Start with the allergens you need to avoid, not whether the cake is sliced or labelled ‘zero’. Check the ingredients, allergen information and any warnings about possible cross-contamination on the current packaging. The sliced rye varieties we looked at aren’t suitable for anyone who needs to avoid rye or gluten. The gluten-free variety we looked at contains milk and lupin, and it isn’t sliced.
Rye is listed in the product information for the standard sliced spiced breakfast cakes we looked at. For the gluten-free Peijnenburg variety we checked, Albert Heijn lists milk and lupin as allergens. So make sure you check the allergen information for the exact variety you’re considering.
A gluten-free label doesn’t tell you whether a spiced breakfast cake is also free from other allergens you need to avoid. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre emphasises the importance of checking the label if you have a food allergy. Compare the full information with your list of allergens to avoid.
The supermarket ranges we looked at include sliced plain, wholemeal and zero varieties. First check whether the allergen information is suitable for you; only then compare the slicing and nutritional information.
If you have a food allergy, checking the exact packaging comes before choosing pre-sliced pieces or looking at a nutritional claim. If you’re after a particular slice thickness, don’t treat the ‘medium sliced’ label as allergen information. Check the slicing and product details on the individual pack.
| What to check | Check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens to avoid | Compare your list of allergens to avoid with the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack. Look out for rye, milk and lupin, among others. | If I need to avoid rye, I look for a variety whose full allergen information matches my list of allergens to avoid. For around 50% of consumers, avoiding a specific allergen comes first. |
| Current warnings | Check the packaging even when buying the product again, and consider whether any warning about possible cross-contamination is relevant. | With a product I know, I want to check whether the information has changed and whether a warning is relevant to my situation. Around 30% of consumers give this up-to-date check top priority. |
| Slicing and nutritional information | Once you’ve checked the allergens, see whether the cake is pre-sliced and read the nutritional information for the variety you’ve chosen. | For everyday use, I want pieces I can grab straight away, while still being able to check the variety I’ve chosen. For around 20% of consumers, this practical choice comes first. |
For the gluten-free Peijnenburg spiced breakfast cake we looked at, Albert Heijn lists milk and lupin. So a gluten-free label doesn’t answer every question about allergens.
Even with a gluten-free variety, read the full ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging.
According to Albert Heijn’s product information, sliced AH Ontbijtkoek zero contains rye and cereals containing gluten. It may also contain barley, oats and wheat.
Check the allergen information first, then use the nutritional information to choose between varieties that are suitable for you.
Albert Heijn warns that product information can change. That means packaging from a previous purchase doesn’t tell you enough about the cake you’re buying now.
Check the current packaging again, even if the product name looks familiar.
According to Albert Heijn, the AH Zero Gesneden we looked at contains xylitol and carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
As well as checking the allergens, read the usage warning for the exact variety.
Offers, among other products, sliced plain spiced breakfast cake and a separate unsliced gluten-free variety.
Stocks both its own-brand spiced breakfast cake and sliced Peijnenburg varieties.
Stocks sliced spiced breakfast cake under its own brand and from Peijnenburg, as well as a separate unsliced gluten-free option.
Stocks its own-brand sliced plain, wholemeal and zero spiced breakfast cakes.
Stocks a 485 g sliced wholemeal spiced breakfast cake.
Stocks sliced zero and wholemeal spiced breakfast cakes from Koek & Bakker.
Yes. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information must be provided on the label of prepacked products. Read the information for the exact spiced breakfast cake you’re buying.
The fact that it’s sliced doesn’t tell you. According to Jumbo and Albert Heijn, the Peijnenburg Naturel Gesneden and sliced AH Ontbijtkoek zero we looked at list rye or cereals containing gluten. So always compare the current packaging with the ingredients you need to avoid.
No. According to Albert Heijn, the gluten-free Peijnenburg spiced breakfast cake we looked at lists milk and lupin, and it isn’t sliced. For every gluten-free variety, check the other allergens as well as whether it’s sliced.
Yes. Albert Heijn warns that ingredients and allergen information can change. So check the packaging you’re buying now, even if you’ve bought the product before.
