If you need a strictly sugar-free snack for the autumn half-term, only choose an egg cake if the nutrition information lists no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. Under EU Regulation 1924/2006, that is the threshold for the ‘sugar-free’ claim. If you’re willing to look beyond egg cakes, you could also consider biscuits with no added sugars, but don’t confuse that claim with sugar-free.
If ‘sugar-free’ is a must, check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g on the packaging. Under EU Regulation 1924/2006, the threshold for this claim is no more than 0.5 g per 100 g; ‘no added sugars’ means something different.
If the egg-cake shape and number of cakes matter more than a sugar-free requirement, compare the portions, ingredients and allergens of the product you want to buy. Don’t rely on words such as ‘light’ to judge the sugar content.
A gluten-free option still needs to be checked separately for its sugar content. Albert Heijn lists 33 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Glutenvrij Eierkoeken; also check the allergen information on the current packaging.
First decide whether your snack really needs to be sugar-free, or whether you mainly want to avoid added sugars. If you’re set on egg cakes, compare the exact product’s portion size, ingredients and allergens.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Truly sugar-free | Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g; under EU Regulation 1924/2006, the ‘sugar-free’ claim requires no more than 0.5 g per 100 g. | If sugar-free is a must for me, a biscuit with more sugars is out, even if its name suggests otherwise. Around 50% of consumers put this requirement first. |
| No added sugars | Check both the claim and the total amount of sugars per 100 g; also look at the ingredients of the biscuit you choose. | I can choose a different type of biscuit if I mainly want to avoid added sugars, but I still want to see the total sugars. This is the first consideration for around 30% of consumers. |
| Egg cakes for on the go | Compare the number of cakes, portion size and allergens listed on the packaging of the exact product. | For a day out, I want to be able to share the egg cakes and know exactly which product I’m taking; a sugar-free claim isn’t my priority. This practical choice matters most to around 20% of consumers. |
A biscuit with no added sugars can still contain sugars. Under EU Regulation 1924/2006, the ‘sugar-free’ claim requires a maximum of 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g.
Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g before deciding whether the biscuit meets your requirements.
A different type of grain or a gluten-free recipe doesn’t automatically determine the sugar content. Albert Heijn lists 33 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Glutenvrij Eierkoeken.
Check the dietary claim and the amount of sugars separately on the packaging of the product you’re buying.
If you have a strict sugar-free requirement or a relevant allergy, the information on the egg cake you’re actually going to eat is what matters.
Check the nutrition information and ingredients on the current packaging before eating.
Bolletje describes its Brosse Eierkoek as having a sugar coating. For the version with a milk coating, Jumbo lists 42 g of sugars per 100 g.
Check the nutrition information for the exact product, not just the brand name or standard version.
Albert Heijn’s online range includes standard, mini, wholemeal, spelt and gluten-free egg cakes.
Bolletje offers Brosse Eierkoeken, a variety with a different texture from a standard egg cake.
Verkade describes San Francisco Zero as a biscuit with no added sugars. It isn’t an egg cake.
Jumbo’s online range includes standard and wholemeal egg cakes.
ALDI offers free-range egg cakes from HEERLIJCK BANKET in a pack of 12.
Under EU Regulation 1924/2006, a product can use the ‘sugar-free’ claim if it contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. So when checking a biscuit, look at the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g in the nutrition information, not just the name on the front of the pack.
No, they’re different claims. Verkade describes San Francisco Zero as a biscuit with no added sugars, but that wording doesn’t confirm that it meets the ‘sugar-free’ threshold. Check the total amount of sugars per 100 g to find out.
Not necessarily: Albert Heijn lists 33 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Glutenvrij Eierkoeken. Check gluten-free and sugar-free as two separate properties of the product you choose.
Check the allergen information for the exact egg cake you’re buying; standard and gluten-free varieties may differ. If you have a relevant allergy, read the current packaging before eating the cake.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the egg cakes you choose, and reseal an opened pack as directed. Albert Heijn advises storing its standard egg cakes in a cool, dark and dry place; for the gluten-free variety, it says to store in a cool, dry place.
