Who is this choice relevant for?

Office teams looking for a strict limit on sugar

If you’re looking for a sugar-free option to share over coffee, you’ll need a clear claim and the amount of sugars per 100 g to compare products.

Teams looking to avoid added sugars

A biscuit with no added sugars may suit these teams, even if the product contains naturally occurring sugars.

People in charge of a shared biscuit tin

When several colleagues help themselves from the same supply, clear ingredient and allergen information, portion sizes and airtight storage all matter.

What should you look for when buying?

First decide which sugar claim is right for the office supply. Then compare the full nutritional information and consider how the biscuits will be shared and stored once opened.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Sugar claim Read the full claim and compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. ‘No added sugars’ is not the same as ‘sugar-free’. If I’m looking specifically for sugar-free biscuits for the office, I don’t want to rely on the word ‘zero’ alone. Around 33% of consumers prioritise a sugar claim they can verify.
Other nutritional information Compare energy, fat and fibre per 100 g; check the portion size separately. When choosing biscuits for a coffee break, I also want to know what a portion contains besides sugars. Around 27% of consumers give this broader nutritional information top priority.
Sharing and storage Check the pack size and storage instructions. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends storing biscuits in a cool, dry, dark place in an airtight container. When colleagues regularly help themselves from the same tin, I want to keep the supply organised and well sealed. This is the main concern for around 20% of consumers.
Ingredients and allergens Read the ingredients list and allergen information, and check for any warning about polyols; keep the packaging by the tin. If colleagues need to be mindful of certain ingredients or allergens, I want to be able to identify which biscuit is in the tin. This clarity matters most to a further 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Reading ‘no added sugars’ as ‘sugar-free’

    These claims are not interchangeable. Albert Heijn labels Verkade San Francisco zero as both ‘0% added sugar’ and containing naturally occurring sugars.

    Decide in advance which claim the office is looking for, and also check the amount of sugars per 100 g on the pack.

  • Assuming a sugar-free biscuit is automatically low in calories

    A sugar claim does not describe the full nutritional profile. Albert Heijn lists AH Digestive 0% sugar as containing 465 kcal and 20 g of fat per 100 g.

    Compare the nutritional information per 100 g, then check how many biscuits make up a portion.

  • Overlooking polyols

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, large amounts of polyols can cause intestinal discomfort. Products containing more than 10% added polyols carry a warning about a possible laxative effect if consumed in excess.

    Read the ingredients and any warning, and make sure colleagues can find the product information next to the shared tin.

  • Throwing away the original packaging

    Once biscuits are loose in a shared tin, it’s no longer easy to check their ingredients, allergens or storage instructions.

    Keep the packaging or current product information by the tin. Seal opened biscuits securely and follow the storage instructions on the pack.

Brands and shops to explore

These examples show the differences you may find on product labels; a brand name alone doesn’t tell you which sugar claim applies to a biscuit.

Céréal

Offers biscuits with different sugar claims, including ‘sugar-free’ and ‘reduced sugars’.

  • Jumbo lists Céréal Kokos zonder suikers as containing 0 g of sugars and 18 g of polyols per 100 g; the pack contains 3 × 4 biscuits.
  • Céréal Choco Delight falls under ‘reduced sugars’, not the same claim as the Kokos variety. Check the allergens and other nutritional information for each variety too.

Albert Heijn

AH Digestive 0% suiker is a sugar-free biscuit in a 400 g pack.

  • Albert Heijn lists 0.3 g of sugars and 5.7 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • The same product information lists 465 kcal and 20 g of fat per 100 g, identifies wheat as an allergen and includes a warning about excessive consumption of polyols.

Verkade

San Francisco zero is an example for anyone looking to avoid added sugars without requiring the biscuits to be sugar-free.

  • Albert Heijn describes this product as having ‘0% added sugar’.
  • According to that information, the product contains naturally occurring sugars: 1.7 g per 100 g. Check the listed allergens too.

Jumbo

Jumbo product pages feature Céréal varieties with different sugar claims.

  • The information on Céréal Kokos and Choco Delight lets you compare the claim, ingredients and nutritional information for each variety.
  • Read the information for the product you choose: ‘sugar-free’ and ‘reduced sugars’ do not describe the same thing.

ALDI

ALDI offers a general range of biscuits to enjoy with coffee.

  • The range can be a starting point if the office is considering different types of biscuits.
  • If you have a specific sugar requirement, choose based on the claim and nutritional information on the individual pack, not the range as a whole.

A biscuit on Joybuy

This Organix biscuit is worth considering if the office is looking at biscuits with no added sugars. It is not suitable if the requirement is for strictly sugar-free biscuits; check the claim and nutritional information on the pack.

Organix Bio Farm Animal Biscuits, 100 g pack

Organix Bio Farm Animal Biscuits, 100 g

For anyone who accepts naturally occurring sugars but wants to avoid added sugars. Before adding these to the office tin, check the sugar claim, ingredients and allergens on the pack; these biscuits are not a strictly sugar-free option.

The product description is aimed at children aged 12 months and over. Consider whether that product purpose is right for the intended office supply.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘sugar-free’ mean the same as ‘no added sugars’?

No. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority treats ‘sugar-free’ as a nutrition claim, while a product with no added sugars may still contain naturally occurring sugars. Albert Heijn states this explicitly for Verkade San Francisco zero, for example.

Does ‘sugar-free’ also tell you how many calories a product contains?

No. You’ll need to check the energy value in the nutrition table. Albert Heijn lists AH Digestive 0% suiker as containing 465 kcal per 100 g; also compare the rest of the nutritional information and the portion you plan to offer.

Why does a pack sometimes warn of a laxative effect?

The warning may relate to added polyols. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, large amounts of polyols can cause intestinal discomfort, and the warning appears on foods with more than 10% added polyols. If you’re sharing biscuits, check the ingredients and warning for the product you choose.

How should I store opened biscuits in an office tin?

Store them in a cool, dry, dark place in an airtight container, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Also follow the best-before date and any additional storage instructions on the pack.

What allergen information should I keep with a shared biscuit tin?

Keep the information for the exact biscuits in the tin to hand. The product examples mentioned have different ingredients and allergens, so keep the original packaging or place current product information next to the supply.