If you’re looking for a strictly sugar-free product to serve with drinks, the canoe pastries from Jumbo, Albert Heijn and PLUS included in this comparison don’t fit the bill. Their product pages list 36.8 to 39 g of sugars per 100 g, while the Netherlands Nutrition Centre sets the limit for a ‘sugar-free’ claim at 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. If avoiding added sugars is your main priority and you don’t need a canoe shape, another type of biscuit could be an option. Check the ingredients and warnings on the packaging, too.
If ‘sugar-free’ is a must, prioritise the nutritional information over the canoe shape. The product pages for the canoe pastries from Jumbo, Albert Heijn and PLUS included in this comparison show sugar levels above the limit set for this claim by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
A different-shaped biscuit could work if ‘no added sugars’ is your main requirement. Jumbo describes Verkade San Francisco Naturel Zero this way, but it’s a biscuit, not a canoe pastry, and the packaging warns that eating too much may have a laxative effect.
If the traditional biscuit matters more to you than limiting sugar, compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per serving. Check the ingredients and allergens on the label of your chosen variety, too.
First decide whether you need a ‘sugar-free’ product or simply want to avoid added sugars. Then choose between a canoe pastry with almond paste and another type of biscuit.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Truly sugar-free | Check the exact claim and the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘sugar-free’ means no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. | If sugar is my deciding factor, I don’t want to choose a biscuit based only on the words ‘no added sugars’. Around 50% of consumers would put truly sugar-free options first. |
| No added sugars | As well as checking the claim, read the ingredients and any warnings about polyols, such as maltitol. | I’m happy to forgo the canoe shape, but I want to know which sugars and sweeteners an alternative contains. This would be the main consideration for around 30% of consumers. |
| Canoe shape, portion and allergens | Compare sugars per 100 g and per stated serving, and check the allergens in your chosen variety. | The almond-paste biscuit is my priority, as long as the portion and ingredients suit my needs. Around 20% of consumers would make this their first consideration. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, these are different claims: ‘sugar-free’ means no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. Jumbo lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Verkade San Francisco Naturel Zero, a biscuit with no added sugar.
Check both the precise claim and the ‘of which sugars’ line in the nutrition table.
The canoe pastries from Jumbo, Albert Heijn and PLUS included in this comparison list 36.8 g, 39 g and 38.9 g of sugars per 100 g respectively. Changing the serving size doesn’t affect the comparison per 100 g.
Compare products per 100 g, then check how much sugar is in the portion you plan to serve.
Jumbo lists maltitols in Verkade San Francisco Naturel Zero and warns that eating too much may have a laxative effect.
Read the ingredients and warning on the current packaging before choosing this biscuit as an option to serve with drinks.
The canoe pastries from Jumbo, Albert Heijn and PLUS included in this comparison list ingredients such as wheat or cereals containing gluten, milk, soya, egg and almonds or other nuts. The exact information varies by product.
If you have an allergy, check the full allergen information for the exact variety you’re buying, including any ‘may contain’ statements.
San Francisco Naturel Zero is a biscuit alternative for anyone happy to forgo the canoe shape.
AH Roomboter kano's are a regular canoe pastry variety with 41% almond paste filling.
Jumbo Kano's met Roomboter are regular canoe pastries with 38% almond paste filling.
PLUS Roomboter kano's are a regular variety with 39% almond paste filling.
ALDI lists Heerlijck Banket Kano's in a 330 g pack.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a product labelled ‘sugar-free’ can contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. ‘No added sugars’ means that no sugars or foods used for their sweetening properties have been added; the product may still contain sugars.
No. Based on their stated sugar levels, the varieties included in this comparison don’t meet the limit for that claim. Jumbo lists 36.8 g, Albert Heijn 39 g and PLUS 38.9 g of sugars per 100 g; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre sets the limit for ‘sugar-free’ at 0.5 g per 100 g. Check the current packaging of the variety you choose when buying.
Only if you’re happy with a different type of biscuit and mainly want to avoid added sugars: it’s a biscuit, not a canoe pastry. Jumbo lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g and maltitols, as well as a warning that eating too much may have a laxative effect. So it isn’t the same as a sugar-free canoe pastry.
Check the allergen information on the current packaging of the specific canoe pastry. The varieties from Jumbo, Albert Heijn and PLUS included in this comparison list ingredients such as wheat or cereals containing gluten, milk, soya, egg and almonds or other nuts. Exact ingredients and any ‘may contain’ statements vary by product.
