TV viewers keeping an eye on sugar
You’re looking for something sweet to enjoy with a film or series and want to know how much sugar is in the biscuits you actually eat.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Shoppers who check ingredients
As well as the sugar content, you want to know which sweeteners and allergens are listed on the label and whether the product carries a warning.
Shoppers choosing by flavour and portion
You like to choose a familiar type of biscuit and compare its nutritional information per 100 g with the portion you plan to have while watching TV.
What should you look for when choosing?
Biscuit with no added sugar
A good fit when: you want to avoid added sugar and are looking for a traditional biscuit.
The trade-off: Verkade San Francisco zero, listed by Albert Heijn, still contains sugars and maltitol. Be sure to read the warning on the label too.
Sugar-free mini cake
A good fit when: a mini cake works for you as a TV snack and you’re mainly choosing based on the stated sugar content.
The trade-off: According to the nutritional information, the Céréal Mini Cakes listed by Jumbo contain 0 g of sugars, but also polyols and 103 kcal per 28 g cake.
Plain speculoos
A good fit when: you’re mainly after the familiar speculoos flavour.
The trade-off: Lotus Speculoos, listed by Albert Heijn, contains 38 g of sugars per 100 g, so it isn’t a good fit if reducing sugar is your main priority.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is it important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars | Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and work out the amount for the portion you plan to eat. | If I want to eat less sugar, I want to know how much is in the amount I’ve chosen. For around 36% of shoppers, reducing sugar is the top priority. |
| Ingredients and tolerance | Check which sweeteners and allergens are listed, and look for any warnings about excessive consumption. | I want to know what’s in a sweet biscuit before choosing it for the evening. For around 29% of shoppers, checking the ingredients is the main priority. |
| Energy and portion size | Compare kcal per 100 g and per portion, and check how many biscuits or mini cakes make up one planned portion. | If the packet is on the table during a film, I want to choose an amount in advance that fits my plan. For around 21% of shoppers, portion size matters most. |
| Type of biscuit and flavour | Decide whether you’re looking for a biscuit, mini cake or speculoos, then compare the nutritional information for the products that fit. | I’d rather choose the type of biscuit I enjoy, even if reducing sugar isn’t my top priority. That’s the main consideration for around 14% of shoppers. |
Common mistakes
-
Taking ‘sugar-free’ to mean you can snack without limits
A low sugar content doesn’t tell you how much energy a product provides. The Céréal Mini Cakes listed by Jumbo contain 367 kcal per 100 g, despite stating 0 g of sugars.
Compare the energy per 100 g and per portion before deciding how much to have during your night in.
-
Ignoring the ingredients behind ‘zero’
The Céréal Mini Cakes and Verkade San Francisco zero listed here contain maltitol. Both products carry a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Read the ingredients and warning for the specific product, not just the label on the front.
-
Forgetting to check allergens again
The products mentioned have different ingredients; the variants reviewed list ingredients including wheat, milk, soya or egg. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says the 14 regulated allergens must be listed on the label.
Check the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging every time you buy.
-
Treating plain speculoos as a low-sugar alternative
The Lotus Speculoos listed by Albert Heijn contains 38 g of sugars per 100 g. Enjoying the flavour doesn’t make it a low-sugar product.
Decide whether flavour or reducing sugar is your main priority, then compare products that suit it.
Brands and products for reference
Céréal
Céréal Mini Cakes with chocolate pieces, listed by Jumbo, are sugar-free mini cakes, not crunchy biscuits.
- The nutritional information listed gives 0 g of sugars per 100 g and per 28 g cake.
- This variant contains maltitol and sorbitol, and lists 33 g of polyols per 100 g. Check the allergens on the packaging too.
Verkade
Verkade San Francisco zero is sold by Albert Heijn as a biscuit with 0% added sugar.
- The listed variant contains 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g.
- The product contains maltitol and carries a warning about excessive consumption. Check the allergens on the current label too.
Lotus Biscoff
The Lotus Speculoos listed by Albert Heijn is a plain speculoos for anyone looking specifically for this type of biscuit.
- The product page describes this particular variant as vegan.
- The listed variant contains 38 g of sugars per 100 g, so it isn’t a low-sugar choice. Check the allergens too.
Biscuits and cereal bars on Joybuy
These biscuits and cereal bars are worth considering if you’re keeping an eye on sugar during a night in. Compare the nutritional information with the portion you plan to have: a phrase in a product name doesn’t, by itself, tell you how much sugar you’ll eat.
Image unavailable
Panpan oat biscuits, 216 g
A biscuit for anyone looking to compare sugar content in a TV snack. Check the packaging to see how the ‘Sugar-Free’ label compares with the stated sugars per 100 g, then work out the amount for your own portion.
Image unavailable
g'woon cereal bars, pack of 6
A cereal bar as an alternative to individual biscuits during a night in. Compare the sugar content per 100 g and per bar on the packaging, and check what the ‘Less Sugar’ label refers to.
Frequently asked questions
Does ‘sugar-free’ or ‘0% added sugar’ mean a biscuit contains no calories?
No. According to the nutritional information, the Céréal Mini Cakes listed by Jumbo contain 0 g of sugars and 367 kcal per 100 g; the Verkade San Francisco zero listed by Albert Heijn contains 401 kcal per 100 g. So be sure to compare the energy per portion too.
What should I look out for in biscuits with sweeteners or polyols?
Check which sweeteners are listed in the ingredients and read the warnings on the packaging. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, sweeteners must be listed on the label. The Céréal and Verkade variants mentioned contain maltitol and warn that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Should I check allergens if I’m mainly watching my sugar intake?
Yes, you should still check the allergens for the specific product. The biscuits and mini cakes mentioned have different ingredients, including wheat, milk, soya and egg. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says the 14 regulated allergens must be listed on the label.
How should I store biscuits for a night in?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging for your biscuits. For Verkade San Francisco zero, Albert Heijn’s product page recommends storing it somewhere dry and preferably cool.
Is choosing a lower-sugar biscuit enough?
No, consider your portion, the energy and the other ingredients too. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that snacks on sale can be high in energy, sugar, salt or saturated fat, for example. A lower sugar content doesn’t answer those other questions.