Who is this choice relevant to?

Shoppers looking strictly for sugar-free options

You want to choose an egg cake based on its sugar content per 100 g, not on terms such as ‘less sugar’ or ‘no added sugar’.

Christmas market organisers handing out egg cakes

You want to be able to tell visitors about the ingredients and allergens. The packaging and storage instructions also matter when you buy egg cakes in advance and bring them along.

Shoppers comparing standard egg cakes

Being sugar-free isn’t an absolute requirement for you. You might compare sugars and fibre in the nutritional information, without assuming that ‘wholemeal’ also means ‘sugar-free’.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether sugar-free is an absolute requirement. Then check what you need to know before handing them out. Only after that should you compare standard or wholemeal egg cakes using their own nutritional information.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Sugar-free claim Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and the exact claim. For egg cakes to be labelled ‘sugar-free’, they must contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. If I want to offer egg cakes as sugar-free, that claim must be supported by the nutritional information. This is the top priority for around 50% of consumers.
Handing out and storing Check the allergens, packaging and storage instructions on the current label. When handing them out, I want to be able to tell visitors clearly what the egg cakes contain and store them as directed. Around 30% of consumers give this the highest priority.
Standard or wholemeal Compare sugars and fibre per 100 g; use the serving size if you also look at the values per item. I don’t need a sugar-free egg cake, but I want to know how a standard and a wholemeal version differ nutritionally. This comparison matters most to around 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing ‘sugar-free’ with ‘no added sugar’

    These are different claims. Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, an egg cake can only be labelled ‘sugar-free’ if it contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g.

    Check both the exact claim and ‘of which sugars’ in the nutrition table. Don’t rely only on the product name or a mention of sweeteners.

  • Assuming wholemeal or a per-item value means sugar-free

    Jumbo lists 3.9 g of fibre and 33.6 g of sugars per 100 g for its Volkoren Eierkoeken. A per-item energy value doesn’t tell you how much sugar the product contains per 100 g either.

    Compare the nutritional values per 100 g, and also check the serving size if you want to know what’s in one egg cake.

  • Only reading the front of the pack before handing them out

    The name ‘egg cake’ doesn’t tell visitors which allergens are in a specific variety. Packaging and storage instructions can also vary by product.

    Use the current ingredients and allergen information for the product you’re actually handing out, and follow the storage instructions on the packaging.

Brands and shops compared

The egg cakes listed are different products. Check the nutritional information for the specific variety before making a claim about its sugar content.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists AH Eierkoeken in a pack of 12, with a serving size of 30 g.

  • The product information includes ingredients, nutritional values, allergens and storage instructions.
  • Albert Heijn lists 31 g of sugars and 27 g of added sugars per 100 g for this variety; these egg cakes are not sugar-free.

Jumbo

Jumbo sells standard and wholemeal egg cakes as separate varieties.

  • For its wholemeal variety, Jumbo lists 37.1% wholemeal wheat flour and 3.9 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • According to Jumbo, the standard variety contains 29.5 g of sugars per 100 g, while the wholemeal variety contains 33.6 g. Neither variety is sugar-free.

Bolletje

Bolletje Brosse Eierkoeken met Melklaagje are crisp, individually wrapped cakes, rather than the classic soft type of egg cake.

  • Individual wrapping can be handy if you want to hand out the cakes separately.
  • The variety listed by Jumbo contains 42 g of sugars per 100 g. Bolletje also says its Brosse Eierkoek is sprinkled with sugar.

Heerlijck Banket bij ALDI

ALDI Netherlands lists Heerlijck Banket Scharreleierkoeken in a pack of 12, weighing 360 g.

  • The number of cakes and pack size can help you plan how many to hand out.
  • Check ‘of which sugars’, the ingredients and allergens on the current packaging before making a sugar claim or giving visitors information.

Lidl

Lidl Netherlands has listed egg cakes in a pack of 12.

  • The stated number of cakes is useful when planning portions for a market event.
  • Check the current packaging for sugar content, ingredients and allergens before choosing these egg cakes for a specific dietary requirement.

Egg cakes at Joybuy

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

When can an egg cake be called sugar-free in the Netherlands?

Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, an egg cake can only be called ‘sugar-free’ if it contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. ‘No added sugar’ is a different claim, so check the ‘of which sugars’ figure on the label.

Are the Albert Heijn, Jumbo and Bolletje egg cakes mentioned here sugar-free?

No, not the varieties mentioned here. Albert Heijn lists 31 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Eierkoeken, Jumbo lists 29.5 g per 100 g for its standard egg cakes, and Jumbo lists 42 g per 100 g for Bolletje Brosse Eierkoeken met Melklaagje. These figures are above the threshold for ‘sugar-free’.

Is a wholemeal egg cake sugar-free too?

Not necessarily. Jumbo lists 37.1% wholemeal wheat flour and 3.9 g of fibre per 100 g for its Volkoren Eierkoeken, but also 33.6 g of sugars per 100 g. So don’t choose this variety based on the word ‘wholemeal’ if sugar-free is an absolute requirement.

Which allergens should I check before handing out egg cakes?

Check the allergens on the current packaging of the exact variety you’re handing out. The egg cakes mentioned here may contain egg, wheat, milk and soya, among other allergens, but ingredients vary by product. Don’t rely on the product name alone for complete allergen information.