When choosing wholemeal breakfast cake to serve with coffee to friends, don’t rely on the name alone. Compare the fibre and sugars per 100 g, as well as the size of each slice. A standard pre-sliced version is convenient when you’re serving several guests. If you’re considering a version with no added sugars, check the ingredients and sweetener warnings too. If any of your guests have food allergies, always check the label on the pack you’re serving.
You want to serve something with coffee and are particularly interested in the wholemeal ingredients and stated fibre content. Compare the nutrition information per 100 g, then check the weight of a slice if you also want to compare portions.
You’re comparing the sugar content of different options and want to know what’s in an alternative with no added sugars. That claim doesn’t mean the product is sugar-free; it’s also important to check the sweeteners and any warnings on the label.
You want to serve slices straight from the pack and choose a pack size that suits the number of guests. Check whether it’s pre-sliced, the pack weight and the number of slices, but don’t use slice size as a guide to nutritional value.
First, compare the nutrition information on the same basis: per 100 g. Then consider the portion size, ingredients and packaging that suit your coffee break.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal ingredients and fibre | Read the ingredients and compare fibre per 100 g. Use the weight of a slice to compare portions too. | I want to serve breakfast cake with coffee that’s clearly made with wholemeal ingredients, and be able to assess the fibre in each slice. For around 46% of consumers, wholemeal ingredients and fibre would come first. |
| Sugars and sweeteners | Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. For options with no added sugars, check the ingredients and warnings too. | If I want to offer something with less sugar, I also want to know which sweetener the cake contains. For around 27% of consumers, this would be their first priority. |
| Serving and portions | Check whether the cake is pre-sliced and how much the pack weighs or how many slices it contains. | When I’m having friends over, I want to serve it without having to slice it and choose a pack that’s the right size. Around 27% of consumers would prioritise ease of serving. |
The term ‘wholemeal’ doesn’t tell you how much sugar a breakfast cake contains. The standard options described also differ in their stated fibre content.
Compare the fibre and ‘of which sugars’ figures per 100 g for two suitable products, then check the portion size.
The Peijnenburg option described contains xylitol. Joybuy’s product information warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect and states that xylitol is not suitable for animals.
Keep the packaging available for guests who want to check the ingredients, and keep the cake out of reach of pets.
The wholemeal options described contain rye and therefore gluten. Some packs also warn that they may contain other cereals containing gluten.
Ask guests in advance about any relevant food allergies and check the allergen information on the exact pack you’re serving.
If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, the information on the packaging of the product you’ve bought should guide your choice.
Just before serving, check the ingredients list, allergen information and any warnings again.
Peijnenburg describes both a 345 g pack of pre-sliced wholemeal breakfast cake and a 345 g pack of pre-sliced wholemeal breakfast cake with no added sugars.
The AH wholemeal sliced breakfast cake described is sold in a 485 g pack.
Jumbo describes a 475 g pack of pre-sliced wholemeal breakfast cake and a smaller 280 g wholemeal option.
PLUS describes a 485 g pack of pre-sliced wholemeal breakfast cake for anyone who wants to serve slices straight from the pack.
ALDI Nederland describes a 485 g pack of pre-sliced wholemeal breakfast cake by Koek & Bakker.
The term refers to the grain used, not the cake’s sugar content. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum) explains that a product can only be called wholemeal if all the flour used is wholemeal. You should also compare the fibre, sugars and ingredients in the breakfast cake itself.
No. Peijnenburg states that the wholemeal option with no added sugars described here still contains 4,9 g of sugars per 100 g. This option contains xylitol; Joybuy’s product information warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Don’t assume it’s suitable: the standard wholemeal options described here contain rye and therefore gluten. For that guest, check the ingredients and allergen information on the specific pack, including any warnings about other cereals.
Don’t assume it does. Information from the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) about the permitted presence of iodine compounds in bakery products doesn’t mean that all breakfast cake contains iodised baker’s salt. If it matters to your choice, check the ingredients on the pack.
Follow the storage advice on the pack you buy. The product information described recommends storing it in a cool, dry and dark place. Before serving, also check the best-before date on the pack.
