Lunchbox planners
You want to spread individually wrapped portions across several days of the holidays or outings. Compare the number of inner packs and how many biscuits are in each one.
Which pack size works best for you?
Families sharing at home
You’re looking for biscuits to share and want to check the total quantity, whether there are individual packs, and what will be left once the pack is opened.
Shoppers checking ingredients
You need clear information about the ingredients and allergens in your chosen product before sharing it. Always check the current packaging, even if you know the brand.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide whether you need individually wrapped biscuits to take with you or a pack to share at home. Then check the portion size and product label.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Taking portions with you | Count the individually wrapped packs and the biscuits or slices in each one. Jumbo lists Lotus Biscoff XL 2P x 10 as ten bags, each with two biscuits; Albert Heijn lists Peijnenburg Ontbijtkoek naturel as ten individually wrapped 28 g slices. | If I’m getting something ready for several lunchboxes, I want to know how many sealed portions I can pack. For around 42% of consumers, taking snacks along and portioning them in advance would be the main reason for choosing a particular pack size. |
| Sharing at home | Compare the total quantity with the number of inner packs, and think about how you’ll use the contents once opened. ALDI lists Biscotto Mini-biscuits in a 6 x 6 format. | For sharing at home, I want enough to go round without relying on individual lunchbox portions. Sharing at home and stocking up would be the priorities for around 33% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the latest ingredients and allergen information, including any statement that other allergens may be present. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens are listed on food labels. | When I’m buying for a group, I need to check whether the product suits everyone’s dietary needs. For around 25% of consumers, this would be their main concern when buying. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming one inner pack contains one biscuit
A multipack may contain several bags, with two or three biscuits in each. So the number of bags alone doesn’t tell you how many biscuits you’ll be handing out at a time.
Before planning portions, check both the number of inner packs and the number of biscuits in each one.
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Relying on the brand or a nutrition claim alone
Ingredients and allergens vary from product to product. For example, Jumbo lists gluten-containing cereals, soya and wheat for Oreo Original 10 x 2, and says that milk may be present.
If someone has a relevant allergy, check the current packaging for the exact variety you plan to share.
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Thinking of a large multipack as an everyday snack
The pack format can make portioning easier, but it doesn’t determine where biscuits should fit into your everyday eating habits. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends that children aged 4 to 12 mainly choose foods from the Wheel of Five for snacks between meals.
Save biscuits for a treat and choose fruit or vegetables, for example, for other snacks.
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Relying on out-of-date product information
Ingredients and allergen information can change, even if the pack still looks familiar.
Compare pack sizes in advance, but check the label on the pack you’re buying again when you shop.
Brands worth comparing
Lotus Biscoff
Offers speculoos biscuits in packs with individually wrapped portions, among other products.
- Jumbo lists Lotus Biscoff XL 2P x 10 as ten bags, each containing two biscuits.
- For this XL variety, wheat and soya are listed as allergens. Check the current label separately for other varieties.
Oreo
Offers chocolate sandwich biscuits in a 220 g pack of 10 x 2.
- The product name at Jumbo clearly shows that the biscuits are split into ten packs of two.
- Jumbo lists gluten-containing cereals, soya and wheat for this variety; milk may be present.
Peijnenburg
Offers individually wrapped ontbijtkoek as a different kind of sweet snack, rather than a crisp biscuit.
- Albert Heijn lists the Ontbijtkoek naturel 10-pack as ten individually wrapped 28 g slices.
- The product information lists rye and gluten-containing cereals. Check the current label for information about any allergens that may be present, too.
Biscotto
ALDI’s own brand, with a range of cakes and biscuits, including Mini-biscuits in a 6 x 6 format.
- The pack size gives you a clear quantity to compare with the number of occasions you’re planning to share them.
- For each product, check how the biscuits are packed inside and which ingredients and allergens are listed on the label.
Sondey
Lidl’s own brand, with a range of cakes, biscuits, wafers and bars.
- The range offers different types of products to consider for a snack occasion.
- Check the pack format, ingredients and allergens for the specific biscuit product. A range description doesn’t tell you about every individual variety.
Biscuits at Joybuy
These products come in a range of pack sizes for biscuit breaks during the school holidays. For a lunchbox, focus on the contents of each sealed portion. A description such as 10 x 66 g or 10 x 96 g doesn’t tell you how many biscuits you can pack for each occasion.
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Ulker Halley Mini Biscuit 3 x 77 g
Consider this pack size if you’d like to divide the contents across several snack occasions. The product name lists 3 x 77 g; check the pack to see how many biscuits are in a portion you can take with you.
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Lu Scholiertje Milk Chocolate Biscuits 150 g
If you want to portion these out in advance, check the inner packaging. The product name lists 150 g; check the pack to see how many portions that makes.
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Oreo Original 10 x 66 g
A pack with ten units may suit planned snack occasions. The product name lists 10 x 66 g; if you’re looking for sealed lunchbox portions, check the inner packaging and how many biscuits are in each unit.
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Oreo Raspberry & Blueberry Flavor Sandwich Cookies 97 g, 2 packs
This pack is worth considering if you want two separate snack portions. The product name lists 97 g and two individually wrapped packs; check how many biscuits are in each one.
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Hershey Cookie n Creme Rounds 10 x 96 g
If you’re buying for several occasions, compare the listed 10 x 96 g pack size with how you plan to share the biscuits. Check the packaging to see how the units are packed and how many biscuits you’ll be handing out at a time.
Frequently asked questions
How do I choose a multipack for a lunchbox?
Start with the contents of one sealed inner pack, not the total weight. Jumbo lists Lotus Biscoff XL 2P x 10 as ten bags, each with two biscuits; Albert Heijn lists Peijnenburg Ontbijtkoek naturel 10-pack as ten individually wrapped 28 g slices. Ontbijtkoek is a different product from a crisp biscuit.
Should I check allergens again when buying the same brand?
Yes. Check the current packaging for the variety you’ve chosen. Ingredients and allergen information can vary or change. For example, Jumbo lists wheat and soya, among other ingredients, for Oreo Original 10 x 2, and says that milk may be present.
Are biscuits meant to be an everyday snack during the holidays?
A convenient multipack isn’t a reason to make biscuits your go-to choice for everyday snacks. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends that children aged 4 to 12 mainly choose foods from the Wheel of Five between meals, such as vegetables and fruit. You can save biscuits for a treat.
What label information is useful when sharing packaged biscuits?
At the very least, check the ingredients, allergens, quantity and best-before date for the specific product. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority lists this information as part of food labelling. Also check the pack for any storage instructions.