Who is this relevant to?

If you want to replace a sweet snack with something to have with your coffee

A plain rice cake can make a crisp base. Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure on the label of the specific variety, rather than judging by the look of the packaging.

If you’re watching your salt intake too

A savoury flavour doesn’t necessarily mean the product is low in salt. Check the sugars and salt per 100 g before choosing between plain and salted varieties.

If you’re putting coffee on for several guests

Ingredients and allergens can vary between varieties. For example, Jumbo Naturel may contain sesame and soya, while a seasoned rice cake may contain milk. Check the current packaging and store opened rice cakes in a dry, airtight container.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, compare total sugars per 100 g. Then consider salt, allergens and practical packaging when choosing a plain or flavoured variety.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Total sugars Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g; check added sugars separately. I’m looking for something crisp to have with my coffee and mainly want to know how much sugar the rice cake itself contains. Around 50% of consumers prioritise total sugars when making this choice.
Salt and allergens Compare salt per 100 g and read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack. If I’m putting out a savoury variety for guests, I want to know what it contains besides rice. Salt and ingredients matter most to around 30% of consumers.
Packaging and storage Check the pack size and storage instructions for opened packaging. When I’m having coffee with several guests, I want to put out enough rice cakes without the rest going soft. Packaging and storage are the deciding factors for around 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘no added sugars’ means ‘the lowest in sugars’

    Albert Heijn lists 0 g of added sugars for its thick rice cakes with no added salt, but 1.2 g of total sugars per 100 g. PLUS Naturel also lists 0 g of added sugars, as well as 0.4 g of total sugars per 100 g.

    To compare products, use the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g and check added sugars separately.

  • Overlooking salt in a savoury variety

    PLUS Thick Rice Cakes with Sea Salt list 0.75 g of salt per 100 g. The flavoured variety Snack a Jacks Sour Cream & Chive lists 1.1 g of salt per 100 g.

    Compare salt on the same basis as sugars, then decide whether the savoury flavour matters more for your coffee break.

  • Assuming a plain rice cake won’t have an allergen warning

    According to the product information, Jumbo Naturel may contain sesame and soya. Snack a Jacks Sour Cream & Chive contains milk and may contain wheat, rye and oats.

    If you’re catering for guests with an allergy or intolerance, check both the ingredients list and the ‘may contain’ information on the packaging.

Brands to consider

PLUS

PLUS offers plain rice cakes and a thick variety with sea salt. Which one suits you depends in part on how much you want to consider salt alongside sugars.

  • PLUS Plain Rice Cakes list 0.4 g of sugars, 0 g of added sugars and 0.28 g of salt per 100 g.
  • The thick variety with sea salt lists 0.6 g of sugars and 0.75 g of salt per 100 g, so the same brand name doesn’t mean the nutritional values are the same.

Jumbo

Jumbo Plain Rice Cakes are an option if you’re looking for a neutral-tasting rice cake to have with your coffee.

  • Jumbo lists brown rice as an ingredient, with 0.6 g of sugars and less than 0.01 g of salt per 100 g.
  • The product information states that these rice cakes may contain sesame and soya.

Albert Heijn

AH Thick Rice Cakes with No Added Salt are worth considering if you’re also watching your added salt intake.

  • The product information lists 0 g of added salt and 0 g of added sugars per 100 g.
  • The same variety lists 1.2 g of total sugars and 0.03 g of salt per 100 g. ‘No added’ doesn’t describe the total amount.

ALDI / Goud Gebakken

Goud Gebakken offers rice cakes with sea salt if you’re looking for a savoury variety.

  • ALDI lists 17 cakes per pack.
  • If you’re choosing based on sugars and salt, compare the nutritional information on the specific pack.

Lidl

Lidl explains that Nutri-Score can help you compare products within the same category.

  • Alongside the nutrition table, Nutri-Score can help you compare products within the category.
  • Don’t choose a rice cake based on the score alone: for this decision, check the sugars and salt values too.

Bolletje

Bolletje features products including crackers and rusks. These are different product categories from rice cakes.

  • Check the product type when choosing something crisp to have with your coffee.
  • Don’t use the nutritional information for a cracker or rusk as a guide to the values for a rice cake.

Rice cakes on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘no added sugars’ mean a rice cake contains the least sugar?

No. Albert Heijn lists 0 g of added sugars and 1.2 g of total sugars per 100 g for its thick rice cakes with no added salt; PLUS Naturel lists 0 g of added sugars and 0.4 g of total sugars per 100 g. To answer that question, compare the ‘of which sugars’ figures on the same basis.

How should I store opened rice cakes?

Store them in a cool, dry place. PLUS recommends keeping an opened pack of its plain rice cakes in an airtight container; always follow the instructions on the pack you buy too.

Is Nutri-Score enough to compare the sugar content of rice cakes?

No. Lidl describes Nutri-Score as a tool for comparing products within a category. You’ll still need the nutrition table to find out how much sugar a specific rice cake contains.

Is a rice cake that’s low in sugars automatically ‘reduced sugar’?

No. A sugar value per 100 g on its own doesn’t show a reduction compared with a similar product. Don’t judge a comparative claim like this based only on the sugar figure on one pack.