Pupils taking a compact snack with them
A pre-packed portion can go straight into a school bag, without needing to take anything from an opened multipack. Just check whether the inner packet contains one biscuit or a larger portion.
Who is this relevant for?
Parents checking allergens and school rules
If an allergy is a concern, the label on the specific product matters, not just the brand name. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the requirement to list allergens on labels. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also recommends checking your child’s school food policy.
Buyers weighing up a regular lunchbox snack
If you pack biscuits regularly, you can compare portion size, ingredients and nutritional value as well as convenience. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against relying solely on claims on the front of the pack.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start with allergens and your child’s school rules. Then compare the contents of each packet and, if the biscuit will be packed regularly, its nutritional information.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens and school rules | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current pack. Ask what rules the school has for lunches or treats. | If a pupil needs to avoid certain allergens, I want to know before packing whether the biscuit and the school rules are suitable. This is a priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Portion size and portability | Count the biscuits in each inner packet: one, two or three can make for very different portions to take with you. | For my school bag, I’m looking for a sealed portion that I can take and eat in one go. Around 29% of consumers prioritise portion size and convenience. |
| Nutritional value | Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion, including sugars, saturated fat and fibre. | If a biscuit is packed regularly, I want to know what the chosen portion adds to lunch. Nutritional value is the main consideration for around 21% of consumers. |
| Pack size | Check how many individual portions are in the outer pack and whether the inner packets match what you’ll actually be taking with you. | If I pack lunchbox snacks regularly, I don’t want to use more individual portions than I need each time. Pack format is the biggest consideration for around 14% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘individually wrapped’ means one biscuit per packet
An inner packet may contain two or three biscuits. For example, Jumbo lists ten packets of two biscuits each for Lotus Biscoff XL, while Albert Heijn lists packets of three biscuits for its Belgian chocolate variety.
Check both the number of packets and the number of biscuits in each one before choosing a portion.
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Assuming ‘vegan’ means allergen-free
A claim about animal-derived ingredients doesn’t tell you whether the product contains, for example, wheat or soya. This distinction matters when packing a snack for a pupil with an allergy.
Check dietary and allergen information separately, and read the ingredients and allergen details on the current label.
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Using a front-of-pack claim to judge whether it’s right for lunch
A claim about one nutrient doesn’t tell you the full nutritional value or the portion size. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against relying solely on the front of the label.
Check the ingredients and compare the nutritional information for the portions you’re actually considering.
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Checking school rules only after buying
The rules for an everyday lunch may differ from those for treats. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends checking your child’s school food policy; according to VOO, schools may also have rules about treats.
Check the school handbook or app, or ask the school what applies on the occasion in question.
Brands to consider
Lotus Biscoff
If you’re looking for speculoos biscuits in a set portion, you’ll find packs containing one, two or three biscuits. These formats don’t all offer the same portion size.
- Albert Heijn lists a pack of 300 individually wrapped Lotus biscuits; Jumbo lists ten two-biscuit portions of Lotus Biscoff XL.
- Check the allergens for each variety separately. The product information for the XL variety mentioned lists wheat and soya.
Peijnenburg
Ontbijtkoek is a different type of product from a crunchy biscuit. It may suit you if you’re looking for a larger, individually wrapped slice.
- Albert Heijn lists ten individually wrapped 28 g slices of Peijnenburg Ontbijtkoek naturel.
- Compare the slice with your preferred lunch portion, and check the current label for ingredients, allergens and nutritional information.
Goud Gebakken
An ALDI brand to consider if an individually wrapped slice of ontbijtkoek would suit better than a small biscuit.
- ALDI Nederland describes a pack of six individually wrapped slices, available in ‘less sugar’ or raisin varieties.
- The ‘less sugar’ claim doesn’t tell you the full nutritional value. Compare the variety you choose using its current label.
Sondey
A Lidl brand offering biscuits and cookies, among other products. Choose based on the specific product, not just the brand name.
- Lidl Nederland describes a range of cookies and biscuits under the Sondey brand.
- Check whether the product you choose has inner packets and how many biscuits each one contains.
Biscotto
An ALDI brand with chocolate biscuits that, according to the product page, are packed in pairs.
- A two-biscuit portion is clearly defined if two biscuits are the amount you’re looking for.
- ‘Packed in pairs’ doesn’t mean one individually wrapped biscuit per packet. Also check the label on the pack you choose.
Biscuits and snacks at Joybuy
These products include snacks that can be packed individually as well as set portions containing several biscuits. Wafers and biscuit sticks are different from ordinary biscuits, so first choose the type of product and the number of items in each inner packet that work for your lunch.
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Milka Choco Wafer Milk, 180 g
For anyone who’d rather pack a wafer in their school bag than an ordinary biscuit. Check whether the quantity in each inner packet is the portion you want. The product information lists milk, soya and wheat; check the current label and school rules before packing.
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Nestle Kitkat Strawberry Short Cake, 9 stuks, 104.4g
A wafer option to consider if you’re looking for a small snack to take individually. The product information lists milk, wheat and soya in the ingredients. Check the allergen information on the pack, and consider the nutritional information if this snack will be packed regularly.
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Lu Scholiertje Milk Chocolate Biscuits, 150 g
If you’re deliberately choosing a two-biscuit portion of chocolate biscuits, don’t expect one biscuit per inner packet. According to the product information, this variety contains milk, wheat and soya, and may contain nuts. Check the current label and compare the nutritional information per portion.
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Glico Pocky Cookie Bar Chocolate Flavor, 47g IN
A biscuit stick for anyone looking to pack a ready-to-go snack. Check the pack to see how many sticks make up a portion, if that matters for your lunch choice. The product information lists wheat, milk and soya, and says it may contain egg and nuts; check the current label.
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Fruit Biscuit Coconut Snaps, 5x3 Pack, 15 pcs
For anyone who wants three biscuits as one portion to take along, rather than one biscuit per packet. The product information lists cereals containing gluten, milk and wheat, and says it may contain egg, nuts and sesame. Check the current label before packing.
Frequently asked questions
Do I still need to read the label on individually wrapped biscuits?
Yes. Even when a biscuit is individually wrapped, the product you choose needs to be suitable for any allergens that matter to the pupil. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the allergen labelling requirements for prepacked foods; check the current label on the exact variety you’re packing.
Can I pack Lotus Biscoff if wheat needs to be avoided?
Don’t pack a variety if its current label lists an allergen the pupil needs to avoid. Wheat is listed for the Lotus Biscoff XL variety mentioned here. Check other varieties separately rather than relying on the brand name.
Should I check school rules before packing biscuits for lunch?
Yes. Find out what rules your child’s school has for everyday lunches and, where relevant, treats. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends checking the school’s food policy; VOO explains that schools may have rules about treats.
Does individual wrapping tell me anything about nutritional value?
No. The packaging tells you how the snack is portioned, not its full nutritional value. Compare the ingredients and nutritional information per 100 g and per portion; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against relying solely on front-of-pack claims.