When shopping vegan, an explicit vegan label is a clearer starting point than the word sourdough; Albert Heijn labels AH Ontbijtkoek naturel gesneden as vegan. If you also want sourdough, check both the method of preparation and the ingredients of the specific product. Compare fibre and sugars per 100 g too, and check for gluten if that matters to you.
You want clear information about additives that may come from animals, too. An explicit vegan label is more helpful than simply checking that the ingredients list contains no milk or egg, as the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s information on E numbers shows.
You’re looking for vegan Dutch breakfast cake, but also want to compare varieties for fibre, sugars and ingredients. Product information from Jumbo and Peijnenburg shows which values you can compare across varieties.
You want to know whether sourdough has actually been used and whether the other ingredients fit your vegan diet. Sourdough alone doesn’t tell you that: Albert Heijn also has a vegan breakfast cake recipe made with baking soda.
| What to look for | What should you check? | Who is it most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Vegan ingredients | Look for a current vegan label. If there isn’t one, check the ingredients and ask about the origin of any additives if you’re unsure. | If I want to avoid animal-derived ingredients, I also need clarity about less familiar additives; this certainty is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Fibre and sugars | Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per serving, especially fibre and sugars. If a variety contains sweeteners, check the ingredients list too. | I want to compare the nutritional values of different Dutch breakfast cakes, regardless of brand or flavour; this comparison is the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Sourdough | Check whether sourdough is listed for the specific product. If you’re buying from a bakery, ask about the starter and the other ingredients too. | If I’m choosing Dutch breakfast cake specifically for how it’s made, I want to know whether sourdough has really been used without assuming that the product is vegan; this is the deciding factor for around 21% of consumers. |
| Packaging and convenience | Check the pack weight, the number of servings shown and whether the breakfast cake is pre-sliced. | For my everyday shopping, I want a pack that suits the way I eat Dutch breakfast cake; practical convenience comes first for around 14% of consumers. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, some E numbers can come from either plant or animal sources. Simply ruling out familiar animal-derived ingredients may not give you the full picture.
If you’re strictly vegan, choose a product with an explicit vegan label, or ask the manufacturer about the origin of any ingredients you’re unsure about.
A claim about added sugars doesn’t, on its own, tell you where all the ingredients come from. Fibre and sugars also vary between Dutch breakfast cake varieties.
Check the ingredients list to make sure it suits your vegan diet, and compare the nutritional values per 100 g if fibre or sugars matter to you.
Sourdough describes a method of preparation, not the source of all the other ingredients. For example, Albert Heijn’s vegan breakfast cake recipe uses baking soda rather than sourdough.
If you’re buying from a bakery, ask separately whether they use sourdough and whether the ingredients include honey, milk or egg. Ask about cross-contamination if that matters to you.
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that iodine compounds may be present in bakery products. This doesn’t tell you what type of salt is used in a particular breakfast cake.
Check the label or ask the manufacturer about the ingredients in the product you want to buy.
Albert Heijn labels AH Ontbijtkoek naturel gesneden as vegan on its product page.
Jumbo describes its 280 g plain and wholemeal Dutch breakfast cakes as plant-based.
Peijnenburg Naturel zonder toegevoegde suikers is a wholemeal variety whose nutritional values can be compared with those of other Dutch breakfast cakes.
ALDI lists sliced wholemeal and zero Dutch breakfast cakes from Koek & Bakker in 485 g packs.
No. Check the ingredients of the specific product. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, some E numbers can come from either plant or animal sources, so an explicit vegan label is a clearer starting point than simply looking for milk or egg.
No. Sourdough and vegan describe different things. Albert Heijn uses baking soda in its vegan breakfast cake recipe; if you specifically want sourdough, check the other ingredients as well.
No. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that iodine compounds may be present in bakery products, but that doesn’t determine the ingredients of an individual breakfast cake. Check the packaging or ask the manufacturer which salt was used.
According to Albert Heijn, AH Ontbijtkoek naturel gesneden should be kept in a cool, dark and dry place. For other breakfast cakes, follow the storage instructions on the packaging.
