If you want the rice cake itself to contain as little fat as possible, the plain salted varieties featured here are a better choice than the chocolate-coated variety: they contain between 0.6 and 3.0 g of fat per 100 g, compared with 21.2 g for the chocolate variety. Fat alone isn’t enough to guide your choice of a protein-focused snack, so also consider the protein in the rice cake and any topping you add.
If rice cakes are part of your protein-focused daily meal plan, it’s the protein in the whole snack that counts. EDEKA24, Kallo and ALDI SÜD each list between 6.7 and 8.5 g of protein per 100 g for their plain varieties; adding a topping changes the nutritional values of your portion.
When choosing between plain and coated rice cakes, it’s worth comparing the figures per 100 g. For the plain varieties featured here, ALDI SÜD, Kallo and EDEKA24 list between 0.6 and 3.0 g of fat; EDEKA24 lists 21.2 g for the chocolate variety featured here.
If you have allergies, the ingredients list and allergen advice on the specific pack are essential: EDEKA24 lists sesame in the Alnatura Sea Salt variety, while Kallo warns that Lightly Salted may contain traces of milk, sesame and soya. The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment also points out that rice products such as rice cakes can contain inorganic arsenic. If you eat them regularly, varying the types of grain you eat is worth considering.
Start by comparing the nutritional information per 100 g, then take into account the portion you actually eat, including any toppings. Ingredients and on-pack advice may also affect your choice.
| Criterion | What to check | Who should consider it? |
|---|---|---|
| Protein in the whole snack | Compare protein per 100 g and per portion eaten; calculate any topping separately. | If I want my snack to contribute to my protein target, looking at the rice cake alone isn’t enough. Around 42% of consumers would make the protein content of the whole snack their top priority. |
| Fat content of the rice cake | Check the fat per 100 g; for coated varieties, also look at the sugar and ingredients. | I’m mainly looking for a low-fat rice cake and don’t want to compare a chocolate variety with a plain salted one as if they were the same. For around 33% of consumers, the fat content of the rice cake would be the main consideration. |
| Ingredients and regular consumption | Read the allergen advice on the pack and vary the types of grain you eat if you have them regularly. | For me, ingredient information or variety in my diet takes priority over individual nutritional values. Around 25% of consumers would check these points first. |
According to ALDI SÜD, EDEKA24 and Kallo, the plain rice cakes featured here contain between 6.7 and 8.5 g of protein per 100 g. Under the relevant EU regulation, a product must get at least 12% of its energy from protein to be labelled a “source of protein”; calculations based on the nutritional values given for these varieties do not meet this threshold.
To check whether a snack fits your protein target, compare the protein in the portion you actually eat, including any topping.
EDEKA24 lists 21.2 g of fat and 36.8 g of sugar per 100 g for its Herzstücke rice cakes with dark chocolate and raspberries. These figures are quite different from the fat content of the plain varieties featured here.
Compare varieties using the same 100 g measure rather than comparing the number of individual cakes alone.
A rice cake that looks plain may still contain relevant ingredients or carry allergen warnings. EDEKA24 lists sesame in Alnatura Sea Salt; Kallo warns that Lightly Salted may contain traces of milk, sesame and soya.
If you have allergies, check the ingredients list and allergen advice on the current pack of the variety you’ve chosen.
The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment says that rice and rice products, including rice cakes, can contain relatively high levels of inorganic arsenic. The consumer advice centre particularly stresses the importance of varying grain types in meals for babies and young children.
If you eat snacks regularly, alternate between different grains and types of snack rather than relying solely on rice cakes.
The organic salted rice cakes featured here are an example of a plain variety where the fat content of the cake itself is a key consideration.
The organic Sea Salt rice cakes listed by EDEKA24 offer a plain base whose nutritional values can be considered alongside your chosen topping.
Lightly Salted is another example of plain wholegrain rice cakes with declared nutritional values.
No. Based on the figures, the varieties featured here do not meet the requirement for this claim. Under the relevant EU regulation, at least 12% of a product’s energy must come from protein for it to be labelled a “source of protein”. The nutritional values given work out at around 8.6% for Kallo Lightly Salted and around 8.1% for Alnatura Sea Salt.
It depends on the variety. EDEKA24 lists 21.2 g of fat per 100 g for its Herzstücke rice cakes with dark chocolate and raspberries. According to ALDI SÜD, Kallo and EDEKA24, the plain varieties featured here contain between 0.6 and 3.0 g per 100 g. So compare the nutritional information for the varieties you’re choosing between.
Follow the instructions on the relevant pack. For Alnatura Sea Salt, EDEKA24 recommends storing the rice cakes in a dry place and sealing the pack well after opening. The chocolate variety featured here should also be kept somewhere cool and protected from light.
If you eat them regularly, it’s worth varying the types of grain you have. The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment points out that rice products such as rice cakes can contain inorganic arsenic. The consumer advice centre particularly emphasises varying grains in meals for babies and young children.