Who might find this choice useful?

Coffee drinkers looking to cut down on sugar

You’re looking for something crunchy to enjoy with your coffee, without a sweet coating, and mainly compare rice cakes by their ‘of which sugars’ value.

Fans of a sweet treat

You’d rather choose a coated rice cake than a plain one, but want to know how much sugar a portion contains and which allergens it includes.

Comparing supermarket varieties

You compare own-brand products and flavours using the latest nutritional information, rather than relying only on wording on the front of the pack.

What should you look for when choosing?

First compare total sugars per 100 g, then consider your usual portion size and the ingredients in the flavour you choose.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Total sugars Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g on the same basis. PLUS lists 0.4 g for Plain and Jumbo lists 0.6 g per 100 g for Plain. If I mainly want less sugar with my coffee, I choose based on the sugar content of the rice cake itself; for around 50% of consumers, the lowest possible sugar value matters most.
Sweet flavour and portion size Check the sugars per portion and how many rice cakes you plan to eat. Jumbo lists 5.8 g per portion for its yoghurt-flavour coating and 5.3 g for its milk chocolate coating. If you want a sweet rice cake with your coffee but plan to stick to a set portion, around 30% of consumers prioritise this combination.
Ingredients and allergens Read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you choose; the Jumbo coated varieties mentioned contain milk. Consider added sugars separately from total sugars. If I need to avoid milk or want to know what has been added to a particular flavour, the ingredients are the deciding factor; around 20% of consumers prioritise this check.

Common mistakes

  • Overlooking a coating when comparing sugar

    Jumbo lists 0.6 g of sugars per 100 g for Plain, compared with 34.7 g for the yoghurt-flavour coating and 31.7 g for the milk chocolate coating. These figures apply to these specific varieties, not to all rice cakes.

    First compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g, then use the portion value to assess how it fits into your coffee break.

  • Confusing total sugars with added sugars

    The amount of added sugars is different from the total amount of ‘of which sugars’. PLUS lists 0 g of added sugars and 0.4 g of total sugars per 100 g for its Plain rice cakes.

    Check both figures where available, and if there’s a comparative claim, check what the product is being compared with. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority points out that nutrition claims are subject to rules.

  • Missing allergen information on a sweet variety

    The Jumbo rice cakes with yoghurt and milk chocolate coatings mentioned contain milk. Their ingredients therefore differ from those of a plain variety.

    Read the allergen information for the exact flavour you’re buying, especially if you need to avoid milk.

  • Relying only on a product page you viewed earlier

    Ingredients and nutritional values can change, which is why Albert Heijn and PLUS advise shoppers to check the information on the packaging.

    Check the pack of the rice cakes you’ve bought before relying on a sugar value or allergen statement.

Brands to consider

Jumbo

Jumbo offers plain rice cakes and varieties with sweet coatings, so you can compare flavours and nutritional values across this product range.

  • Jumbo lists 0.6 g of sugars per 100 g for Plain, and 34.7 g and 31.7 g per 100 g respectively for the yoghurt and milk chocolate coatings mentioned.
  • These values apply to the products mentioned, not to all Jumbo rice cakes.

PLUS

The PLUS Plain Rice Cakes included in this comparison are a lightly salted option for anyone who wants to compare nutritional information by product.

  • PLUS lists rice, water and 0.3% sea salt as ingredients, with 0.4 g of sugars and 0 g of added sugars per 100 g.
  • Check the packaging when you buy, as product information can change.

ALDI / Goud Gebakken

ALDI lists Goud Gebakken rice cakes with sea salt, as well as varieties with yoghurt or chocolate coatings.

  • The sea salt variety is listed in a 130 g pack; the coated varieties offer a different flavour option.
  • If you’re choosing based on sugar content, read the nutritional information for the specific variety you buy.

Lidl

Lidl lists rice cakes in paprika and cheese flavours for anyone considering a savoury option.

  • The product listed comes in a 145 g pack.
  • Before choosing this variety to help you cut down on sugar, compare the sugar content and ingredients on the pack for the flavour you’ve chosen.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn has a rice cake range featuring own-brand and branded varieties to explore individually.

  • You can check the nutritional information for plain and flavoured varieties separately.
  • Albert Heijn advises shoppers to read the packaging, as ingredients and nutritional values may change.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘less sugar’ mean that a rice cake is sugar-free?

No. ‘Less sugar’ doesn’t automatically mean that a product contains no sugars. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that nutrition claims must meet certain rules. If there’s a comparative claim, check what the product is being compared with, and also read the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g on the packaging.

Which plain rice cakes can I compare by sugar content?

PLUS Plain Rice Cakes list 0.4 g of sugars per 100 g, while Jumbo Plain Rice Cakes list 0.6 g per 100 g. These figures apply to these two products; check the latest packaging for the variety you buy.

How do coated rice cakes compare with plain ones for enjoying with coffee?

The Jumbo coated varieties mentioned contain more sugars per 100 g than the plain varieties mentioned: 34.7 g for the yoghurt-flavour coating and 31.7 g for the milk chocolate coating. Both coated varieties contain milk. Also check the portion value if you plan to have one rice cake with your coffee.

How can I keep an opened pack of rice cakes crunchy?

Store rice cakes in a cool, dry place, following the instructions on the packaging. PLUS recommends keeping an opened pack of its Plain rice cakes in an airtight container.