When stocking up for Christmas, don’t just look for the word ‘wholemeal’. Check the fibre, sugars, ingredients and allergens on the label. Peijnenburg lists 17 g of fibre and 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g for its sliced variety with no added sugars, but it contains xylitol. If you want to avoid this sweetener, compare regular wholemeal varieties instead, bearing in mind that their sugar levels differ.
If you’re stocking up on breakfast cake for several occasions and fibre content matters to you, compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per slice. The wholemeal varieties reviewed here have different fibre levels.
For these shoppers, ‘wholemeal’ alone isn’t enough to make a choice. They also compare ‘of which sugars’, the ingredients list, any sweeteners and the serving size.
A pre-sliced pack can be handy if breakfast cake is served on several occasions. Pack size and the information on the current label should also factor into your choice.
First decide what matters most to your household: fibre, sugars, ingredients or the convenience of the packaging. Then compare the varieties per 100 g and check the weight of a slice according to the pack.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fibre and wholemeal flour | Compare fibre per 100 g and per slice; check which wholemeal flour is listed in the ingredients. | If fibre is my priority, I want to know how much a slice provides rather than relying on the front of the pack. This would be the main buying consideration for around 31% of consumers. |
| Sugars and sweeteners | Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and see whether sweeteners such as xylitol have been used. | If you want to choose a product with less sugar but are also mindful of sweeteners, you need to weigh up both. Around 31% of consumers would put this consideration first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the allergen information on the pack, including any ‘may contain’ statements. | If certain ingredients aren’t suitable for my household, checking this comes before comparing nutritional values. This would be the main consideration for around 23% of consumers. |
| Packaging and convenience when stocking up | Check the weight, number of slices and storage information on the pack. | For several occasions, I want to choose a pack that suits how much we’ll actually use. This would be the most important factor for around 15% of consumers. |
The nutritional information from Peijnenburg, Jumbo and PLUS lists different sugar levels for the regular wholemeal varieties reviewed here. The word ‘wholemeal’ doesn’t tell you how much sugar a breakfast cake contains.
Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. For a variety with no added sugars, check which sweeteners it contains too.
The product information for Peijnenburg Wholemeal with no added sugars lists xylitol and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Xylitol is also unsuitable for pets.
Read the warning on the pack and keep this breakfast cake out of reach of pets.
Two sliced breakfast cakes with the same pack weight don’t necessarily contain the same ingredients, fibre or sugars.
Use the weight to decide how much you want to stock up on, but also compare the nutritional information and allergens when choosing between products.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers don’t have to use baker’s salt. So you can’t assume that every breakfast cake is made with it.
If you want to know which salt was used in a breakfast cake, check the ingredients list on that pack.
Peijnenburg offers both a regular sliced wholemeal breakfast cake and a sliced variety with no added sugars.
The AH product page describes a 275 g sliced wholemeal breakfast cake.
Jumbo lists a 280 g wholemeal breakfast cake.
Lidl lists a 485 g sliced wholemeal breakfast cake as a store product.
ALDI lists a 485 g pack of sliced wholemeal breakfast cake from Koek & Bakker.
PLUS lists a 485 g sliced wholemeal breakfast cake.
This sliced wholemeal breakfast cake is a good fit if you’re looking for a regular variety to stock up on for Christmas. Before you choose, compare the nutritional information and ingredients on the pack too.
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A sliced wholemeal breakfast cake for anyone looking for a pack to enjoy on several occasions.
485 g pack. Check the nutritional information, ingredients and allergens on the current packaging.
No. The product information from Peijnenburg, Jumbo and PLUS lists different fibre levels for the varieties discussed here. Compare the value per 100 g, then check the weight of a slice if you want to compare amounts per serving.
Yes. Peijnenburg lists 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g for its wholemeal variety with no added sugars. This variety also contains xylitol, so read the ingredients and warnings as well as the nutritional information.
No. The Peijnenburg and Jumbo varieties discussed here list rye or other gluten-containing cereals. If gluten-free is essential for your purchase, check the allergen information for the specific pack rather than relying on the word ‘wholemeal’.
No, you can’t assume that. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says bakers don’t have to use baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list if you want to know which salt was used in a particular breakfast cake.
