Busy commuter
Wants to pop a small portion into a bag or lunchbox without taking an opened pack along. Lotus Biscoff snack packs and Biscotto’s individually wrapped pairs of biscuits are examples of packaging formats to look out for.
Who should consider the packaging format?
Breakfast eater looking for more than something sweet
Likes taking a biscuit along, but doesn’t want it to be the only part of breakfast. The Voedingscentrum lists wholegrain foods, yoghurt and fruit among its breakfast choices; what you can take with you depends on your morning.
Shopper who needs to check the label
Wants to know which ingredients and allergens are listed for a specific variety before choosing. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority notes that allergen information for prepacked foods appears on the label.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you need individual portions to take with you. Then compare the nutritional information and, if you have relevant dietary restrictions, read the label for the variety you’re considering.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Portions to take with you | Check whether the biscuits are actually wrapped in individual portions, or whether the pack simply states the number of servings. | When I’m in a hurry, I want to take one portion without bringing the rest of the pack. For around 42% of consumers, convenience on the go is the top priority. |
| Its place in breakfast | Read the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion, and think about what you’d like to eat alongside the biscuit. | I want something sweet on the go, but not biscuits as my only breakfast. Around 33% of consumers give this breakfast combination top priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the ingredients list, highlighted allergens and any warning about possible traces on the current packaging. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, the exact variety matters more than the type of chocolate shown on the front. For around 25% of consumers, checking the label comes first. |
Common mistakes
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Thinking of a biscuit to take with you as a complete breakfast
Convenient packaging doesn’t change what’s in the biscuit. For a more varied breakfast, the Voedingscentrum lists wholegrain foods, yoghurt and fruit among the possible choices.
Before you leave, think about whether you’d like to take something else along with the biscuit, rather than choosing based on the packaging alone.
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Assuming dark chocolate means less sugar or fewer allergens
The label ‘dark’ doesn’t mean that. Jumbo lists 37 g of sugars per 100 g for its Chocolade Biscuits Puur, as well as wheat containing gluten, milk, soya and possible traces of nuts.
Read the nutritional table and allergen information for the variety you’re actually buying.
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Treating an online product description as the definitive label
A product’s ingredients or packaging can change. This is particularly important if you need to avoid a specific ingredient.
Check the packaging in your hands before eating, even if you’ve bought the product before.
Brands and product ranges compared
Lotus Biscoff
Chocolate-coated speculoos for anyone looking for pre-portioned snack packs.
- Albert Heijn lists six packs of Speculoos Belgian chocolate, each containing three biscuits.
- The product information lists wheat, milk and soya. If you have an allergy, always check the current label.
Jumbo
Chocolade Biscuits Puur for anyone looking to compare biscuits coated in dark chocolate.
- Jumbo lists nine biscuits in a 125 g pack.
- The number of biscuits doesn’t confirm that each one is individually wrapped. The product also lists wheat, milk, soya and possible traces of nuts.
Biscotto (ALDI)
Chocolate biscuits for anyone looking for a twin pack to take with them.
- ALDI Netherlands describes 20 butter biscuits with dark, white and milk chocolate, wrapped in pairs.
- If you’re choosing based on ingredients, allergens or nutritional information, check the packaging in store.
Lidl
Chocolate-coated biscuits, available in milk and dark varieties.
- Lidl Netherlands describes the product as butter biscuits with chocolate in a 125 g pack.
- Check the label of the variety you choose for ingredients, allergens and nutritional information.
Albert Heijn (AH)
AH Melkbiscuit is an individually wrapped biscuit with a milk layer, not a chocolate-coated biscuit.
- Albert Heijn lists a pack of six twin packs.
- Don’t choose this product expecting a chocolate coating; also check the listed allergens and possible traces.
Chocolate biscuits and biscuit sticks at Joybuy
These products are chocolate biscuits or biscuit sticks that you could consider as a sweet addition to breakfast. If you need individual portions to take with you, check how the biscuits are divided within each pack.
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Lu Scholiertje Milk Chocolate Biscuits 150 g
A milk chocolate biscuit to take with you as a sweet addition to breakfast. The pack contains 150 g; check the label for portion sizes and allergens before choosing.
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Glico Pocky Cookie Bar Chocolate Flavor 47 g IN
A 47 g pack of biscuit sticks for anyone wanting a small sweet snack to take with them. Check the packaging to see whether the sticks are individually wrapped, and check the ingredients.
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Lu Mikado Milk Chocolate Biscuit Sticks 75 g
Milk chocolate biscuit sticks for anyone wanting a sweet breakfast snack. The pack contains 75 g; check whether you’ll need to pack a portion yourself for your journey, and read the current label if you have allergies.
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Kahve Dunyasi Gofrik Pistachio Paste Milk Chocolate 10 x 12,5 g
A milk chocolate variety with pistachio paste for anyone wanting to take a pre-portioned snack with them. The product name lists ten portions of 12,5 g; check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information on the packaging.
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Lotte Pepero Choco Cookie Sticks 32 g
A 32 g pack of chocolate biscuit sticks for a sweet snack on the go. If individually wrapped sticks are important to you, check how they’re divided within the pack; also read the label for allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
Is a chocolate biscuit enough for a complete breakfast?
A chocolate biscuit is best seen as a sweet addition, rather than a complete breakfast in itself. The Voedingscentrum lists wholegrain foods, yoghurt and fruit among its breakfast choices; think about which of these you’d like to eat alongside your biscuit.
What should I check if I need to avoid certain allergens?
Check the ingredients, highlighted allergens and any warning about possible traces on the current packaging. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority points to the allergen information on labels for prepacked foods; don’t rely only on the type of chocolate or an earlier online description.
How should I store chocolate biscuits after opening?
Follow the storage and usage instructions on the packaging you choose. The Lotus Biscoff and Jumbo varieties reviewed here say to store in a cool, dry place; Jumbo also recommends sealing the pack tightly after opening.