Student looking for strictly sugar-free options
For you, the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g is what matters most. The words ‘zero’ and ‘no added sugars’ don’t, by themselves, tell you whether a breakfast cake meets the sugar-free limit.
Who is this distinction important for?
Student who wants to avoid added sugars
You’re happy to have naturally occurring sugars, but want to know what else is in your breakfast cake. Check the sweeteners, fibre, salt and allergens in the variety you choose too.
Student stocking up for their room
You’re weighing up a sliced pack for several occasions against individual portions to take with you. Remember to check how to store the breakfast cake after opening.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, check what the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g means for your needs. Then look at the pack format and the ingredients in the exact variety you plan to take with you or store.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar-free or no added sugars | Read the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre sets the sugar-free limit at no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. | If I’m looking for strictly sugar-free options, I don’t want to rely on the word ‘zero’ when the nutritional information says otherwise. This is the top priority for an estimated 50% of consumers. |
| Stocking up and portion sizes | Compare a sliced pack with individual portions, and read the storage instructions for an opened pack. | In my student room, I want breakfast cake to keep for several occasions without losing the convenience of a portion to take to lectures. This is the most important consideration for an estimated 30% of consumers. |
| Sweeteners and allergens | Check the ingredients, allergens and any warning about excessive consumption on the pack you choose. | If I have a slice regularly, I want to know which sweeteners and allergens are in that particular variety. An estimated 20% of consumers give this check top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘zero’ means ‘sugar-free’
Albert Heijn lists 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g for both AH Ontbijtkoek zero gesneden and Peijnenburg Ontbijtkoek zero gesneden. That’s above the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s sugar-free limit of 0.5 g per 100 g.
Use the nutrition table to check total sugars, and treat ‘no added sugars’ as a separate claim.
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Choosing a large pack without thinking about storage
A sliced pack can be handy for several mornings, but it needs to be kept tightly sealed once opened. Peijnenburg recommends storing its breakfast cake in a cool, dry, dark place.
Read the storage instructions on the pack and choose a size that suits how you use the portions.
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Overlooking sweeteners and allergens
Breakfast cake with no added sugars may contain xylitol. The varieties mentioned carry a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect; ingredients and allergens vary by product.
Before stocking up, read the ingredients list, allergen information and warnings for the exact variety you’re buying.
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Assuming all breakfast cake contains iodine
Bakers’ salt contains iodine, but the Netherlands Nutrition Centre says bakers aren’t required to use it. So you can’t assume a product contains iodine just because it’s in this category.
If you want to know what salt is used in a particular breakfast cake, check the ingredients or ask the manufacturer.
Brands to compare
Peijnenburg
Peijnenburg offers breakfast cake varieties with no added sugars, including plain and wholemeal options.
- Peijnenburg describes its wholemeal variety as 100% wholemeal and with no added sugars.
- Jumbo lists 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g for the sliced plain variety. So, for this variety, ‘no added sugars’ doesn’t mean sugar-free.
Albert Heijn
The own-label range includes a sliced breakfast cake called AH Ontbijtkoek zero.
- Albert Heijn lists 0 g of added sugars per 100 g for this variety.
- The same product information lists 4.9 g of total sugars per 100 g and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Jumbo
Jumbo’s breakfast cake range includes an own-label ‘Minder Suiker’ variety and Peijnenburg varieties with no added sugars.
- The different claims make it worth comparing the varieties individually.
- ‘Minder Suiker’ doesn’t tell you how many total sugars per 100 g are in the own-label variety. Check the nutrition information on the pack you choose.
Breakfast cake on Joybuy
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Is breakfast cake labelled ‘zero’ sugar-free?
No, not necessarily. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, sugar-free means no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. Albert Heijn lists 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g for both AH Ontbijtkoek zero gesneden and Peijnenburg Ontbijtkoek zero gesneden.
Why does breakfast cake with no added sugars still contain sugars?
‘No added sugars’ doesn’t rule out naturally occurring sugars. For example, Jumbo lists 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g for Peijnenburg naturel zonder toegevoegde suikers. So if the total amount of sugars matters to you, check the nutrition information.
What should I look out for if breakfast cake contains xylitol?
Read the ingredients and the warning on the pack of the variety you choose. The breakfast cakes with xylitol mentioned here carry a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
How should I store an opened pack of breakfast cake in my room?
The manufacturer recommends storing Peijnenburg breakfast cake in a cool, dry, dark place and keeping it tightly sealed to help it stay soft. For other products, check the specific storage instructions and best-before date on the pack.
Does breakfast cake always contain iodine because of bakers’ salt?
No, you can’t assume that for every breakfast cake. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that bakers’ salt contains iodine, but bakers aren’t required to use it. For a specific product, check the ingredients or ask the manufacturer.