Coffee drinkers looking to cut down on sugar
You want something dry to enjoy with your coffee and need to tell plain rice cakes apart from options with a sweet coating. Compare the sugar values for the exact product you’re considering.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Hotel guests without a fridge or toppings
You want to eat the rice cakes straight away and keep the rest of an opened pack dry.
Guests with an allergy or dietary restriction
Check the ingredients and allergen information for the option you’ve chosen. Warnings can vary between products, including between plain and coated rice cakes.
What should you look for when choosing?
First compare the sugar values for the exact rice cake; then check whether the pack suits your stay and look for any allergens before eating.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Total and added sugars | Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and, where listed, ‘added sugars’. Also check the ingredients for the exact option. | If you want less sugar with your coffee, you’ll want to distinguish a sweet coating from a plain rice cake. Cutting down on sugar would be the top consideration for around 50% of consumers. |
| Packaging and storage | Check the pack size and storage instructions, especially if you won’t eat the whole pack at once. | For a short hotel stay, you’ll want a snack you can eat straight away and reseal the rest of the pack securely. Convenience would come first for around 30% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the up-to-date label for the option you’ve chosen, including warnings about the possible presence of allergens. | If you have an allergy or dietary restriction, you’ll need to know whether this particular option is suitable before eating it. Checking this would be the main concern for around 20% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a chocolate coating means it’s a low-sugar option
Albert Heijn lists 27 g of sugars and 24 g of added sugars per 100 g for its dark chocolate rice cake. Its plain option lists 1.4 g of sugars and 0 g of added sugars per 100 g.
If cutting down on sugar is your main priority, compare plain options first, using the same per-100 g basis. Choose a coated option only if you specifically want the flavour.
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Assuming all rice cakes contain the same allergens
Jumbo warns that its plain rice cakes may contain sesame and soya. Albert Heijn’s multigrain option contains rye and oats, among other ingredients.
Check the ingredients and warnings on the pack of the exact option you’re choosing. If rice cakes are offered unpackaged, ask for allergen information before taking one.
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Relying on an online product description as a permanent label
Albert Heijn and PLUS state that product information and recipes can change. This means a sugar value or ingredients list you checked earlier may differ from the information on the pack in front of you.
Use the current packaging for your final comparison, even if you’ve already looked at the product online.
Brands compared
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn offers plain, thick and coated rice cakes. Compare the nutritional information for each option rather than choosing based on the brand name alone.
- Albert Heijn’s plain rice cakes list 1.4 g of sugars and 0 g of added sugars per 100 g; its thick option with no added salt lists 1.2 g and 0 g per 100 g.
- Albert Heijn’s dark chocolate option lists 27 g of sugars and 24 g of added sugars per 100 g. The brand recommends checking the current packaging, as product information can change.
Jumbo
Jumbo sells both plain and coated rice cakes; the nutritional information for one option won’t necessarily apply to another.
- Jumbo Plain Rice Cakes are made from brown rice and list 0.6 g of sugars per 100 g.
- This plain option carries a warning that it may contain sesame and soya. Check the packaging if you have an allergy.
PLUS
PLUS lists ingredients and nutritional values for its plain rice cakes, which you can compare with other plain options.
- PLUS Plain Rice Cakes contain rice, water and 0.3% sea salt, and list 0.4 g of sugars and 0 g of added sugars per 100 g.
- PLUS states that ingredients and nutritional values can change, so check the label on the pack too.
ALDI / Goud Gebakken
ALDI offers Goud Gebakken sea salt rice cakes as a packaged, uncoated snack.
- ALDI lists a pack size of 130 g and 17 rice cakes, and describes this product as gluten-free and vegan.
- If you’re choosing this option to manage your sugar intake, compare the sugar value and ingredients on the label first.
A related snack at Joybuy
If you’re also considering rice crackers with your hotel-room coffee, this is a different type of snack from a rice cake. Check the current label before comparing it with plain rice cakes.
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Wo Long Rice Crackers Sichuan Peppercorn Flavour 228 g
A rice cracker for anyone considering a savoury snack with their coffee; this is not a rice cake. To compare sugar values, check the nutritional information per 100 g on the current pack, and if you have an allergy, read the ingredients and warnings.
Frequently asked questions
Does ‘no added sugars’ also mean the product is low in sugars?
No, these are different values. Albert Heijn and PLUS both list 0 g of added sugars per 100 g for their plain rice cakes, but their total sugars are 1.4 g and 0.4 g per 100 g respectively. So compare both lines on the packaging.
Are dark chocolate rice cakes a good choice if I want less sugar?
Not if you’re choosing them for the lower sugar values found in plain rice cakes. Albert Heijn lists 27 g of sugars per 100 g for its dark chocolate option, compared with 1.4 g per 100 g for its plain option. Compare other brands and options separately.
How should I store an opened pack of rice cakes in my hotel room?
Store rice cakes according to the instructions on the packaging and seal an opened pack securely. PLUS recommends keeping its plain rice cakes in an airtight container after opening; Albert Heijn advises storing its plain option in a closed tin.
Where can I find allergen information if a hotel offers unpackaged rice cakes?
Ask for allergen information about the product before eating it. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, this information must be available before purchase for unpackaged food. Don’t rely on the ingredients for a different type of rice cake.