When choosing biscuits for the autumn half-term, don’t rely on ‘zero’ or ‘Less Sugar’ alone. Compare the amount of sugars per 100 g and per portion, and check exactly what the claim on the packaging says. Also check the ingredients, allergens and portion size. For a regular snack for children aged 4 to 12, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends fruit and vegetables as good choices.
They want to weigh up a biscuit break for the children against regular snacks, so they pay attention to portion size and what sugar claims mean. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends fruit and vegetables as good snacks for children aged 4 to 12.
They want to know how much sugar a biscuit actually contains and understand the difference between ‘sugar-free’, ‘no added sugar’ and ‘reduced sugar’.
Before buying, they need to check which allergens and sweeteners are in the option they have chosen, rather than relying solely on the nutrition claim.
First decide whether you’re looking for a biscuit for a planned treat or a regular snack for a child. When comparing biscuits, check the sugar level and claim, then look at the ingredients and portion size.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars and claims | Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and per portion. Check whether the claim refers to sugars, added sugars or a reduction. | When comparing biscuits by sugar content, I want to understand the figure on the label rather than just read the wording on the front. An estimated 36% of consumers put this first. |
| Snack time for children | Decide whether it’s a regular snack or a planned biscuit break, and choose the portion in advance. | For a child, I want to distinguish a holiday treat from what I’d give them as a snack on an ordinary day. This is the main consideration for around 29% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients and allergen information; for biscuits containing polyols, check the warnings too. | If someone I’m with needs to avoid certain ingredients, I need to be able to check the exact option I’ve chosen. This check matters most to around 21% of consumers. |
| Portion and energy | Compare the nutrition information per 100 g with the amount of biscuits you’ll actually serve or take with you. | For a day out, I want to decide in advance how many biscuits to take, without mistaking a small portion for a low value per 100 g. Around 14% of consumers prioritise this consideration. |
According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Verkade San Francisco zero contains 0% added sugar, but also 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g. These two statements don’t mean the same thing.
Read the exact claim and also compare the ‘of which sugars’ line in the nutrition table.
According to Albert Heijn’s product pages, AH Digestive 0% sugar and Verkade San Francisco zero contain 465 and 401 kcal per 100 g respectively. So the sugar level alone doesn’t tell you the full nutritional value of these biscuits.
Check the energy per 100 g too, and work out how many biscuits make up one portion.
Albert Heijn’s product information warns that consuming too much AH Digestive 0% sugar or Verkade San Francisco zero may have a laxative effect. The biscuits mentioned also differ in their allergens and possible traces.
Check the packaging of the exact option you’re buying, including its ingredients, allergens and warnings.
A sugar claim doesn’t tell you where a biscuit fits into a child’s daily diet. For children aged 4 to 12, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends fruit and vegetables as good snacks.
Distinguish between a planned biscuit break and a regular snack.
AH Digestive 0% sugar is a supermarket own-brand biscuit made with sweeteners. The figures below apply to this product, not to all Albert Heijn biscuits.
Céréal Zonder Suikers Kokos Smaak is a biscuit made with sweeteners. Jumbo describes this option as biscuits weighing 11 g each.
Verkade San Francisco zero is a biscuit labelled ‘0% added sugar’. This is not the same as stating that it contains 0 g of sugars.
These g'woon Cookie Bars are an option for a planned biscuit break. ‘Less Sugar’ appears in the product name; read the nutrition information and the comparison behind that claim before deciding whether they’re right for you.
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For a planned biscuit break, you can compare these Cookie Bars with other snacks, without treating ‘Less Sugar’ as proof that their sugar content has been reduced.
Pack: 6 pieces. Check the current packaging for the sugars per 100 g, the amount per bar, the ingredients and allergens.
No. Under EU Regulation 1924/2006, a claim about a reduced content requires a reduction of at least 30% compared with a similar product; it doesn’t mean the product contains no sugars. So check both the exact claim and the ‘of which sugars’ figure in the nutrition table.
Yes. According to Albert Heijn, Verkade San Francisco zero states ‘0% added sugar’ and also contains 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g. Compare the sugar level when choosing between biscuits like these.
Some biscuits containing sweeteners carry this warning if consumed in excess. Albert Heijn includes it for AH Digestive 0% sugar and Verkade San Francisco zero; check the warning on the current packaging when choosing a portion.
A sugar claim doesn’t automatically make a biscuit suitable as a daily snack. For children aged 4 to 12, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends fruit and vegetables as good snacks. Decide separately whether you’re looking for a regular snack or a planned biscuit break.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the exact option you want to buy. The biscuits mentioned differ in this respect: for example, Jumbo lists wheat and the possible presence of nuts, milk, egg, soya and sesame, among other allergens, for Céréal Zonder Suikers Kokos Smaak.
