If you want organic breakfast cake, first check for the EU organic logo and the accompanying label information; a description such as ‘natural’ does not, by itself, mean that a product is organically certified. If you also want portions you can grab straight away, check separately whether the cake is pre-sliced: Albert Heijn’s organic plain variety, for example, is unsliced. Then compare the nutritional information and allergens on the packaging of the product you’re considering.
You don’t want to rely on the product name alone. Skal Biocontrole advises checking pre-packed organic products for the EU organic logo, the code of the control body and a statement showing where the agricultural ingredients come from.
Whether it’s for breakfast or eating on the go, you want to be able to grab a slice without cutting the cake yourself. Look for an explicit ‘sliced’ statement and, where provided, the number of slices and portion size.
You want to compare sugars, fibre and any sweeteners. Check the values per 100 g and per portion: they answer a different question from the organic certification.
First, check that a product meets your main requirement: organic ingredients, pre-sliced portions or a particular nutritional value. Then look at the other label details; none of these features automatically guarantees another.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Organic ingredients | Check the EU organic logo, control code and origin statement on the packaging, as described by Skal Biocontrole for pre-packed organic products. | If I want to buy organic, I need to be able to check this on the packaging rather than infer it from the product name. Around 33% of consumers put this check first. |
| Pre-sliced portions | Look for an explicit ‘sliced’ statement and check the number of slices or portion size. ‘Medium sliced’ does not clearly indicate slice size without further product details. | When I’m in a hurry at breakfast, I want to grab a slice without having to cut the cake first. For around 27% of consumers, convenience matters most. |
| Sugars, fibre and sweeteners | Compare sugars and fibre per 100 g and per portion; for varieties with sweeteners, also read the ingredients and any usage warnings. | If I eat breakfast cake regularly, I want to know how the nutritional values differ between the slices I’m considering. Around 27% of consumers put this comparison first. |
| Allergens and ingredients | Check the ingredients, allergen information and any warning about the possible presence of other allergens on each pack. Don’t assume a product contains baker’s salt based on its category. | If I need to watch out for an ingredient or allergen, I want to read the information for the exact pack I’m buying. Around 13% of consumers give this label check top priority. |
Organic ingredients and nutritional value are separate product features. PLUS states that GIJS Ontbijtkoek naturel bio contains 40.1 g of sugars per 100 g.
As well as checking for organic certification, compare the sugar and fibre information for the products you’re considering.
Albert Heijn lists its 400 g organic plain breakfast cake as unsliced. Organic certification tells you nothing about how the cake is cut.
If you want slices you can grab straight away, look for an explicit ‘sliced’ statement on the current packaging or product page.
The product name doesn’t tell you which ingredients and allergens are listed on that particular pack. Warnings about the possible presence of other allergens can also vary from product to product.
Before buying, read the ingredients list, allergen information and any warnings on the packaging.
According to Voedingscentrum, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So you can’t tell whether it’s present from the name breakfast cake or the organic certification.
Check the ingredients for a specific cake, or ask the manufacturer for product information if baker’s salt is important to your choice.
Albert Heijn lists a 400 g organic plain breakfast cake.
PLUS lists GIJS Ontbijtkoek naturel bio, 400 g, as an organic product.
Jumbo lists a sliced breakfast cake with no added sugar; that’s not the same as being organic.
Peijnenburg describes a standard 550 g plain breakfast cake with 18 pre-sliced portions.
Check the packaging for the EU organic logo. Skal Biocontrole also lists the control body’s code and a statement showing where the agricultural ingredients come from as label information for pre-packed organic products.
No. Albert Heijn lists its organic plain variety as unsliced. If you want pre-sliced portions, look for an explicit ‘sliced’ statement on the product you’re planning to buy.
No, organic certification and sugar content describe different qualities. Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion; for example, PLUS lists 40.1 g of sugars per 100 g for GIJS Ontbijtkoek naturel bio.
No, that doesn’t follow from the product category. According to Voedingscentrum, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt; check the ingredients for a specific breakfast cake or ask the manufacturer for information.
