Who is this relevant to?

Shoppers who want to identify organic products

You want to be able to verify the organic label on the packaging. The EU organic logo and the accompanying control information tell you more than words such as ‘natural’ or ‘premium’.

Shoppers comparing nutritional values

You choose breakfast cake as a snack and want to compare sugars, fibre and portion sizes. An organic label doesn’t tell you what the nutritional values are.

Shoppers checking ingredients and allergens

Before buying, you want to know whether the breakfast cake contains rye, wheat or spelt, and whether it carries a warning about possible traces of nuts. Check the current packaging for the version you’ve chosen.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start with what matters most to you: organic production, nutritional value or checking the ingredients. Then compare the other label information for the versions you’re considering.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters most to
Organic label Check the EU organic logo, control code and ingredients identified as organic. According to the European Commission, the logo is compulsory for most prepacked organic food from the EU. I want to be able to identify organic production rather than rely on words such as ‘premium’. For around 44% of consumers, verifiably organic is the top priority.
Sugars, fibre and portion size Compare sugars and fibre on the same basis, per 100 g, and consider how much you’ll have in a portion. If I have breakfast cake as a snack, I want to know how the nutritional value fits the portion I’ve chosen. For around 33% of consumers, this is the most important consideration.
Ingredients and allergens Check the current allergen information for rye, wheat, spelt and possible traces of nuts. If iodine is a consideration for you, check the information about baker’s salt or added iodine separately. I want to know which ingredients are in the version I’ve chosen and what warnings apply. For around 23% of consumers, this check is the top priority.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming organic means low in sugars

    The organic label refers to the production method. Albert Heijn lists 41 g of sugars per 100 g for Peijnenburg Organic Rye Breakfast Cake; PLUS lists 40.1 g per 100 g for GIJS Organic Plain Breakfast Cake.

    Use the organic label to guide your choice of production method, and compare the nutritional information separately, ideally per 100 g and for the portion you plan to have.

  • Assuming organic breakfast cake is gluten-free

    The organic versions described contain ingredients such as rye, wheat or spelt. Some versions also carry a warning about possible traces of nuts.

    Check the allergen information on the current packaging for the exact version you’re buying; don’t assume based on the brand or organic certification.

  • Assuming baker’s salt always provides iodine

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So you can’t tell from the breakfast cake category alone whether a version contains added iodine.

    If this matters to you, check the ingredients information or ask the manufacturer which salt they use.

Brands to consider

Peijnenburg

Albert Heijn described a 450 g organic rye breakfast cake.

  • The version described contains ingredients labelled as organic.
  • Albert Heijn lists 2.3 g of fibre and 41 g of sugars per 100 g for this version; compare both values if nutrition is a factor.

Jumbo

Jumbo described a 250 g organic breakfast cake made with rye and spelt flour.

  • The product information gives the organic label and control code NL-BIO-01.
  • The version described contains rye and spelt; Jumbo lists 41.3 g of sugars per 100 g.

GIJS

PLUS describes a 400 g organic plain breakfast cake.

  • The product information lists organic ingredients and 3.7 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • PLUS also lists 40.1 g of sugars per 100 g, rye and wheat, and a warning about possible traces of nuts.

Bio Nature

PLUS describes individually wrapped organic breakfast cake with honey.

  • The individual wrapping makes it easy to see the amount in each pack.
  • PLUS lists 52 g of sugars per 100 g for this version, which contains rye.

Koek & Bakker

ALDI describes a 485 g sliced wholemeal breakfast cake.

  • Pre-sliced and labelled wholemeal: features to compare on the packaging for this version.
  • Wholemeal doesn’t mean organic. If an organic label is a condition of your purchase, check for it separately.

Breakfast cake at Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

How can I identify organic breakfast cake?

For prepacked breakfast cake, look for the organic label, EU organic logo and control information on the packaging. According to the European Commission, the logo is compulsory for most prepacked organic food from the EU; a word such as ‘natural’ isn’t a substitute for this information.

Does the organic label tell me anything about the sugars in breakfast cake?

No, you can’t tell the sugar content from the organic label. Albert Heijn lists 41 g of sugars per 100 g for the organic Peijnenburg version described, while PLUS lists 40.1 g per 100 g for the organic GIJS version. Compare the nutritional information on the packaging of the one you choose.

Is organic breakfast cake gluten-free?

Not automatically: the organic versions described here contain ingredients such as rye, wheat or spelt. Check the current ingredients and allergen information for the specific version, even if you’ve bought it before.

Does Dutch breakfast cake always contain iodine from baker’s salt?

No, you can’t tell from the product category. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. For a specific breakfast cake, check the ingredients information or ask the manufacturer.

How should I store organic breakfast cake after opening?

Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the breakfast cake you’ve chosen. The organic versions described by Jumbo and PLUS advise storing them in a cool, dry, dark place and closing the packaging securely after opening.