Who is this relevant to?

Party planners looking for more fibre

You’re looking for a breakfast cake made with a wholegrain ingredient and comparing fibre per 100 g. You also want to assess sugars separately.

Parents who want to hand out small portions

You’re organising a treat for a group and looking for a pre-sliced cake that you can divide into small portions in advance.

Parents who want to take the group’s needs into account

Before buying, you want to know about any allergies and dietary preferences, and whether the school or after-school club has rules about treats.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, check that food treats are allowed under the relevant rules. Then compare the nutritional information per 100 g and work out how many small portions you’ll need.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Wholemeal and fibre Check which wholegrain ingredient is listed and compare fibre per 100 g. I’m looking for a wholemeal cake and want to compare its fibre content without losing sight of the sugars. This is the main priority for around 33% of consumers.
Sugars and sweeteners Compare sugars per 100 g. For no-added-sugar varieties, check the ingredients and warnings. When I’m handing out cake to children, I want to know which sugars and any sweeteners it contains. For around 27% of consumers, this choice of ingredients is the top priority.
Portions and sharing Check whether the cake is pre-sliced and how many slices or portions the pack contains. I want to be able to divide the cake in advance so I can hand out small portions to the group. This practical convenience matters most to around 20% of consumers.
Allergens and rules Ask about allergies and dietary preferences, read the current label and, if necessary, check the school or after-school club’s policy. Before I buy anything, I need to know whether the children can eat the treat and whether sharing it is allowed. These questions are the main consideration for around 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming wholemeal means low in sugars

    The standard wholemeal breakfast cakes listed by Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS contain between 34 and 35.5 g of sugars per 100 g, depending on the product.

    Compare fibre and sugars on the same per-100 g basis, then decide what portion size you want to hand out.

  • Taking a no-added-sugar claim as a complete guide to the ingredients

    According to the product information, the sliced Peijnenburg no-added-sugar variety examined contains xylitol and 24 g of polyols per 100 g. The product information warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

    Even with this variety, read the full ingredients list and usage warning.

  • Shopping before you know the group’s rules

    The wholemeal breakfast cakes examined list rye and cereals containing gluten. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends asking about allergies and dietary preferences in advance. Schools and after-school clubs may also have rules about treats.

    Find out this information before choosing a product and how much you’ll need.

Brands to consider

Peijnenburg

According to the product information, the sliced wholemeal breakfast cake without added sugars examined contains 40% wholemeal rye flour and comes in a pack of 12 slices.

  • Jumbo lists 17 g of fibre and 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g for this variety.
  • The product information lists xylitol, 24 g of polyols per 100 g and a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. The cake contains rye.

AH

The sliced wholemeal breakfast cake from Albert Heijn examined weighs 485 g; the product page lists 16 portions of 30 g.

  • Albert Heijn lists 41% wholemeal rye flour and 5.7 g of fibre per 100 g for this variety.
  • The same product information lists 34 g of sugars per 100 g and rye, a cereal containing gluten. Check the current label before sharing it.

Jumbo

According to the product page, the 280 g Jumbo Wholemeal Breakfast Cake examined contains around 11 portions of 25.5 g.

  • Jumbo lists 35.9% wholemeal rye flour and 8.2 g of fibre per 100 g for this variety.
  • The product information lists 35.5 g of sugars per 100 g, as well as gluten, rye and wheat. Check the current packaging.

PLUS

The sliced wholemeal breakfast cake from PLUS examined comes in a 485 g pack.

  • PLUS lists 41% wholemeal rye flour and 5.7 g of fibre per 100 g for this variety.
  • The product information lists 34.1 g of sugars per 100 g, as well as rye and cereals containing gluten. It may also contain wheat, barley and oats.

Koek & Bakker

ALDI lists a sliced wholemeal breakfast cake by Koek & Bakker in a 485 g pack.

  • The pre-sliced portions listed by ALDI are handy if you want to divide them up in advance.
  • Check the packaging for fibre, sugars and allergens before choosing this variety for the group.

Wholemeal breakfast cake at Joybuy

This sliced wholemeal breakfast cake is an option if you want to divide the treat into small portions yourself. Before buying, check the nutritional information and allergens on the current packaging.

g'woon wholemeal breakfast cake, sliced, 485 g

g'woon wholemeal breakfast cake, sliced, 485 g

A sliced cake you can divide into small portions for a treat. The product information lists 43% wholemeal rye flour. Check the current packaging for the number of slices and compare the nutritional values per 100 g.

The ingredients include rye. Ask about allergies before sharing the cake and read the allergen information on the current packaging.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

How big should a portion of breakfast cake be for a treat?

Choose a small portion and work out how many children will be taking part before you buy. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends small treats. You can divide a pre-sliced cake in advance, but the number of slices varies from pack to pack.

Should I ask about allergens in wholemeal breakfast cake?

Yes. Ask about allergies before the party and read the current label of the cake you plan to share. The products examined list rye and cereals containing gluten; information about other cereals varies by product.

What does ‘no added sugars’ mean on this breakfast cake?

This claim doesn’t tell you which other ingredients or usage warnings are listed on the packaging. According to the product information, the Peijnenburg variety examined contains xylitol and polyols and carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

Can I take breakfast cake to school or an after-school club as a treat?

First, check the school or after-school club’s rules about treats. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also highlights allergies and other dietary preferences. If the rules don’t allow edible treats, breakfast cake won’t be suitable to share.

Does all wholemeal breakfast cake contain iodine from baker’s salt?

Don’t assume this is the case for a particular pack of breakfast cake. Check the ingredients on the packaging or ask the manufacturer whether baker’s salt has been used.