A breakfast cake with ‘zero’ in its name isn’t automatically sugar-free. Under EU rules on nutrition claims, a product can only be called sugar-free if it contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g; according to their product information, AH Zero, PLUS Zero and the Peijnenburg varieties discussed here contain 4.9 g per 100 g. If you’re mainly looking for breakfast cake with no added sugars for a dinner for two, compare the sweetener, allergens and portion size you plan to serve too.
If sugar-free is a must for you, it’s the amount of sugars per 100 g that matters, not the word ‘zero’. The AH, PLUS and Peijnenburg varieties discussed here list 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g, which is above the threshold for the EU sugar-free claim.
You can choose a product labelled ‘with no added sugars’ without expecting the breakfast cake to contain no sugars at all. If you’d also like to consider a wholegrain base, Jumbo lists wholegrain rye flour and nutritional values per 100 g for Peijnenburg Wholegrain with no added sugars.
For a shared snack, the number of slices, the ingredients and the portion size all matter. The Peijnenburg product pages shown by Jumbo warn that excessive consumption of products containing xylitol may have a laxative effect.
Start with ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. Then check which ingredients and portion size suit the way you plan to serve the breakfast cake.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar-free or no added sugars | Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. The EU sugar-free claim requires a maximum of 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g; ‘with no added sugars’ is a different claim. | If you’re looking for a genuinely sugar-free product, don’t rely on the name ‘zero’. For around 36% of consumers, that strict sugar limit comes first. |
| Sweetener and portion size | Check whether the product contains xylitol or other polyols, and read the warning on the packaging. Think about how much you plan to serve. | If I’m serving a new variety at dinner, I want to be able to take the warning about excessive consumption into account. Around 29% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Grains, fibre and allergens | Check the type of grain, the fibre per 100 g and the allergen information for the exact variety. According to Jumbo, Peijnenburg Wholegrain with no added sugars contains wholegrain rye flour. | If you’re considering a wholegrain variety, you’ll want to know which grains it contains too. For around 21% of consumers, checking ingredients and allergens comes first. |
| Portion size and packaging | Check whether the breakfast cake is sliced or individually wrapped, and how many slices you want to serve. | For a small shared snack, I don’t want to take more out of the packet than I’m going to serve. Portioning convenience comes first for around 14% of consumers. |
The product name doesn’t tell you how much sugar the breakfast cake contains. According to their product information, AH Zero, PLUS Zero and the Peijnenburg varieties discussed here contain 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g.
If sugar-free is a must for you, check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. Under EU rules on nutrition claims, the limit for this claim is a maximum of 0.5 g per 100 g.
The Peijnenburg varieties discussed here carry a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. This is worth bearing in mind if you’re planning to serve the breakfast cake at dinner.
Read the warning for your chosen variety and decide in advance how many slices you plan to offer.
The Peijnenburg Wholegrain with no added sugars shown by Jumbo lists 17 g of fibre per 100 g, but also contains wholegrain rye flour. The fibre figure doesn’t tell you whether it’s suitable if you have an allergy.
First check the allergen information on the packaging of the exact variety, then compare the rest of the nutritional information.
The sliced plain and wholegrain varieties discussed here are worth considering if you’re comparing breakfast cakes with no added sugars.
AH Sliced Breakfast Cake Zero is a supermarket own-brand option to compare for added sugars and total sugar content.
PLUS Sliced Breakfast Cake Zero and PLUS Reduced Sugar Breakfast Cake Bars are different types of product with different sugar content.
ALDI lists a sliced Koek & Bakker Breakfast Cake Zero as an option with no added sugars.
Lidl lists a 485 g pack of Breakfast Cake Zero, which the product page says is only available in store.
No, not just because of the name. Under EU rules on nutrition claims, the sugar-free claim can only be used for products containing a maximum of 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. According to their product information, the AH, PLUS and Peijnenburg varieties discussed here contain 4.9 g per 100 g.
Under EU rules on nutrition claims, this claim means that no mono- or disaccharides, or other foods used for their sweetening properties, have been added. The product may still contain sugars, so check ‘of which sugars’ in the nutrition table too.
Don’t let your dog eat breakfast cake containing xylitol. The Peijnenburg product information shown by Jumbo warns that xylitol is unsuitable for animals and advises contacting a vet immediately if it is eaten. Keep these products out of reach.
Check the portion size you’ve chosen and the warning about excessive consumption. The products discussed here that contain xylitol or other polyols warn that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also notes that switching to a high-fibre diet can initially cause wind.
