If you’re keeping an eye on fibre with your coffee
You want to know how much fibre there is in a slice, not just whether it says ‘wholemeal’. Peijnenburg lists 17 g of fibre per 100 g and 4.7 g per 28 g slice for its variety with no added sugars.
Who is this relevant for?
If you want to limit added sugars
You’re looking for a variety with no added sugars, but also want to check its total sugar content and ingredients. The Peijnenburg variety reviewed lists 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g and contains xylitol.
If you’re serving coffee to several people
You want to know in advance how many slices you can serve. The sliced wholemeal breakfast cakes reviewed from Albert Heijn, PLUS and Koek & Bakker each come in a 485 g pack. Check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging for your chosen variety, too.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, compare fibre and sugars on the same per-100 g basis. Then work out how many slices you’ll need for coffee and read the ingredients for the variety you plan to serve.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Fibre and wholemeal ingredients | Compare fibre per 100 g and check which wholemeal ingredients are in the exact variety. | When I’m having coffee, I want to know how much fibre is in my slice, even if several cakes are labelled wholemeal. For around 42% of consumers, fibre content is the top priority when choosing. |
| Sugars and sweeteners | Check both ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and the ingredients. If sweeteners are used, look out for any warnings on the packaging. | I want to avoid added sugars without assuming the cake is sugar-free. Around 33% of consumers give priority to this question of sugar content. |
| Slices and packaging | Check the pack weight and the number or size of the pre-sliced portions. | If several people are coming for coffee, I want to know in advance whether one pack contains enough slices. Ease of sharing matters most to around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
-
Choosing based on ‘wholemeal’ alone
Wholemeal describes the grain used, not the cake’s sugar content. The figures given by Peijnenburg, Albert Heijn and PLUS for the regular wholemeal varieties reviewed range from 34 to 39 g of sugars per 100 g; their fibre values differ, too.
Compare the nutrition tables for the exact varieties, looking at fibre and sugars per 100 g. Then check how much a slice weighs.
-
Assuming ‘no added sugars’ means ‘sugar-free’
Peijnenburg’s sliced variety with no added sugars still contains 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g. The product information also lists xylitol and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Read the nutrition information and ingredients together, and bear the warning in mind when setting out slices for coffee.
-
Assuming breakfast cake always contains iodised baker’s salt
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers are not required to use baker’s salt. So you can’t assume that breakfast cake contains iodised baker’s salt just because of the product category.
Check the ingredients for the specific cake if the type of salt used matters to your choice.
Brands compared
Compare the nutritional values for each variety: a brand name alone won’t tell you how much fibre or sugar is in a slice.
Peijnenburg
Offers a regular sliced wholemeal breakfast cake and a 345 g sliced wholemeal variety with no added sugars.
- For its regular variety, Peijnenburg lists 5.1 g of fibre and 39 g of sugars per 100 g, compared with 17 g of fibre and 4.9 g of sugars for the variety with no added sugars.
- The variety with no added sugars contains xylitol; the product information warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn’s own-brand range includes a sliced wholemeal breakfast cake in a 485 g pack.
- For this variety, Albert Heijn lists 41% wholemeal rye flour, 5.7 g of fibre and 34 g of sugars per 100 g.
- Check the current label before serving, particularly the ingredients and allergen information.
PLUS
Offers a sliced wholemeal breakfast cake in a 485 g pack.
- For this variety, PLUS lists 41% wholemeal rye flour, 5.7 g of fibre and 34.1 g of sugars per 100 g.
- Check the pack label if the ingredients or allergens are important to your guests.
Koek & Bakker
ALDI lists a 485 g sliced wholemeal breakfast cake from this brand.
- The sliced format and pack size are useful if you want to plan portions for several people in advance.
- Before comparing this variety with other cakes, check the nutrition information, ingredients and allergens on the packaging.
Lidl
Lists a 485 g sliced wholemeal breakfast cake as a store product.
- The stated weight helps you plan a coffee spread for several people.
- Check the nutrition information, ingredients and allergens on the exact pack in store.
Breakfast cake on Joybuy
This 485 g sliced wholemeal breakfast cake is an option if you’re setting out slices for several people. If nutritional values are a deciding factor, compare its fibre and sugar content with other varieties.
No image available
g'woon sliced wholemeal breakfast cake 485 g
The 485 g sliced pack is an option if you want to serve several slices with coffee.
According to Joybuy’s product information, this variety contains 43% wholemeal rye flour, 5.9 g of fibre and 34 g of sugars per 100 g. The word ‘wholemeal’ on its own doesn’t mean the product is low in sugar.
Frequently asked questions
Does ‘wholemeal’ mean breakfast cake is low in sugar?
No. ‘Wholemeal’ refers to the grain used, not the sugar content. For the regular wholemeal varieties reviewed, Peijnenburg, Albert Heijn and PLUS list 34 to 39 g of sugars per 100 g. So compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure for the exact products.
How much fibre is there in a slice of Peijnenburg with no added sugars?
According to Peijnenburg, a 28 g slice of its sliced wholemeal variety with no added sugars contains 4.7 g of fibre. Check the portion size if you’re comparing it with a slice from another pack.
Can I serve the wholemeal breakfast cake reviewed to someone who avoids gluten?
Don’t assume so: the Peijnenburg, AH and PLUS varieties reviewed contain rye and gluten-containing cereals. If someone has a dietary restriction, always check the allergen information on the current packaging of the cake you plan to serve.
Does breakfast cake automatically contain iodine because it uses baker’s salt?
No, you can’t tell from the name breakfast cake. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bakers are not required to use baker’s salt. Check the ingredients of the specific product if the type of salt matters.
How should I store breakfast cake until coffee time?
Seal the pack well after opening and follow the storage instructions and use-by date on the packaging. Keep the cake in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight.