Looking for a lower-sugar biscuit for a late-night snack? Compare similar biscuits per 100 g rather than relying solely on claims such as ‘zero’ or ‘less sugar’. A low sugar value doesn’t automatically tell you about the energy content or sweeteners used. Decide how many you want to have in advance, and check the ingredients and allergens that are relevant to you.
You’re looking for something to satisfy a late-night craving and want to know how much sugar a biscuit actually contains. So you compare the nutrition information per 100 g and look beyond the claim on the front of the pack.
You want to decide how much to have before you start eating. The number of biscuits in a pack or individually wrapped biscuits can be useful here, but doesn’t tell you anything about the product’s nutritional value.
You look beyond sugar to check sweeteners, product warnings and allergens. What’s relevant varies from product to product and from person to person.
First compare similar biscuits per 100 g, then decide on your portion and read the ingredients and allergen information before buying.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar content | For similar biscuits, compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g, and check the ingredients list too. | If I have a biscuit late in the evening, I want to know what’s behind claims such as ‘zero’ or ‘less sugar’. Around 44% of consumers prioritise the sugar content. |
| Portion and energy | Check the energy per 100 g and decide how much to have in advance; a portion pack doesn’t change the nutritional value. | With an open pack, it’s harder for me to stick to the amount I’ve chosen. That’s why around 33% of consumers prioritise portion size and energy. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the current label for polyols, warnings, allergens and possible traces. | When choosing a biscuit with sweeteners, I want to know what’s in it first. Around 23% of consumers make these checks a priority. |
A biscuit with no added sugar may still contain sugars. ‘Less sugar’ is a relative claim too, so the actual amount still matters.
Compare the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g and treat the claim on the front of the pack as a prompt to check the label.
According to Albert Heijn’s product information, AH Digestive 0% sugar contains 465 kcal per 100 g. Jumbo lists 427 kcal per 100 g for Céréal Coconut No Sugar.
Compare the energy per 100 g too, and decide on your snack portion before opening the pack.
Some biscuits containing polyols carry a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. A low sugar value doesn’t remove that warning.
Check which sweeteners the product contains and read the warnings on the packaging.
Ingredients and information about possible traces vary from one biscuit to another. Online product information is no substitute for checking the label on the pack you have in front of you.
Check the current packaging before eating the product, and don’t choose it if the allergen information doesn’t meet your requirements.
AH Digestive 0% sugar is a biscuit with sweeteners for anyone who mainly wants to compare the stated sugar content.
Céréal Coconut No Sugar is a biscuit to compare if you’re considering a product containing maltitol.
San Francisco Zero is a crunchy tea biscuit with a claim about added sugars, not a soft fruit biscuit.
Banana Fruit Biscuit is a soft, individually wrapped fruit biscuit for anyone looking for portion-controlled packaging and a relative reduction in sugar.
Mini Zero Gingerbread is an individually wrapped gingerbread bar. It isn’t a crunchy biscuit, but may be worth considering if you mainly want to choose a single snack in advance.
No, the biscuit may still contain sugars. So check the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g in the nutrition table, even if the front of the pack says ‘no added sugar’.
First compare similar biscuits per 100 g. This lets you assess sugars, energy and fibre on the same basis. Then consider how much you actually want to have as a late-night snack.
No. Some products containing maltitol or other polyols carry a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Read the ingredients and the warning on the current packaging before deciding on your portion.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority describes the requirement to list fourteen allergens on food labels; also look for any information about traces on the biscuit you’ve chosen.
No, a sugar claim alone doesn’t tell you the energy content. Albert Heijn lists 465 kcal per 100 g for AH Digestive 0% sugar, while Jumbo lists 427 kcal per 100 g for Céréal Coconut No Sugar. Compare the energy content on the labels of the products you’re considering.
