Who is this choice relevant to?

Hosts mindful of sugar

You want to offer something crunchy and decide for yourself whether to add a sweet topping. The nutritional information for a plain rice cake gives you a starting point for comparing sugars per 100 g with coated varieties.

Hosts catering for different snack preferences

You’re looking for a neutral base that guests can top as they like. As well as checking the rice cakes, look at the ingredients and allergens in anything you serve with them.

Parents who serve rice cakes occasionally

You’re considering rice cakes for children on the festive evening. As a precaution, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against giving children rice or rice products every day.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you want the rice cake itself to be low in sugars, or mainly to serve as a base for different toppings. Then compare the nutritional information for the exact varieties you’re considering.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Sugars Compare sugars per 100 g and check added sugars and the ingredients separately. If you want to choose a rice cake as a low-sugar base, you’ll need a clear figure per 100 g. This is the top priority for around 50% of consumers.
Adding your own toppings Choose between a plain rice cake and a coated variety; check the nutritional information for the toppings too. If guests can add something savoury or sweet themselves, the topping also helps determine what ends up on the table. Around 30% of consumers prioritise having this choice.
Other label information Check the packaging of your chosen variety for allergens, salt and fibre. If any guests have an allergy, or you serve rice cakes to children regularly, other information besides sugars is worth checking too. For around 20% of consumers, this is the first priority.

Common mistakes

  • Treating plain and chocolate varieties as the same choice

    Albert Heijn lists 32 g of sugars per 100 g for the milk chocolate variety surveyed, compared with 1.4 g per 100 g for its plain variety surveyed.

    Choose a plain base if the sugar content of the rice cake is your priority. Check chocolate coatings and any added toppings separately.

  • Looking only at the figure per portion

    Portion sizes can vary. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends using nutritional values per 100 g to compare products.

    Compare products per 100 g first, then use the portion information to decide how much to serve.

  • Assuming multigrain means less sugar

    For the thick multigrain rice cakes surveyed, Jumbo lists 4.9 g of fibre, 2.6 g of sugars and 0.65 g of salt per 100 g. For its plain variety surveyed, Jumbo lists 0.6 g of sugars and less than 0.01 g of salt per 100 g.

    When choosing a multigrain variety, check the values that matter to you rather than going by the product name.

  • Serving rice cakes as a regular daily snack for children

    As a precaution, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against giving children rice or rice products every day because of possible exposure to arsenic.

    Think of rice cakes as an occasional option and offer different products on other days.

Brands to consider

Within the product ranges surveyed, plain, multigrain and coated rice cakes have different nutritional information. Always compare the exact variety.

Albert Heijn

Offers plain, organic plain and coated rice cakes, among other varieties.

  • For the plain variety surveyed, Albert Heijn lists 1.4 g of sugars and 0 g of added sugars per 100 g; for the organic plain variety, the figures are 0.9 g and 0 g.
  • The milk chocolate variety surveyed lists 32 g of sugars and 27 g of added sugars per 100 g, and contains milk and lactose.

Jumbo

Offers a plain variety and a thick multigrain variety with different nutritional values.

  • For the plain variety surveyed, Jumbo lists brown rice as an ingredient, 0.6 g of sugars and less than 0.01 g of salt per 100 g.
  • The multigrain variety surveyed lists 4.9 g of fibre, but also 2.6 g of sugars and 0.65 g of salt per 100 g.

PLUS

Offers a plain variety, as well as coated and multigrain products.

  • For the plain rice cakes surveyed, PLUS lists 0.4 g of sugars and 0 g of added sugars per 100 g.
  • Don’t apply these figures to other PLUS varieties; check the nutritional information on the packaging of the product you choose.

ALDI / Goud Gebakken

ALDI offers rice cakes with sea salt, as well as separate coated varieties under the Goud Gebakken brand.

  • According to ALDI, the pack of rice cakes with sea salt contains 17 pieces.
  • If you’re choosing based on sugars, compare the nutritional information on the label for the exact sea salt or coated variety.

Rice cakes at Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does low in sugars mean no sugar has been added?

No. The total sugars figure alone doesn’t tell you that. Check the information about added sugars and the ingredients list for the exact rice cake separately, and compare products per 100 g.

Are chocolate rice cakes suitable if I’m choosing lower-sugar options?

According to Albert Heijn, the AH milk chocolate rice cake surveyed contains 32 g of sugars and 27 g of added sugars per 100 g. If the sugar content of the rice cake is your priority, compare its nutritional information with that of a plain variety and decide for yourself whether to add a topping.

Can I give children rice cakes on St Nicholas’ Eve?

Having a rice cake on a festive evening is different from serving rice products every day. As a precaution, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against giving children rice or rice products every day because of possible exposure to arsenic.

What should I check if a guest has an allergy?

Read the current label on the exact pack, even if it’s a plain variety. Albert Heijn lists milk and lactose for the milk chocolate variety surveyed; according to Jumbo, its plain variety surveyed may contain sesame and soya.