Tea drinkers who want to prioritise less sugar
You’re happy to choose a different biscuit if it means you can have one with your tea that has a lower listed sugar content per 100 g.
Who is this choice for?
Fans of filled canoe biscuits
You want to stick with almond paste filling and the familiar canoe shape. In that case, compare the sugar content of canoe biscuits with one another, without mistaking a small difference for a significant reduction.
Shoppers who check ingredients carefully
As well as sugars, certain allergens or sweeteners matter to you. So check the current packaging before choosing a canoe biscuit or an alternative.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want a filled canoe biscuit. Then compare the sugars per 100 g and check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging.
A filled canoe biscuit
A good choice if: almond paste and the canoe shape matter more to you than a significant reduction in listed sugars.
The trade-off: the values listed by Jumbo and PLUS for the three standard canoe biscuits range from 36.8 to 38.9 g of sugars per 100 g.
A different biscuit
A good choice if: a lower listed sugar content matters more than having a filled canoe biscuit; Verkade lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for San Francisco Zero.
The trade-off: it isn’t a canoe biscuit and contains maltitols. Albert Heijn warns that this product may have a laxative effect if consumed in excess.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Listed sugars | Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g; don’t mistake a claim about no added sugars for a figure for total sugars. | If I mainly want to eat less sugar with my tea, my biscuit can be a different type. A lower listed sugar content is the deciding factor for around 50% of consumers. |
| Canoe biscuit and portion | Compare canoe biscuits with one another per 100 g, and also consider how much you actually eat at a time. | If you want to stick with the filling and shape of a canoe biscuit, a different biscuit may not suit you as well; around 30% of consumers prioritise that canoe-biscuit experience. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the current allergen information and, for a biscuit containing maltitols, look out for the warning on the packaging too. | If I need to avoid a particular ingredient, the label determines whether the biscuit is right for me. Checking this first is the top priority for around 20% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
-
Mistaking a small difference between canoe biscuits for a low-sugar biscuit
Jumbo and PLUS list values of 36.8 to 38.9 g of sugars per 100 g for the three standard canoe biscuits compared here. The lowest figure in this group doesn’t automatically make a canoe biscuit a low-sugar product.
Decide whether you want to stick with a canoe biscuit. If the sugar content matters more, compare other types of biscuits per 100 g too.
-
Reading only the claim on the front of the pack
‘No added sugars’ doesn’t mean a product contains no sugars. Verkade still lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for San Francisco Zero.
Check the nutritional information per 100 g, then look at the ingredients list and allergen information.
-
Overlooking maltitols in a biscuit
Verkade San Francisco Zero contains maltitols. Albert Heijn warns that consuming this product in excess may have a laxative effect.
Read the warning on the packaging and take it into account if maltitols are relevant to you.
-
Relying only on online product information if you have allergies
The ingredients and allergens listed vary from one biscuit to another. A lower sugar content doesn’t tell you whether a product is suitable for someone with an allergy.
Check the allergen information on the current packaging before eating, and don’t choose based solely on an image or product title.
Brands compared
Verkade
San Francisco Zero is a tea biscuit, not a filled canoe biscuit.
- Verkade describes this biscuit as having ‘no added sugars’ and lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g.
- It contains maltitols. Albert Heijn also lists wheat, milk and soya for this product, and includes a warning about excessive consumption.
Albert Heijn
AH Roomboter kano’s are an option if you specifically want to compare filled canoe biscuits.
- Albert Heijn states that these canoe biscuits contain 41% almond paste.
- The nutritional information lists 39 g of sugars and 38 g of added sugars per 100 g; check the allergen information too.
Jumbo
Jumbo Kano’s met Roomboter are a traditional canoe biscuit filled with almond paste.
- Jumbo lists 36.8 g of sugars per 100 g, the lowest figure listed for the three standard canoe biscuits from Jumbo and PLUS compared here.
- It’s still a canoe biscuit containing sugars; the allergen information includes gluten, milk, soya, almond and egg, among others.
PLUS
PLUS Roomboter kano’s and Aviateur Kano’s are both worth comparing at PLUS.
- PLUS lists 38.9 g of sugars per 100 g for its own butter canoe biscuits and 37.6 g per 100 g for Aviateur Kano’s.
- For PLUS Roomboter kano’s, the nutritional information also lists 38.5 g of added sugars per 100 g and a Nutri-Score of E. Assess a Nutri-Score only against comparable products.
Biscuit and biscuit bar options at Joybuy
These products are alternatives for anyone considering an oat biscuit or biscuit bar with their tea instead of a filled canoe biscuit. Compare the latest nutritional information and ingredients before choosing.
No image available
Panpan oat biscuits 216 g
A biscuit option if you don’t need the canoe shape. Check the sugars per 100 g on the current packaging: ‘Sugar-Free’ in the original product name is no substitute for the nutritional information table. Also check for maltitol (E965) and the allergen information.
No image available
g’woon biscuit bars, 6 pack
A biscuit bar to enjoy with your tea if you’re not looking for a filled canoe biscuit. Check the sugars per 100 g on the current packaging rather than relying on the ‘Less Sugar’ label alone; also read the ingredients and allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
Are the canoe biscuits compared here low in sugar?
The listed values don’t support choosing these three standard canoe biscuits as low-sugar options. Jumbo lists 36.8 g of sugars per 100 g; PLUS lists 37.6 g per 100 g for Aviateur Kano’s and 38.9 g per 100 g for PLUS Roomboter kano’s. Compare them within the canoe-biscuit category if you want to stick with this type of biscuit.
Does ‘no added sugars’ mean the same as sugar-free?
No. A product with no added sugars may still contain sugars. Verkade lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for San Francisco Zero. So whenever you see this type of claim, check ‘of which sugars’ in the nutritional information table.
How do I compare a canoe biscuit with a different biscuit?
First compare the listed sugars per 100 g, so different portion sizes don’t skew the comparison. Then consider how much you eat and check the ingredients. Don’t use Nutri-Score as the deciding factor when comparing different types of biscuits: the Dutch government advises comparing scores within the same type of product.
What should I look out for with allergens and maltitols?
Check the allergens and ingredients on the current packaging for the specific biscuit. Jumbo lists almond, egg, gluten, milk and soya among the allergens in its canoe biscuits; for Verkade San Francisco Zero, Albert Heijn lists wheat, milk, soya and maltitols, among other ingredients, and warns of a possible laxative effect if consumed in excess.
What if the packaging differs from the online nutritional information?
Use the current packaging for your final check of nutritional values, ingredients and allergens. Product information can change, which is especially important if you need to avoid a particular ingredient.