Anyone looking after a busy office snack tin
Wants to put out pre-sliced portions quickly and keep the opened pack sealed after use.
Who is this choice relevant to?
A team comparing nutrition per slice
Checks sugars, fibre, portion size and sweeteners, without confusing ‘no added sugars’ with sugar-free.
An office with shared snacks
Wants to check the ingredients and allergens on each product’s label, and whether individually wrapped portions are practical.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, think about how colleagues will take the ontbijtkoek from the tin. Then check the nutritional information and allergen label for each variety.
A large wrapper of sliced ontbijtkoek
Best for: a tin that people dip into regularly, where the packaging can be sealed after use.
Trade-off: there’s no individual wrapper for each slice, but the opened pack is shared.
A variety with no added sugars
Best for: prioritising the amount of sugars per comparable serving.
Trade-off: this label doesn’t mean sugar-free; the varieties reviewed contain xylitol or maltitols. Jumbo’s variety carries a warning about excessive consumption.
Individually wrapped slices
Best for: a shared supply where colleagues can take a pre-wrapped slice whenever they want one.
Trade-off: each slice has its own wrapper; individual packaging doesn’t change the ingredients or allergens.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Serving and storage | Check whether the cake is pre-sliced, how many slices are in the wrapper and what the storage instructions say after opening. | If I’m topping up the tin regularly, I want to put out slices without cutting them first and be able to seal the rest properly. For around 29% of consumers, convenience comes first. |
| Sugars, fibre and sweeteners | Compare the nutritional values for the same quantity. For varieties with sweeteners, check the ingredients and any warnings. | When choosing between varieties, I want to know how much sugar and fibre there is in one slice and which sweeteners are used. This is the main consideration for around 29% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check both ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ on the current packaging. Then decide whether the product suits your requirements for the shared supply. | When several colleagues share the same supply, I don’t want to rely on the packaging format to assess ingredients and allergens. This check takes priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Supply and packaging | Compare the pack size and number of portions. Choose a large wrapper or individually wrapped slices to suit how often the supply is used. | If the tin won’t be emptied quickly, I want to weigh up whether a large opened wrapper or individually wrapped slices would be more practical. Around 21% of consumers prioritise this choice. |
Common mistakes
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Reading ‘no added sugars’ as ‘sugar-free’
The Peijnenburg and Jumbo varieties mentioned still contain sugars and use xylitol and maltitols respectively. Jumbo warns that excessive consumption of its variety may have a laxative effect.
Compare portions on the same basis, and check the ingredients and any packaging warnings as well as the nutritional information.
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Leaving an opened wrapper unsealed in the tin
Jumbo says its plain ontbijtkoek should be stored in a sealed tin after opening. Albert Heijn says its plain variety should be stored in a cool, dark and dry place.
Follow the instructions for the product you choose and use a clean, airtight tin. Consider individual portions if the tin isn’t used very often.
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Choosing based only on whether it’s sliced
The labels reviewed list rye and cereals containing gluten, among other ingredients. Depending on the product, they may also mention the possible presence of other cereals, milk or nuts.
Check the current ingredients and allergen information before buying. An individual wrapper doesn’t make a slice gluten-free or nut-free.
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Assuming all ontbijtkoek is made with iodine-enriched baker’s salt
The product category alone doesn’t tell you whether iodine-enriched baker’s salt has been used in a particular ontbijtkoek.
If this is a requirement, check the ingredients of the product you’ve chosen or ask the manufacturer to confirm.
Brands to compare
These brands offer examples of sliced ontbijtkoek. Packaging and label details apply to the varieties mentioned, not to a brand’s entire range.
Peijnenburg
Offers a standard wrapper of sliced ontbijtkoek, a variety labelled ‘no added sugars’ and individually wrapped slices.
- Peijnenburg lists 18 slices and 550 g for its plain pack; the 10-pack contains ten individually wrapped slices of 28 g each.
- The no-added-sugars variety mentioned contains xylitol. According to Peijnenburg, the 10-pack may contain milk, nuts, almonds and other cereals containing gluten.
Albert Heijn
Offers a 485 g pre-sliced plain ontbijtkoek as an own-label product.
- The pre-sliced format can be handy when topping up an office snack tin.
- The label lists rye and cereals containing gluten, and mentions the possible presence of other cereals. Check the current packaging if you have specific allergen requirements.
Jumbo
Offers standard sliced ontbijtkoek and a sliced variety labelled ‘zero% added sugar’, both in 475 g packs.
- Jumbo lists 19 portions for its standard variety and provides storage instructions for after opening.
- The zero variety mentioned contains maltitols. Jumbo warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Koek & Bakker (ALDI)
ALDI describes a pre-sliced wholemeal variety and a pre-sliced zero variety under this own label, each weighing 485 g.
- According to ALDI, both varieties mentioned are pre-sliced.
- If sugars, fibre or allergens will determine your choice, compare the nutritional information and ingredients on the packaging for the variety in question.
PLUS
Offers a 485 g own-label pack of plain sliced ontbijtkoek.
- The sliced pack is one option to compare by pack size and portions when doing the office shop.
- For the variety mentioned, PLUS lists rye and cereals containing gluten, with the possible presence of wheat, barley and oats.
Sliced ontbijtkoek on Joybuy
This 485 g pack of sliced ontbijtkoek suits anyone looking for a wrapper to top up a shared office snack tin. Check the current label for nutritional and allergen information.
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g'woon Wholemeal Breakfast Cake Sliced, 485 g
The pre-sliced pack is a good option if the office snack tin is topped up regularly. Seal the packaging securely after opening.
Check the current label for ingredients and allergens before sharing the cake. Compare sugars and fibre only once you’ve confirmed whether the nutritional values are given per 100 g or per portion.
Frequently asked questions
How should you store an opened wrapper of ontbijtkoek at the office?
Follow the storage instructions for the product you’ve chosen and seal the packaging after use. Jumbo says its plain variety should be kept in a sealed tin after opening; Albert Heijn says its plain variety should be stored in a cool, dark and dry place.
Does ‘no added sugars’ mean that ontbijtkoek is sugar-free?
No, the Peijnenburg and Jumbo varieties mentioned still contain sugars. They use xylitol and maltitols respectively; Jumbo says excessive consumption of its variety may have a laxative effect. So compare the nutritional information for equal portions and check the label.
Is standard sliced ontbijtkoek suitable for a gluten-free office supply?
Don’t assume so: the standard varieties reviewed list rye and cereals containing gluten. If you need a gluten-free supply, choose a product only if it is explicitly labelled gluten-free, and check the current ingredients and allergen information for that specific product.
Can you assume that ontbijtkoek contains iodine-enriched baker’s salt?
No. If iodine-enriched baker’s salt is important to your choice, don’t rely on the product category alone. Check the ingredients list for the ontbijtkoek in question or ask the manufacturer for product information.