Who is this choice for?

Cinema-goer looking to avoid sugar

You’re after a sweet treat for a film night, but don’t want a standard almond-paste-filled cake. Compare products labelled as sugar-free with the ‘of which sugars’ figure in the nutritional information.

Fan of classic filled cakes

The almond-paste filling and the shape of the product are what matter most to you. A biscuit or mini cake isn’t an equivalent alternative, even if its sugar content is lower.

Shopper who checks ingredients carefully

You want to check which allergens and polyols a product contains before buying. If you’re taking a snack to the cinema, you’ll also want to check whether you’re allowed to bring your own food.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you want to stick with a filled almond-paste cake or focus mainly on the sugar content. Then compare the portion size and ingredients of the exact product.

Standard almond-paste-filled cake

A good choice if: having a filled cake with almond paste matters more to you than choosing a sugar-free option.

The trade-off: Albert Heijn lists 38 g of sugars per 100 g for AH BASIC Kano’s and 39 g per 100 g for AH Roomboter kano’s.

Biscuit with no added sugars

A good choice if: you want to avoid added sugars and would prefer a crunchy biscuit to an almond-paste-filled cake.

The trade-off: Verkade lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for San Francisco Zero; it isn’t a filled almond-paste cake.

Sugar-free biscuit or mini cake

A good choice if: a listing of 0 g of sugars per 100 g matters more to you than having an almond-paste-filled cake.

The trade-off: the Céréal biscuits and mini cakes researched contain polyols. Consider the portion size and the rest of the nutritional information too.

What to consider What to check when buying Who should consider this most?
As little sugar as possible Read the exact claim and compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g on the packaging. If I want as little sugar as possible, the figure in the nutritional information is what helps me choose between an almond-paste-filled cake and an alternative. Around 42% of consumers say this is their main priority.
Choosing an almond-paste-filled cake Check the product type and portion size: a filled almond-paste cake is different from a biscuit or mini cake. For me, the filling is an essential part of a film-night snack; a lower-sugar biscuit doesn’t offer the same experience. Keeping the filled cake is the top priority for around 33% of consumers.
Ingredients and cinema rules Check the label for allergens and polyols, and look up the cinema’s rules. I want to know whether I can eat the ingredients and whether I’m allowed to take the snack into the screening room. For around 25% of consumers, checking these practical details comes first.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘no added sugars’ means ‘sugar-free’

    A product can be sold with no added sugars and still contain sugars. Verkade lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for San Francisco Zero.

    Check the claim, the ingredients list and the ‘of which sugars’ figure.

  • Comparing sugar content alone

    The sugar figure doesn’t tell you how much energy a product provides or how much you eat at a time. Albert Heijn lists 414 kcal per 100 g for Céréal Chocolate Chip Cookies.

    Compare the nutritional values per 100 g and per portion, and consider how many biscuits make up a portion for you.

  • Overlooking polyols

    Biscuits designed for people watching their sugar intake may contain polyols. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems.

    Check the ingredients and any warning on the packaging, especially if you plan to take several biscuits.

  • Buying a snack before checking the cinema’s rules

    Pathé doesn’t allow food or drink brought in from outside. Kinepolis says that you can’t take your own food or drink into the screening room.

    Before buying, check the latest rules for the cinema and screening you’re attending.

    Otherwise, you may not be able to eat your snack during the film.

Brands to help you compare

These brands can help you compare the product types mentioned; their ranges alone don’t tell you whether a particular product is suitable.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn sells standard BASIC Kano’s and Roomboter kano’s under its own brand, with product information about ingredients and nutritional values.

  • Albert Heijn lists 38 g and 39 g of sugars per 100 g respectively, so you can compare the two filled-cake varieties on the same basis.
  • These cakes aren’t sugar-free. Check the latest packaging for ingredients and allergens.

Jumbo

Jumbo is worth considering when comparing a standard butter-filled cake with biscuits labelled differently in terms of sugar.

  • The difference between a filled cake and a biscuit alternative makes the type of product you want an important factor in your choice.
  • A standard butter-filled cake isn’t an alternative to a product you’re specifically looking for with no sugars.

Verkade

Verkade San Francisco Zero is a biscuit with no added sugars, not an almond-paste-filled cake.

  • Verkade lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g, making the difference between the claim and the total sugar content clear.
  • The product contains maltitols, wheat, milk and soya. Check the latest packaging and the warning about excessive consumption.

Céréal

Céréal’s range includes Chocolate Chip Cookies and Mini Cakes labelled as sugar-free.

  • Albert Heijn lists 0 g of sugars per 100 g for the cookies researched; Jumbo lists the same for the mini cakes researched.
  • These products contain polyols and aren’t filled almond-paste cakes. Check the portion size, allergens and other nutritional information for each variety.

Joybuy product related to this topic

If you’re comparing snacks with sugar in mind, you’ll find a Klene product below. Check the exact variety on the packaging: the product name refers to biscuits, while the additional description also mentions liquorice. It isn’t an almond-paste-filled cake.

Klene Sugar-Free Lavender Biscuits, 110 g pack

Klene Sugar-Free Lavender Biscuits 110 g

If you’re looking for a snack labelled Sugar-Free for a film night, you can compare this Klene variety with other biscuits by checking the label.

The product name states 110 g. Before buying, check whether the pack contains biscuits or liquorice, and what flavour it is.

Read the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion, paying particular attention to polyols. Also check whether you’re allowed to take your own snacks into the screening room.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Are standard almond-paste-filled cakes sugar-free?

No, not the standard varieties researched. Albert Heijn lists 38 g of sugars per 100 g for AH BASIC Kano’s and 39 g per 100 g for AH Roomboter kano’s. Check the packaging if you’re considering another variety.

Does ‘no added sugars’ mean the same as ‘sugar-free’?

No. Verkade San Francisco Zero is labelled as a biscuit with no added sugars, but Verkade still lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g. Always check the ‘of which sugars’ figure in the nutritional information as well as the claim.

Is a sugar-free biscuit also a smaller snack?

The sugar content won’t tell you that. Albert Heijn lists 414 kcal per 100 g for Céréal Chocolate Chip Cookies, so compare the weight per biscuit, portion size and other nutritional information with those of the almond-paste-filled cake you’re considering.

Can I take my own almond-paste-filled cakes or biscuits to the cinema?

Check your cinema’s rules before buying snacks to eat in the screening room. Pathé doesn’t allow food or drink brought in from outside; Kinepolis says that you can’t take your own food or drink into the screening room.

What should I look for if a biscuit contains polyols?

Check which polyols and warnings are listed on the packaging, and compare the portion size with how much you plan to eat. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems.