Who is this choice relevant to?

Canteen manager offering quick self-service

Looking for a consistent portion that can be served during the lunchtime rush without any extra slicing. Peijnenburg and Jumbo offer products in individually portioned formats.

Buyer comparing nutritional values

Wants to check the sugars, fibre, ingredients and serving size of the exact breakfast cake, rather than relying on terms such as ‘premium’ or ‘wholemeal’.

Provider serving individual slices

Needs up-to-date information about the allergens present to inform guests before they buy. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority requires this for unpackaged foods.

What should you look for when buying?

First decide how the breakfast cake will be served at lunchtime. Then compare the labels and serving sizes of products that suit your way of working.

What to consider What to check when buying Who is this important for?
Serving format and portions Check whether the cake is pre-sliced or individually wrapped, and how many grams are in one portion. During the lunchtime rush, I want to serve slices without having to cut them each time. For around 29% of consumers buying for this canteen, quick service with consistent portions comes first.
Allergen information Check the current ingredients and allergens for each product. If serving individual slices, make sure information is available before purchase. If I serve individual slices, I want to be able to tell guests clearly which allergens are present. For around 29% of consumers buying for this canteen, this information matters most.
Nutritional information Compare sugars and fibre per 100 g and per portion, using the same units for each product. For my lunch menu, I want to know what a portion contains, not just what the front of the pack says. Around 24% of consumers buying for this canteen prioritise this comparison.
Taste and presentation Check the desired serving size and the product specifications for a premium or generously filled variety. If I want to offer more variety as part of a lunchtime promotion, the cake also needs to be suitable for serving in the portion size I have in mind. This presentation is the top priority for around 18% of consumers buying for this canteen.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘premium’ means nutritionally better

    A premium or wholemeal name alone does not tell you how much sugar or fibre a portion contains. In 2019, the Consumers’ Association reported differences in the nutritional values of the breakfast cakes it examined.

    Compare the ingredients, sugars, fibre and serving size of the exact products, both per 100 g and per serving.

  • Confusing an individual wrapper with being allergen-free

    Individual packaging does not change the ingredients. Peijnenburg says its plain 10-pack may contain milk and certain nuts, among other things; Jumbo lists cereals containing gluten for its plain pack.

    Check the current label for each product and, if serving it unpackaged, make sure information about any allergens present is available before purchase.

  • Making a premium variety the canteen’s everyday choice straight away

    A generously filled breakfast cake may work well for a lunchtime promotion, but taste and presentation say nothing about its nutritional values or whether it is suitable for guests with an allergy.

    Before making it a regular choice, check the product specifications, the serving size you want and whether the variety is available in the format you plan to serve.

  • Assuming all breakfast cake contains iodine

    Information about iodine-containing baker’s salt in bread does not tell you what is in a particular breakfast cake.

    Only make a claim about iodine in a breakfast cake if there is evidence for it in the ingredients list or product specifications for that variety.

Brands to compare

These brands offer breakfast cake in a range of formats. The features listed apply to the varieties described, not to a brand’s entire range.

Peijnenburg

Peijnenburg offers both sliced breakfast cake and individually wrapped portions.

  • According to Peijnenburg, its plain 10-pack contains 28 g portions. Its sliced wholemeal variety lists 5,1 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • The plain 10-pack lists 38 g of sugars per 100 g, while the wholemeal variety mentioned lists 39 g per 100 g. Check the allergen label for your chosen variety too.

Albert Heijn

AH plain sliced breakfast cake is an option if you want to serve pre-sliced portions.

  • Albert Heijn lists this variety as a 485 g pack containing 16 portions of 30 g.
  • This variety lists 36 g of sugars per 100 g and contains rye. Check the current packaging for a final assessment of allergens.

Jumbo

Jumbo Ontbijtkoek Naturel 6 Stuks offers a different portion size for serving individually.

  • Jumbo lists six 55 g portions and 4,3 g of fibre per 100 g for this variety.
  • The same variety lists 39,5 g of sugars per 100 g and contains rye and wheat. Check whether a 55 g portion suits your lunch menu.

Koek & Bakker

ALDI offers pre-sliced wholemeal and Zero breakfast cake under this name, alongside a generously filled premium variety.

  • ALDI lists the pre-sliced wholemeal variety in a 485 g pack and the generously filled premium variety in a 450–465 g pack.
  • Compare the ingredients, nutritional values and allergens of the exact variety before letting a name such as ‘Zero’ or ‘premium’ guide your choice.

PLUS Korenlanders

PLUS Korenlanders Bakkers ontbijtkoek naturel, 500 g, is an option if the canteen wants to cut its own portions.

  • PLUS describes this specific variety as vegan and gives it a Nutri-Score of D.
  • Use the current packaging or product specifications for ingredients, allergens and nutritional values. Nutri-Score D alone does not determine whether a product is right for your menu.

Portion-sized breakfast cake at Joybuy

For canteens looking to serve breakfast cake individually, this product selection is suited to individually wrapped portions. Compare the serving size and label with your planned lunchtime service.

Snelle Jelle Breakfast Cake Less Sugar-Free 250g

Snelle Jelle Breakfast Cake Less Sugar-Free 250g

An option if individually wrapped breakfast cake suits the way you serve portions at lunchtime.

Pack weight according to the product name: 250 g. Check how many portions the pack contains and whether the serving size is right for your canteen.

Compare sugars and fibre using nutritional information with a clearly stated basis per 100 g or per portion. Also check the current label for rye, gluten and warnings about nuts and milk.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Does a university canteen need to provide allergen information for individual slices of breakfast cake?

Yes. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that anyone serving unpackaged food must provide information about any allergens present before purchase. For cereals containing gluten and nuts, it must be clear which cereal or nut is involved; conditions apply to providing this information verbally.

Does baker’s salt mean that all breakfast cake contains iodine?

No, you cannot tell from the product category alone. Information from the Dutch baking industry about iodine-containing baker’s salt does not confirm that every breakfast cake contains it. Check the ingredients list or ask the supplier about the exact variety.

Is wholemeal breakfast cake automatically low in sugar?

No. Peijnenburg lists 5,1 g of fibre and 39 g of sugars per 100 g for its sliced wholemeal breakfast cake. So, for the varieties you are considering, compare both fibre and sugars per 100 g and per portion.

How should you store breakfast cake after opening it in the canteen?

Follow the storage advice on the packaging of your chosen breakfast cake. For the varieties described, Albert Heijn and Jumbo recommend storing the cake in a cool, dry place. Also make sure that handling individual slices follows the canteen’s hygiene and allergen procedures.