Which considerations matter to you?

People who need to avoid gluten

Wholegrain ontbijtkoek made with rye isn’t suitable for this need. Look for ontbijtkoek explicitly labelled gluten-free, and check the current packaging for any other allergens that are relevant to you.

Households dealing with another food allergy

If gluten isn’t an issue, wholegrain ontbijtkoek may be an option. Your choice will depend on the ingredients and allergen warnings on the packaging of the exact variety you want to buy.

People comparing wholegrains and fibre

If the allergen check raises no concerns, you can compare the grain used and the nutritional information per 100 g. Also check the information per portion if the slices or pack sizes differ.

What should you look for when choosing?

When choosing ontbijtkoek for a household dealing with a food allergy, the allergen you need to avoid determines which products you can consider in the first place. After that, the wholegrain ingredient, nutritional information and ease of use become relevant.

Wholegrain ontbijtkoek made with rye

When: consider this option only if rye and the other relevant ingredients aren’t a problem for you.

Consideration: ‘Wholegrain’ doesn’t mean it’s suitable if you need to avoid gluten.

Ontbijtkoek explicitly labelled gluten-free

When: look for this option if you need to avoid gluten; Jumbo, for example, lists a separate gluten-free ontbijtkoek.

Consideration: Gluten-free doesn’t automatically mean wholegrain or suitable if you have another food allergy.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to most
Relevant allergens Read the current ingredients list and allergen warnings on the packaging. Ask for clarification if product information contradicts itself. I want to know first whether the ontbijtkoek contains an allergen I need to avoid; a wholegrain label won’t tell me that. For around 46% of consumers, avoiding their allergen would be the top priority.
Wholegrain ingredient Check which grain is listed in the ingredients, then compare the stated fibre content per 100 g. If I can eat the grains used, I want to know what makes it wholegrain before comparing fibre. For around 27% of consumers, confirmed wholegrain ingredients would be the top priority.
Sugar content Compare the sugar information per 100 g and check exactly what any claim on the packaging says about this variety. After checking for allergens, I want to compare the sugar content of suitable varieties rather than relying on the product name alone. For around 18% of consumers, sugar content would come first.
Shop and packaging Check the current packaging of the variety you’ve chosen and decide whether sliced or unsliced ontbijtkoek suits the way you’ll use it. I want to check the packaging in my shop and choose a format that’s practical at home. For around 9% of consumers, convenience when it comes to the shop and packaging would be the top priority.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming wholegrain means gluten-free

    Peijnenburg lists wholegrain rye flour as an ingredient in its ordinary wholegrain ontbijtkoek. Rye is a grain that contains gluten, even when it’s wholegrain.

    First, work out whether you need to avoid gluten. If you do, look for ontbijtkoek explicitly labelled gluten-free, then check for any other allergens that matter to you.

  • Treating an online listing as the definitive label

    Albert Heijn and PLUS state that ingredients and allergy information may change. If you have a food allergy, an older or conflicting product description may not tell you what’s on the packaging you’re buying.

    Use the product page as a guide, then read the current packaging before making your choice. Ask the manufacturer for clarification if the information doesn’t match.

  • Confusing a sugar claim with allergen information

    A claim about added sugars doesn’t tell you whether ontbijtkoek is free from gluten or other allergens. You’ll need to check those separately.

    Check the allergens relevant to you first. Only then compare the nutritional information of the varieties you could consider.

  • Assuming all ontbijtkoek contains iodine

    The Netherlands Nutrition Centre identifies bakers’ salt as salt with added iodine. That doesn’t mean the ontbijtkoek you’re looking at was made with bakers’ salt.

    If you want to know which salt a particular ontbijtkoek contains, check the ingredients or ask the manufacturer.

Brands and own-label options to consider

These brands offer different types of ontbijtkoek to compare. Check the ingredients and allergen information for each variety; a brand name alone doesn’t tell you whether it’s suitable for your allergy.

Peijnenburg

Offers wholegrain ontbijtkoek and a sliced variety that the brand presents as wholegrain with no added sugars.

  • For its ordinary wholegrain variety, Peijnenburg lists wholegrain rye flour, so you can take the grain used into account when making your choice.
  • This rye variety isn’t suitable if you need to avoid gluten; a nutrition claim doesn’t change that.

Albert Heijn

Lists both sliced and unsliced AH Ontbijtkoek volkoren.

  • The packaging options give you a practical difference to consider once you’ve checked the ingredients.
  • Albert Heijn warns that online ingredients, nutritional and allergy information may change; check the packaging of the variety you’ve chosen.

Jumbo

Lists wholegrain ontbijtkoek, as well as a separate product called Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten ontbijtkoek.

  • Jumbo states that its gluten-free variety carries the Crossed Grain symbol, which is relevant if you need to avoid gluten.
  • The gluten-free label doesn’t confirm that this variety is wholegrain or suitable if you have any other food allergy.

PLUS

Lists PLUS Ontbijtkoek Volkoren gesneden in a 485 g pack.

  • The product listing makes it clear which sliced wholegrain variety to look for on the packaging.
  • PLUS states that ingredients and allergy information may change; check the current packaging.

Koek & Bakker (ALDI)

ALDI lists sliced wholegrain ontbijtkoek from Koek & Bakker in a 485 g pack.

  • The product type and pack size can help you recognise the right variety in the shop.
  • If you have an allergy, read the ingredients and warnings on the packaging itself.

Lidl

Lists sliced wholegrain ontbijtkoek as a product type.

  • The listing gives you a variety to compare in terms of packaging and ingredients.
  • Check the current packaging before deciding whether the variety meets your allergen needs.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is wholegrain ontbijtkoek automatically gluten-free?

No. Peijnenburg, for example, lists wholegrain rye flour in its ordinary wholegrain ontbijtkoek, and rye contains gluten. If you need to avoid gluten, look for a variety explicitly labelled gluten-free and read the current packaging.

Should I read the label if a supermarket website lists allergens?

Yes. Albert Heijn and PLUS state that their online product information may change. Compare the listing with the current packaging, and don’t rely on the online information if the allergen details conflict.

How do I check for allergens in unpackaged ontbijtkoek?

Ask about the allergens in the specific ontbijtkoek before making your choice. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that sellers of unpackaged food must be able to tell customers about any allergens it contains; don’t rely on the cake’s name or appearance.

Is gluten-free ontbijtkoek suitable if I have another food allergy?

No. The gluten-free label doesn’t tell you whether it contains another allergen that’s relevant to you. To check, read the full ingredients list and allergen warnings on the current packaging.

Can I assume that ontbijtkoek contains iodine?

No, not based on the product type alone. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre identifies bakers’ salt as salt with added iodine, but that doesn’t tell you which salt a particular ontbijtkoek contains. Check the ingredients or ask the manufacturer.