg cake and, according to the product information, it contains wheat, milk and soya. Check that this different type of biscuit and its ingredients are suitable for the party.
Heerlijck Banket
Heerlijck Banket’s free-range egg cakes are an option to consider in terms of pack size when planning treats for a group.
- ALDI lists a pack of 12 pieces weighing 360 g.
- Before choosing this variety, check the current nutritional information and ingredients on the packaging for sugar and allergen details.
A biscuit alternative on Joybuy
This product is a biscuit alternative if you don’t specifically want to hand out egg cakes. Don’t compare it as though its shape and portion size were the same as an egg cake; also check the ingredients and the actual portion size.
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Panpan Low GI Sugar-Free Oat High Fiber Biscuits 216 g
A biscuit to consider if an egg cake isn’t essential. The product information lists 11.7 g of sugars per 100 g, so don’t rely on ‘Sugar-Free’ in the product name. Before handing them out, check how many biscuits and how many grams are in a portion. The product information lists wheat, soya, oats and egg; check the current packaging for allergen details.
Frequently asked questions
Does a wholegrain egg cake automatically contain less sugar?
No. Albert Heijn lists 31 g of sugars per 100 g for both its regular and wholegrain egg cakes. Jumbo lists 33.6 g per 100 g for its wholegrain variety, compared with 29.5 g for its regular one. So compare the exact products using their current nutritional information.
Is a biscuit with no added sugars also sugar-free?
No, that doesn’t follow from the claim. Verkade describes San Francisco Zero as a biscuit with no added sugars, while the nutritional information lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g. Also consider the ingredients and portion size when making your choice.
Which allergens should I check when choosing egg cakes for a party treat?
Check the allergen information on the current packaging of the exact variety, and ask in advance which allergies the children have. Among the products reviewed, egg, wheat, milk and soya are relevant; don’t assume that all egg cakes contain the same ingredients.
Can I take egg cakes to school or an after-school club?
Ask the school or after-school club in advance which treats are allowed. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also recommends taking allergies and religious beliefs into account; the rules at the specific venue will determine what you can hand out.