Sliced wholemeal breakfast cake is handy for sharing at the Sinterklaas parade, but don’t choose based on the word ‘wholemeal’ alone: fibre and sugar levels vary between products. Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion. If you’re considering a version with sweeteners, check the ingredients and warnings on the pack too.
If you want to share breakfast cake around the parade and are mainly interested in wholemeal rye and fibre, the nutritional information is more useful than the front of the pack. The stated fibre levels vary between the wholemeal versions from Albert Heijn, PLUS and Jumbo.
If you’re comparing a regular wholemeal breakfast cake with a version with no added sugars, check the ingredients too. Peijnenburg’s version with no added sugars contains xylitol and comes with warnings to consider when making your choice.
For taking on the go or sharing with a group, pre-sliced portions and a suitable pack size can help you decide. Check how many slices are in the pack before working out how many you’ll need.
For the parade, first decide whether you want regular wholemeal breakfast cake or a version with no added sugars. Then compare the fibre, portions and ingredients in the specific packs.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal rye and fibre | Check the proportion of wholemeal rye flour in the ingredients list, and compare fibre per 100 g and per portion. | If fibre is my top priority, I want to be able to compare the values for individual packs. For around 36% of consumers, fibre is the most important factor. |
| Sugars and sweeteners | Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and per portion. For a version with no added sugars, check the ingredients and warnings too. | If you’re looking for less sugar, don’t assume that every wholemeal version has the same sugar content. Around 29% of consumers prioritise sugar when choosing. |
| How much you need for your group | Check the pack weight and how many slices or portions you can share out. | If I’m sharing with a group, I want to take enough cake without overestimating the number of portions. Quantity is the main consideration for around 21% of consumers. |
| Portions and ingredients | Check whether the cake is pre-sliced, and read the current allergen information and any warnings about sweeteners. | If it needs to be easy to share or someone in the group needs to check the ingredients, I want to be able to assess the pack in advance. For around 14% of consumers, ease of use or checking the ingredients comes first. |
Wholemeal describes the flour used, not the sugar content. Albert Heijn’s wholemeal breakfast cake lists 34 g of added sugars per 100 g; Peijnenburg’s version with no added sugars has a different recipe and contains xylitol.
Compare both ‘of which sugars’ and the ingredients on the pack, and check the fibre per 100 g separately.
Peijnenburg’s product information warns that xylitol is not suitable for animals. The brand also states that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Keep this version and any loose slices out of the reach of pets, including while you’re sharing them out.
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority sets out the conditions under which iodine may be present in bakery products through the use of baker’s salt. This doesn’t tell you whether a specific pack of breakfast cake contains iodine.
If the iodine content matters to your choice, check the current label and, if necessary, ask the manufacturer about this product.
Its range includes a sliced wholemeal breakfast cake with no added sugars.
The AH own-brand range includes a 485 g sliced wholemeal breakfast cake.
The Jumbo own-brand range includes a 280 g wholemeal breakfast cake.
The PLUS own-brand range includes a 485 g sliced wholemeal breakfast cake.
ALDI lists a 485 g pack of sliced wholemeal breakfast cake from Koek & Bakker.
This sliced wholemeal breakfast cake is a good choice if you want to take slices with you or share them at the parade. If fibre or sugars will influence your choice, compare the nutritional information on the packaging.
Image unavailable
The pre-sliced format can be handy if you want to share out slices at the parade.
Compare the fibre and sugars on the current label per 100 g and per portion. The product description mentions rye, but this conflicts with the allergen information, so check the packaging before buying.
No. Albert Heijn states that its wholemeal version contains 34 g of added sugars per 100 g, while Peijnenburg’s version with no added sugars lists 4,9 g of sugars per 100 g. Check the nutritional information for the specific pack; ‘added sugars’ and ‘of which sugars’ are different declarations.
Check which sweetener the version contains. Peijnenburg’s wholemeal version with no added sugars contains xylitol, which the product information says is not suitable for animals. Keep the pack and any loose slices out of their reach.
Read the allergen information on the pack you’re buying. The wholemeal versions described from Albert Heijn and PLUS contain rye and gluten; PLUS also lists the possible presence of wheat, barley and oats. Don’t assume the information is the same for every brand or version.
Follow the storage advice and best-before date on the packaging. The product information from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS recommends storing the cake in a dry place. Seal an opened pack tightly to help prevent it from drying out.
You can’t assume this is the case for every product. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority sets out conditions for the use of baker’s salt as a source of iodine in bakery products, but these don’t tell you the iodine content of an individual breakfast cake. Check the current label and ask the manufacturer for product-specific information if you need it to make your choice.
