Who might find these options useful?

Commuter keeping an eye on sugar

When you’re having coffee on the go, you mainly want to compare the amount of sugars. So look beyond the claim on the front and check the ingredients list for sweeteners too.

Coffee drinker looking for a handy portion

You’re looking for a biscuit that’s easy to take with you, such as an individually wrapped biscuit or a pre-sliced piece of breakfast cake.

Commuter who checks ingredients carefully

You keep an eye on allergens, or find that products containing polyols don’t always agree with you. In that case, the current ingredients list and any warnings on the packaging are important when making your choice.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide what matters most during your coffee break: the amount of sugars, a measured portion, the ingredients or the type of biscuit you fancy. Then compare products in the format that suits you.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Sugars and nutritional values Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and per portion. Also check energy, saturated fat, salt and fibre; the Voedingscentrum recommends reading the ingredients and nutrition table. If I mainly want less sugar with my coffee, I want to know how much I’ll actually get from one biscuit. For around 36% of consumers, the absolute amount of sugars comes first.
Portability and portion size Check the weight per biscuit and whether they’re individually wrapped or pre-sliced. When I’m out and about, I want to be able to take one portion from my bag without opening a whole packet. Around 29% of consumers prioritise that convenience and measured portion.
Sweeteners and allergens Read the ingredients list and any warnings about polyols. Check the allergens for the specific variety on the packaging. If I’m sensitive to certain ingredients, a biscuit needs to suit my own dietary requirements, even if it contains few sugars. This is the first thing around 21% of consumers look at.
Taste and texture Choose between a crunchy biscuit, soft breakfast cake and spiced cake, then compare the label for that type of product. With my coffee, I mainly want a biscuit with a taste and texture I enjoy, without skipping the label check. This preference matters most to around 14% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Only reading the claim on the front

    ‘Zero’ or ‘no added sugars’ doesn’t tell you on its own how many sugars a portion contains or what its other nutritional values are.

    Follow the Voedingscentrum’s advice to read the ingredients list and nutrition table too. Where possible, compare portions of similar products.

  • Assuming ‘less sugar’ means low in sugar

    A relative reduction compares a product with a reference variety. Jumbo states that Snelle Jelle Minder Suiker contains less sugar than Snelle Jelle Kruidkoek naturel; the claim alone doesn’t tell you the amount per biscuit.

    Look for the absolute ‘of which sugars’ value on the packaging for the portion you’re going to eat.

  • Overlooking polyols

    Some biscuits with less sugar contain polyols. The Voedingscentrum states that a high intake can cause flatulence and diarrhoea.

    Read the ingredients and follow any warnings about excessive consumption, especially if you choose several products containing polyols in one day.

  • Relying on a label you checked before

    Ingredients and nutritional values can change, and a similar-looking variety may have a different composition.

    Check the exact variety when you buy it and read the current packaging again.

Brands and product ranges to consider

Albert Heijn

AH Digestive 0% suiker is a biscuit you can compare using the nutritional values provided.

  • Albert Heijn states that this variety contains 0.3 g of sugars and 14 g of polyols per 100 g.
  • The same product information states that it contains 465 kcal per 100 g. Albert Heijn notes that product information can change and that the packaging takes precedence.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists product pages for various biscuits, breakfast cakes and portioned biscuits side by side.

  • The ingredients, portions and nutritional values shown can help you compare specific varieties.
  • A product page doesn’t guarantee that an item will be available when you buy it.

Céréal

Choco Delight Puur is a biscuit variety where both the stated amount of sugars and the sweeteners used are worth checking.

  • The product information at Jumbo states that it contains 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g and less than 0.1 g per 10.5 g biscuit.
  • The same information also states that it contains 24 g of polyols per 100 g. Check the other nutritional values and warnings on the packaging too.

Peijnenburg

The wholegrain breakfast cake without added sugars included in this review is a pre-sliced alternative to a biscuit.

  • The product information at Jumbo states that it contains 40% rye flour and comes in a pack of 12 slices.
  • This variety contains xylitol and rye. Read the warning about excessive consumption; according to the product information, xylitol is not suitable for animals.

Snelle Jelle

Kruidkoek Minder Suiker is a portioned cake for anyone who wants to take an individual piece with them on the go.

  • For the variety reviewed, Jumbo lists five cakes and 30% less sugar than Snelle Jelle Kruidkoek naturel.
  • The relative reduction doesn’t tell you how much sugar the chosen cake contains per portion; check the current packaging for that information.

ALDI

The own-brand products mentioned include both an individually wrapped biscuit and pre-sliced breakfast cake.

  • ALDI describes a lower-sugar version of Goud Gebakken Koekhappers in six individual packs, and Koek & Bakker Ontbijtkoek Zero as pre-sliced and without added sugars.
  • Compare the full nutritional values and ingredients for the specific variety on the packaging.

Lotus Biscoff

Lotus describes Biscoff as a crunchy biscuit to enjoy with coffee.

  • The product description makes it clear which taste and texture preferences this biscuit is designed for.
  • If you’re specifically looking for less sugar, compare the nutritional values on the pack you choose rather than relying on the coffee description.

Lidl / Sondey

According to Lidl, Sondey includes various types of biscuits and snacks.

  • The range offers different product formats to compare while you shop.
  • Check the sugar claim, nutrition table and ingredients for each specific biscuit; the brand name alone doesn’t tell you anything about these.

Joybuy products for coffee on the go

This is a breakfast cake for anyone who’d rather take a measured portion with their coffee on the go than a dry biscuit. Check the amount of sugars on the packaging of the variety you choose.

Snelle Jelle lower-sugar breakfast cake 250 g

Snelle Jelle lower-sugar breakfast cake 250 g

An option if you’d like to take a portion of breakfast cake with you for your coffee break rather than a biscuit. The pack contains 250 g; the stated amount of sugars per bar varies between product listings. Before choosing, check the nutritional information per bar on the current packaging, and don’t treat ‘less sugar’ as an absolute sugar value.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Does a biscuit with no added sugars contain no sugars at all?

No, it may still contain naturally occurring sugars. Peijnenburg’s wholegrain breakfast cake is described as having ‘no added sugars’ while also containing naturally occurring sugars, so check ‘of which sugars’ in the nutrition table too.

Does ‘less sugar’ mean the same as ‘sugar-free’?

No, ‘less sugar’ compares the amount with a reference product. For Snelle Jelle Kruidkoek Minder Suiker, Jumbo states that it contains less sugar than the original variety; check the sugars per portion separately to find out how much you’ll be eating.

What should I look out for if a biscuit contains polyols?

Check which polyols it contains and follow any warnings about excessive consumption. According to the Voedingscentrum, a high intake of polyols can cause flatulence and diarrhoea; other products you eat that day may contain polyols too.

How can I check the allergens in lower-sugar biscuits?

Check the allergen information for the exact variety on the current packaging. For example, Albert Heijn lists wheat, milk and soya for Verkade San Francisco Zero; the ingredients in another biscuit, even from the same brand, may differ.