If you’re looking for a genuinely sugar-free snack for a train journey, don’t rely on the name ‘egg cake’ alone: Jumbo’s standard and wholemeal versions both list added sugars. For an egg cake, check the current packaging for the exact claim, ingredients and nutritional information. A biscuit or breakfast cake with no added sugars could be an alternative if that’s your aim, but according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, it isn’t automatically sugar-free.
You’re looking for a snack with an explicit sugar-free claim, not simply a product with no added sugars. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that the latter wording doesn’t mean a product is sugar-free. So check the ingredients and nutritional information on the packaging too.
You’re looking for an egg cake you can pack before setting off, and don’t need it to be sugar-free. According to Jumbo, its standard egg cakes contain ingredients including sugar, dextrose and glucose syrup, so they’re not suitable if you need to avoid sugar completely.
You’re open to a different type of biscuit or breakfast cake if an egg cake doesn’t suit your preferences. Even then, check the ‘of which sugars’ figure and any sweeteners: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, products with no added sugars can still contain naturally occurring sugars.
First decide whether sugar-free is essential or whether you simply want to limit added sugars. Then choose a product and pack that you’ll find easy to take on the train.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar-free or not | Look for the exact ‘sugar-free’ claim and check the ingredients and ‘of which sugars’ figure. Don’t confuse this with ‘no added sugars’. | If sugar is the deciding factor for me, I don’t want to rely on a generic name or the front of the pack. Around 50% of consumers make a strict sugar-free requirement their priority. |
| Taking it on the train | Check the best-before date and whether the pack is suitable for carrying a single portion. Think about how you’ll dispose of the packaging and crumbs. | For my train journey, I want something I can pack away and put back without making a mess. For around 30% of consumers, how practical a snack is to carry matters most. |
| A different kind of snack | Compare sugars per 100 g and per portion. If a product contains sweeteners or polyols, check the ingredients and any usage warnings too. | I mainly want to cut down on added sugars, so it doesn’t have to be an egg cake. Around 20% of consumers give choosing an alternative the highest priority. |
‘Wholemeal’ says nothing about whether a product is sugar-free. Jumbo lists sugar and invert sugar syrup as ingredients in its wholemeal egg cakes, which contain 33.6 g of sugars per 100 g.
Assess the wholemeal version and its sugar information separately: check the ingredients, the exact claim and the nutritional information.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a product with no added sugars can still contain naturally occurring sugars. The two claims therefore answer different questions when you’re shopping.
Decide which one you’re looking for, then check the claim and the ‘of which sugars’ figure on the packaging.
A product name or brief shop description won’t necessarily tell you which sugars and allergens are in a particular egg cake.
Check the current packaging when you buy it, especially if the sugar information will determine your choice.
Biscuits and portions can vary in weight, so the amount of sugar per item isn’t a like-for-like basis for comparing two packs.
First compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g, then check the weight of the portion you’ll be taking with you.
Jumbo sells standard and wholemeal egg cakes, among other varieties.
Albert Heijn lists egg cakes and also has a separate category for biscuits aimed at people watching their sugar intake.
Verkade San Francisco Zero is a biscuit, not an egg cake.
Bolletje describes a Brosse Eierkoek Kaneel with a milk coating and cinnamon.
ALDI lists Heerlijck Banket free-range egg cakes in a pack of 12.
Lidl lists egg cakes in a pack of 12.
This product could be an option if you’re considering a snack labelled sugar-free from outside the egg cake category for your train journey. Before deciding, check the product type and sugar information on the current packaging.
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If you’re considering a snack other than an egg cake, the product name says Sugar-Free and the pack contains 110 g. The name refers to biscuits, while the description mentions liquorice, so check which product type is shown on the current packaging. Also compare the sugars and polyols on a like-for-like basis, and read any usage warnings.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, products with no added sugars can still contain naturally occurring sugars. If you’re specifically looking for something sugar-free, check the exact claim and nutritional information for the product you’re buying.
No, these two varieties aren’t suitable if you’re looking for a sugar-free option. For its standard egg cakes, Jumbo lists sugar, dextrose and glucose syrup, and 29.5 g of sugars per 100 g. The wholemeal version contains sugar and invert sugar syrup, and lists 33.6 g of sugars per 100 g. Be sure to check the current packaging of the variety you’re buying.
Choose packaging that makes the biscuit easy to carry, and dispose of any rubbish after eating. NS asks passengers to put their rubbish in the bin, so bear that in mind if you have packaging or crumbs left over.
Check the ingredients, nutritional information and any usage warnings on the packaging. Peijnenburg wholemeal breakfast cake with no added sugars lists 24 g of polyols per 100 g, along with a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. This information applies to that breakfast cake, not to all alternatives.
