Who is this choice relevant to?

Coffee drinkers keeping an eye on sugars

You’re looking for something crunchy to enjoy with your coffee and want to distinguish the sugar content of plain rice cakes from that of coated varieties.

Snackers comparing crunch and fibre

You’re considering a thick multigrain rice cake, but want to weigh up sugars, salt and ingredients as well as fibre.

Shoppers checking ingredients or allergens

You look for labels such as gluten-free or vegan, or check allergen warnings. Always check this information for the exact variety you’re buying.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start with why you’re buying rice cakes to enjoy with your coffee: to keep sugars as low as possible, enjoy a sweet flavour, get more crunch or find specific ingredients. Then compare the nutritional information per 100 g and, for the amount you’ll eat, per serving.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Keeping sugars as low as possible Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and check the serving size. See separately whether added sugars are listed. If I mainly want to keep an eye on sugars when having coffee, I choose based on the nutrition table rather than the product name. This is the top priority for around 38% of consumers.
Sweet flavour For a coated variety, check sugars per 100 g and per piece, as well as the ingredients and allergens. A sweet rice cake suits my coffee break better, even if the lowest sugar figure isn’t my first priority. This is the main reason for choosing one for around 23% of consumers.
Crunch and nutritional values Compare fibre, sugars and salt per 100 g when considering a thick multigrain variety. I want a crunchier rice cake and weigh the fibre content against sugars and salt. This trade-off takes priority for around 23% of consumers.
Ingredients and labels Read the ingredients list, allergen statement and any labels such as gluten-free on the exact pack. Before buying, I need to be able to check whether this particular variety meets my ingredient or allergen requirements. This is the top priority for around 16% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘plain’ means less sugar

    ‘Plain’ describes a variety; it doesn’t automatically mean it has less sugar than another product. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, a nutrition claim must be accurate.

    Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g, the serving size and the ingredients of the products you’re actually comparing. Assess any claim separately.

  • Comparing a coated rice cake with a plain one

    Lidl and ALDI list varieties with yoghurt or chocolate. Treat these as separate products: the name doesn’t tell you how much sugar the variety contains.

    Before choosing, compare the latest nutritional information and ingredients for the coated variety with those for an uncoated rice cake.

  • Looking only at fibre in multigrain varieties

    The Albert Heijn and Jumbo multigrain rice cakes in this comparison list fibre, but they also contain more sugars and salt than the plain products from those shops mentioned here. The Albert Heijn variety also contains oats and rye.

    Compare fibre, sugars, salt and ingredients for the exact varieties. If you need to buy gluten-free, check the product’s label and allergen information.

  • Using allergen information from a different variety

    Jumbo states that its plain rice cakes may contain sesame and soya. Albert Heijn labels its organic plain rice cakes as gluten-free, while its thick multigrain variety contains oats and rye.

    Always check the ingredients and allergen statement on the pack of the variety you’re buying.

Brands compared

Albert Heijn

The organic plain rice cake and thick multigrain rice cake show why it’s worth comparing varieties within the same range.

  • Albert Heijn lists 0.9 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Biologisch Rijstwafels naturel, with organic, vegan and gluten-free labels.
  • AH Dikke rijstwafels meergranen lists 6 g of fibre, 1.5 g of sugars and 0.78 g of salt per 100 g, and contains oats and rye.

Jumbo

In this comparison, Jumbo has a plain variety and a thick multigrain variety, with different ingredients and nutritional values.

  • According to Jumbo, Jumbo Rijstwafels Naturel contains brown rice as an ingredient and 0.6 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • Jumbo Dikke Rijstwafels Meergranen lists 4.9 g of fibre, 2.6 g of sugars and 0.65 g of salt per 100 g. Jumbo Rijstwafels Naturel may contain sesame and soya.

PLUS

PLUS Rijstwafels Naturel is an uncoated variety whose ingredients and nutritional values can be compared per 100 g.

  • PLUS lists rice, water and 0.3% sea salt as ingredients, with 0.4 g of sugars and 0.28 g of salt per 100 g.
  • The product information also lists 0 g of added sugars per 100 g. Check the current packaging if this particular detail affects your choice.

Goud Gebakken (ALDI)

ALDI’s Goud Gebakken range includes rice cakes with sea salt, as well as varieties coated in yoghurt or chocolate.

  • ALDI labels the sea-salt variety gluten-free and vegan, and lists 17 pieces per pack.
  • If you’re choosing based on sugars, check the nutritional information for the specific coated variety; the sea-salt variety doesn’t tell you about its sugar content.

Lidl

Lidl lists rice cakes in milk chocolate, dark chocolate, yoghurt and sea-salt varieties.

  • These varieties offer different choices of flavour and coating.
  • If you’re choosing based on sugars, compare the nutritional information for the exact variety in store with that for a plain rice cake.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘plain’ mean a rice cake contains less sugar?

No. ‘Plain’ on its own isn’t a substantiated claim that a product contains less sugar. Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure for the exact rice cakes per 100 g. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, a nutrition claim must be accurate.

Which of the plain rice cakes listed has the lowest sugar content?

Of these three plain products, PLUS Rijstwafels Naturel has the lowest figure, at 0.4 g of sugars per 100 g. Jumbo lists 0.6 g, while Albert Heijn lists 0.9 g for AH Biologisch Rijstwafels naturel. This comparison covers only these varieties, not every rice cake in the shop. Check the current packaging when you buy.

Is multigrain a sensible choice if I’m mainly watching my sugar intake?

Not if you’re looking for the lowest sugar figure without comparing further: the Albert Heijn and Jumbo multigrain varieties listed contain 1.5 g and 2.6 g of sugars per 100 g respectively, compared with 0.9 g and 0.6 g for their plain varieties mentioned here. Take the listed fibre into account if that and the crunch matter to you, and check the salt and ingredients too.

How should I store rice cakes after opening?

Follow the storage instructions and use-by date on your rice cake packaging. For the products mentioned here, Albert Heijn recommends storing them in a sealed container after opening; Jumbo advises keeping them in a cool, dry place.