Picnic shoppers choosing a plain base
If you plan to bring toppings separately, a plain rice cake gives you a base that does not dictate the flavour. Compare the cake's fat per 100 g, then check the toppings on their own labels.
Who these choices suit
Shoppers comparing salt as well as fat
A plain cake need not be unsalted. Sainsbury's lists less than 0.01 g salt per cake for its No Added Salt Rice Cakes; Kallo and M&S list 0.3 g and 0.33 g per 100 g respectively for their lightly salted products. Check that figures use the same basis before comparing them.
Picnic snackers who want flavour without toppings
A flavoured rice cake can be eaten without packing a separate topping. Snack a Jacks lists nutrition per cake for its Salt & Vinegar Jumbo variety; check the pack's per-100-g panel if fat content is a deciding factor.
What to check before buying
Decide whether the cakes will be topped or eaten as they are, then compare the nutrition and ingredient information for the exact variety you plan to pack.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Fat content | Read fat per 100 g, not just calories or fat per cake. Sainsbury's lists 2.4 g, Kallo 2.8 g and M&S 2.5 g fat per 100 g for their named plain varieties. | I want to compare the fat content of the cakes themselves before choosing what to bring. |
| Salt | Check whether the label gives salt per cake or per 100 g. Sainsbury's No Added Salt Rice Cakes list less than 0.01 g per cake; Kallo and M&S lightly salted cakes give per-100-g figures. | Salt matters to my choice too, so I do not want to assume that a plain cake has no added salt. |
| Ingredients | Read the current ingredient and allergen information for the exact pack, including any precautionary statement. Gluten-free or vegan wording does not address every allergen. | If I am sharing picnic food, I need to check the pack against each person's requirements. |
| Serving format | Choose a plain cake for separately packed toppings or a flavoured variety to eat without them. Check toppings separately for their ingredients and nutrition. | I would rather pack toppings only if we will use them; otherwise, a flavoured cake keeps serving simpler. |
| Storage | Follow the chosen pack's storage directions. M&S advises keeping its Lightly Salted Rice Cakes cool and dry and using an airtight container after opening. | I want the cakes packed according to their label instructions for the journey and picnic. |
Picnic shopping pitfalls
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Using calories per cake to compare fat content
A per-cake calorie figure and a per-100-g fat figure describe different things. Snack a Jacks lists 41 kcal and 0.6 g fat per cake for its Salt & Vinegar Jumbo variety.
When fat content matters, read the fat-per-100-g figure on the pack before comparing it with another variety.
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Counting only the rice cake when adding toppings
The rice cake's nutrition panel does not include a spread, cheese or dip added at the picnic.
Choose the cake using its own label, then check each topping separately and pack it according to its storage instructions.
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Treating gluten-free or vegan wording as an all-allergen answer
Those descriptions do not tell you everything about a product's ingredients or precautionary allergen statements. GOV.UK's allergen labelling guidance covers allergens present as ingredients in prepacked food.
Read the exact pack's ingredient and allergen information before buying or sharing it.
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Relying on an older online listing
A listing may not reflect the stock at the store you intend to visit, and the physical pack is the relevant label when you serve the cakes.
Check availability with the retailer before travelling and read the pack information when purchasing.
Brand and retailer references
These named varieties illustrate different label details to compare; a brand name alone does not settle the choice.
Kallo
Kallo Lightly Salted Rice Cakes are a plain wholegrain option for a picnic topping base.
- Kallo lists 2.8 g fat and 0.3 g salt per 100 g, and 27 kcal per cake.
- The product contains added sea salt; read the current pack's allergen information if you have an exclusion to check.
Snack a Jacks
Its Salt & Vinegar Jumbo variety is a flavoured option to eat without a separate topping.
- Snack a Jacks lists 41 kcal, 0.6 g fat and 0.26 g salt per cake for this variety.
- Use the pack's per-100-g panel for a fat comparison with varieties whose figures are given on that basis.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's No Added Salt Rice Cakes offer a plain option when salt is part of the buying decision.
- Sainsbury's lists 2.4 g fat per 100 g and less than 0.01 g salt per cake.
- The plain flavour makes toppings a separate choice, with their own ingredients and nutrition to check.
M&S
M&S Lightly Salted Rice Cakes are another plain option for separately packed toppings.
- Marks & Spencer lists 2.5 g fat and 0.33 g salt per 100 g.
- Its storage directions say to keep the cakes cool and dry and use an airtight container after opening.
Tesco
Tesco lists Kallo Lightly Salted Rice Cakes, providing another retailer listing for that named product.
- The Tesco listing gives 2.8 g fat and 0.3 g salt per 100 g for Kallo Lightly Salted Rice Cakes.
- Check stock for the store or delivery option you intend to use rather than relying on an earlier listing.
Joybuy rice-cake options
A flavoured rice-cake option for a picnic where you would rather not pack separate toppings.
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Marmite Rice Cakes 110g
These Marmite rice cakes suit a picnic where you want a flavoured cake without separate toppings. Check the pack's fat per 100 g if fat content is a deciding factor, and read its ingredients and allergen information before sharing.
Rice-cake questions
How should I compare fat in rice cakes?
Use the fat-per-100-g figure for the specific variety rather than relying on calories per cake. Sainsbury's lists 2.4 g per 100 g for its No Added Salt cakes, Kallo lists 2.8 g for Lightly Salted, and Marks & Spencer lists 2.5 g for its Lightly Salted cakes.
Does a plain rice cake necessarily contain less salt?
No: check the named variety and the unit on its label. Sainsbury's No Added Salt Rice Cakes list less than 0.01 g salt per cake, while Kallo Lightly Salted lists 0.3 g per 100 g and M&S Lightly Salted lists 0.33 g per 100 g; the per-cake and per-100-g figures should not be compared as though they use the same basis.
Does gluten-free wording cover other allergens?
No. Gluten-free wording does not answer every allergen question. GOV.UK's allergen labelling guidance says regulated allergens present as ingredients in prepacked food must be identified in the ingredients list; also read any precautionary statement on the exact pack before sharing it.
How should I pack rice cakes for a picnic?
Follow the storage directions on the chosen pack and keep toppings separate until serving if you plan to use them. Marks & Spencer directs shoppers to keep its Lightly Salted Rice Cakes in a cool, dry place and in an airtight container after opening; follow each topping's own storage instructions too.