Families serving snack slices at home
If you have several snack times during the autumn half-term, a pre-sliced pack makes serving easier. Check how many slices it contains and whether the pack size is right for how much you expect to use.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Shoppers comparing nutritional information
If sugars, fibre or the grain ingredients matter to you, compare the specific varieties on the label. The front of the pack doesn’t show all the nutritional values.
Parents and carers taking snacks out
For a day out, individually wrapped portions may be easier to hand out than slices from a large pack. Also check the portion size and allergens for the exact variety.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want slices for home or portions to take with you. Then compare the nutritional information and ingredients of the varieties that suit that purpose.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars and fibre | Compare both values per 100 g and per slice; check the ingredients list too. | If sugars and fibre are the deciding factors, I want to know what’s in my usual slice. Around 33% of consumers prioritise these nutritional values. |
| Ready to serve or take with you | Check whether the cake is pre-sliced or comes in individually wrapped portions. | For a day out, I want a portion I can take without having to cut it there. Around 27% of consumers prioritise this convenience. |
| Pack size that suits you | Check the net weight and, where stated, the number of slices or bars. | For snack times at home, I’m looking for a pack we’re likely to finish during the holiday. Around 27% of consumers prioritise a suitable quantity. |
| Allergens and ingredients | Check the current packaging for allergens present and warnings about possible traces. | If someone needs to avoid an ingredient, I need to be able to check whether the chosen variety is suitable first. This is the main consideration for around 13% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Going by ‘wholemeal’ alone
Peijnenburg’s Volkoren gesneden contains 39 g of sugars and 5.1 g of fibre per 100 g; its Volkoren zonder toegevoegde suikers contains 4.9 g of sugars and 17 g of fibre per 100 g. So, despite both being labelled wholemeal, the varieties have different nutritional values.
Compare the nutrition table and ingredients list on the specific packs, both per 100 g and per slice.
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Assuming breakfast cake is automatically allergen-free
Ingredients and warnings vary by variety. PLUS Naturel gesneden contains rye and may contain wheat, barley and oats; some Peijnenburg varieties may also contain milk or nuts.
Check the allergen information for the exact variety you want to serve every time you buy it.
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Trusting an online description over the packaging
Ingredients and nutritional values can change. PLUS notes this in its product information; Lidl directs shoppers to the packaging for ingredients, allergens and nutritional values of food products.
Use a product page to compare varieties, then check the label on the pack you’ve bought before serving it.
Brands to consider
Peijnenburg
Peijnenburg offers sliced wholemeal breakfast cake in several varieties, as well as individually wrapped breakfast cake bars.
- According to Peijnenburg’s product information, Volkoren zonder toegevoegde suikers contains 17 g of fibre and 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g.
- The standard Volkoren gesneden variety lists different values, so check the exact variety and the allergens on the pack.
AH
Albert Heijn lists sliced own-brand breakfast cake, including plain, wholemeal and zero varieties.
- You can compare pack sizes and product types across these varieties.
- Check the nutritional information for your chosen variety to assess sugars, fibre and allergens.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists sliced own-brand breakfast cake and Peijnenburg varieties in its breakfast cake range.
- The product listings let you distinguish between sliced varieties and pack weights.
- An own-brand product and a branded product don’t automatically have the same ingredients or nutritional values.
PLUS
PLUS offers sliced own-brand breakfast cake and Peijnenburg varieties.
- PLUS lists its Naturel gesneden variety as containing 36 g of sugars and 3.3 g of fibre per 100 g.
- This variety contains rye and may contain wheat, barley and oats; PLUS says that product information may change.
Koek & Bakker
ALDI lists pre-sliced wholemeal breakfast cake under the Koek & Bakker name, in a 485 g pack.
- The pre-sliced format is handy for snack slices you want to serve straight away at home.
- Check the packaging if nutritional values or allergens will influence your choice.
Tastino
Lidl sells breakfast cake under the Tastino name and also lists a 485 g sliced wholemeal breakfast cake.
- The listed wholemeal variety is sliced and sold as a grocery product.
- Lidl directs shoppers to the packaging for ingredients, allergens and nutritional values of food products.
Breakfast cake at Joybuy
These products include two sliced breakfast cakes for snack times at home and breakfast cake bars as an option to take with you. A bar is a different type of product from a sliced portion.
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Peijnenburg wholemeal sliced breakfast cake, 345 g
A pre-sliced option for portions you want to serve straight away at home. Check the current ingredients and nutritional values on the pack; don’t rely solely on a claim about added sugars. If you have allergies, check for rye and gluten-containing cereals.
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g'woon wholemeal sliced breakfast cake, 485 g
A 485 g pre-sliced pack for several snack times at home. Check the nutritional values per 100 g on the pack before comparing varieties. If you have allergies, pay particular attention to the ingredients and allergen information: the product information mentions rye, while the allergen information appears to contradict this.
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Snelle Jelle breakfast cake bars, 250 g
Individually wrapped bars are an option to take on a day out, but they aren’t sliced breakfast cake. Check any claims about sugars against the current nutrition table and ingredients list. If you have allergies, also check the information about gluten-containing cereals, milk and nuts.
Frequently asked questions
Is breakfast cake with no added sugars sugar-free?
No. Peijnenburg lists 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g and 1.4 g per 28 g slice for its Volkoren zonder toegevoegde suikers. If the amount of sugars matters to your choice, check the nutrition table for the specific variety.
Does wholemeal breakfast cake always contain the same amount of fibre?
No. According to Peijnenburg, Volkoren zonder toegevoegde suikers contains 17 g of fibre per 100 g, compared with 5.1 g per 100 g for Volkoren gesneden. So compare the fibre content of the varieties you’re considering.
What’s easier to take on a day out: slices or bars?
Individually wrapped breakfast cake bars may be more convenient if you want to hand out portions without taking an opened pack of slices with you. For example, Peijnenburg describes a pack containing five individually wrapped 27 g bars; check the portion size and allergens for the variety you choose.
Can I choose breakfast cake without checking the allergens?
Not if someone needs to avoid a relevant ingredient. PLUS Naturel gesneden contains rye and may contain wheat, barley and oats; some Peijnenburg varieties may contain milk or nuts. So check the current information on the packaging for the exact variety.
Does all breakfast cake contain iodised baker’s salt?
You can’t tell from the product name. If the type of salt used matters to your choice, check the ingredients for the specific breakfast cake or ask the manufacturer.