If you need a strictly sugar-free option, choose an egg cake only if its nutritional information lists no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g; according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, that is the threshold for the ‘sugar-free’ claim. Product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo lists 31 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Eierkoeken, 29.5 g for Jumbo Eierkoeken and 42 g for Bolletje Brosse Eierkoeken met melklaagje. None of these options meet that requirement. If you’re buying loose egg cakes at a market, also ask about allergen information before you buy.
You want to be able to check whether a product can be labelled ‘sugar-free’. Look at the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, it must be no more than 0.5 g for this claim.
You compare sugar levels or added sugars without requiring the product to be sugar-free. Check the nutritional information per 100 g, and don’t treat ‘no added sugars’ as a synonym for ‘sugar-free’.
When buying a loose egg cake, you want to know which allergens relevant to you are present before you buy. Ask the seller for this information; don’t rely on the ingredients usually found in an egg cake.
When buying egg cakes at a market or supermarket, first decide whether sugar-free is a strict requirement. Then check the nutritional information and, for loose products, the allergen information.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar-free | Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the ‘sugar-free’ claim allows a maximum of 0.5 g per 100 g. | If I only want a sugar-free egg cake, I need to be able to check this figure, even when buying one loose. For around 50% of these shoppers, a verifiably sugar-free product is the top priority. |
| Comparing sugar levels | Compare sugars per 100 g and check any claim about added sugars separately. | If you want to compare the sugar levels in egg cakes without a strict sugar-free requirement, the nutritional information is more useful than the word ‘wholegrain’ or a kcal figure per cake. Around 30% of these shoppers prioritise this comparison. |
| Loose products | Ask about any allergens relevant to you before buying. If you require a sugar-free product, also ask about the sugar content per 100 g. | At a market stall, I want to know which allergens are in a loose egg cake before choosing one; allergen information doesn’t tell me how much sugar it contains. For an estimated 20% of these shoppers, this product information comes first. |
According to Jumbo’s product information, one Bolletje Brosse Eierkoek met melklaagje contains 58 kcal, but 42 g of sugars per 100 g. The figure per portion answers a different question.
If you need a strictly sugar-free option, use the sugar figure per 100 g to check.
Jumbo lists 33.6 g of sugars and 3.9 g of fibre per 100 g for its wholegrain egg cakes. Its regular Jumbo Eierkoeken contain 29.5 g of sugars per 100 g.
Compare fibre and sugars separately; ‘wholegrain’ doesn’t prove that an egg cake is sugar-free.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre and the Diabetes Fund distinguish between these claims. A product can contain sugars even if no sugars have been added.
If you need a sugar-free option, always check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g.
Allergens can vary from one product to another. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, information about relevant allergens in unpackaged foods must be available before purchase.
Ask the market seller which allergens the egg cake contains rather than trying to work it out from the product name.
These brands give you a starting point for comparing egg cakes, but a brand name or product category alone tells you nothing about the sugar content of a specific variety.
Albert Heijn sells egg cakes under its own brand and also has a separate ‘sugar-conscious biscuits’ category for other biscuit products.
Jumbo lists regular and wholegrain egg cakes in its product information.
Bolletje makes, among other products, Brosse Eierkoeken met melklaagje.
ALDI lists Heerlijck Banket free-range egg cakes in a pack of 12.
Lidl lists Sondey Eierkoeken in a 360 g pack containing 12 cakes.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the ‘sugar-free’ claim can be used if a product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. To check this, look at the ‘of which sugars’ figure in the nutritional information per 100 g; a kcal figure per cake is no substitute.
No, they are different claims. According to the Diabetes Fund, a product with no added sugars may still contain naturally occurring sugars. If you need a sugar-free option, also check the sugar figure per 100 g.
Not necessarily. Jumbo lists 33.6 g of sugars and 3.9 g of fibre per 100 g for its wholegrain egg cakes; the word ‘wholegrain’ doesn’t change the sugar content.
Before you buy, ask which allergens relevant to you are present. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergen information must be available for unpackaged foods. If you also want a sugar-free egg cake, ask separately about the sugar content per 100 g.
No. The Diabetes Fund points out that some sugar substitutes may contain carbohydrate-based bulking agents. Check the full nutritional information if the amount of carbohydrates matters to your choice.
