For a weekday breakfast, first decide what matters more to you: the fibre and sugars per slice, or a regular wholemeal breakfast cake without the sweetener found in the Peijnenburg variant examined, which is labelled ‘no added sugars’. That Peijnenburg variant lists more fibre and less sugar than the regular variant from the same brand that was examined, but it contains xylitol. Then check the serving size, ingredients and allergens on the packaging.
If you want a slice of breakfast cake as part of a quick breakfast, the nutritional information per 100 g helps you compare products. Check the weight of a slice too, so you can see what the figures given mean for your serving.
A pre-sliced pack means less preparation in the morning. Also check the serving size and storage instructions for an opened pack.
Check the current packaging if rye, gluten, possible cross-contamination or sweeteners matter to your choice. The Peijnenburg, AH, Jumbo and PLUS variants examined list rye and gluten.
A good fit if: You mainly want to compare fibre and sugars per slice. The Peijnenburg variant examined is worth considering.
Trade-off: This variant contains xylitol; read the ingredients and warnings if you want to avoid sweeteners.
A good fit if: A regular pre-sliced variant may suit you better if you want to avoid the xylitol in the Peijnenburg variant examined.
Trade-off: The regular variants examined differ in their fibre and sugar content, so check the label of the specific loaf.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Fibre and sugars | Compare both figures per 100 g and use the stated slice weight to work them out for your serving. For the variant examined and labelled ‘no added sugars’, Peijnenburg lists 17 g of fibre and 4,9 g of sugars per 100 g; its regular Peijnenburg Volkoren lists 5,1 g and 39 g per 100 g. | If I choose breakfast cake based on the nutritional value of my slice, I want to consider fibre and sugars together. Around 36% of consumers put this combination first. |
| Ingredients and sweeteners | Read the ingredients list, even for a variant labelled ‘no added sugars’. The Peijnenburg variant examined contains xylitol and glycerol. | I would rather choose a regular variant if I want to avoid the sweetener in the Peijnenburg variant examined, even if that variant has different sugar figures. For around 29% of consumers, this choice of ingredients is the deciding factor. |
| Slices and storage | Check whether the loaf is pre-sliced, how much a slice weighs and what storage instructions are given on the packaging. | On a busy morning, I want to be able to grab a slice without cutting it and know how to store the rest. This convenience comes first for around 21% of consumers. |
| Allergens and salt | Check the allergen information, any ‘may contain’ statements and the ingredients list if the presence of iodised salt matters to your choice. | I need to be able to check that the ingredients and allergen information meet my requirements before choosing based on taste or convenience. Around 14% of consumers make this their first priority. |
According to their product information, the regular wholemeal breakfast cakes from AH, Jumbo and Peijnenburg that were examined list 34 g, 35,2 g and 39 g of sugars per 100 g respectively. The word ‘wholemeal’ doesn’t tell you how much sugar a slice contains.
Compare fibre and sugars per 100 g, then use the slice weight to compare them per serving.
The Peijnenburg variant examined contains xylitol. The Joybuy product information for this variant also warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Read the full ingredients list and the warnings on the packaging if you want to avoid sweeteners.
You can’t tell which salt has been used in a particular breakfast cake from its product name or the ‘wholemeal’ label.
Check the product’s ingredients list if the presence of iodised salt is important to you.
If you’re choosing based on ingredients, nutritional value or allergens, the information on the packaging you receive is what matters.
Before eating, check the current nutritional information, ingredients and allergen details on that packaging.
Peijnenburg lists both a regular pre-sliced wholemeal breakfast cake and a pre-sliced variant labelled ‘no added sugars’.
The AH Ontbijtkoek volkoren gesneden examined comes in a 485 g pack.
The pre-sliced Jumbo Volkoren Ontbijtkoek examined comes in a 475 g pack; there is also a separate 280 g variant.
The PLUS Ontbijtkoek Volkoren gesneden examined comes in a 485 g pack.
ALDI lists a pre-sliced wholemeal breakfast cake from Koek & Bakker in a 485 g pack, alongside a separate zero variant.
This pre-sliced wholemeal breakfast cake is a good fit for a quick weekday breakfast. Check the nutritional information on the packaging if fibre or sugars are important to your choice.
Image unavailable
The pre-sliced pack is handy for breakfast when you don’t want to cut your own slices.
Pack weight: 485 g. Before comparing this loaf with other variants, check the nutritional information per 100 g, the weight of a slice and the current allergen details on the packaging.
No. Compare the fibre and sugars in the specific loaf. According to their product information, the regular wholemeal variants from Peijnenburg, AH and Jumbo that were examined have different nutritional values. Use the slice weight to work out how the figures per 100 g apply to your serving.
It can: the Peijnenburg variant examined contains xylitol. If you want to avoid sweeteners, read the ingredients and warnings on the packaging; the label alone doesn’t tell you whether sweeteners are present.
Don’t assume so. Check the ingredients list for the product you choose to see whether it contains iodised salt; the name ‘breakfast cake’ doesn’t tell you.
No. The wholemeal variants from Peijnenburg, AH, Jumbo and PLUS that were examined list rye and gluten. Always check the current allergen information on the packaging before buying a specific product, and don’t rely on the word ‘wholemeal’ alone.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the loaf you buy. The AH variant examined says to store it in a cool, dark, dry place; for its pre-sliced variant examined, Jumbo advises protecting it from moisture and heat.
