Who is this relevant to?

Coffee drinkers keeping an eye on sugar

You’re looking for a biscuit to enjoy with coffee or cake and want to compare the claim on the front of the pack with the ingredients and nutritional information.

Shoppers who want real chocolate

For you, cocoa or chocolate chips make all the difference. A biscuit without chocolate won’t necessarily be a substitute for the chocolate biscuit you’re looking for.

Shoppers who check ingredients carefully

You check for allergens and sweeteners such as maltitol. Some products containing polyols carry a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether chocolate is a must-have. Then compare the exact sugar claim and nutritional information for the biscuits that meet your needs.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Sugar claim Check whether the pack says ‘sugar-free’, ‘no added sugars’ or ‘reduced sugars’, then compare the sugar content per 100 g and per serving. If my main priority is to have less sugar, the claim should match the figures on the label. Around 50% of consumers put this sugar trade-off first.
Chocolate or biscuit Check whether the product description and ingredients mention cocoa, chocolate chips or a chocolate coating. With my coffee, I want a recognisable chocolate biscuit, not just a biscuit with a suitable sugar claim. For around 30% of consumers, the type of product matters most.
Ingredients and tolerance Read the allergen information and check the pack for any warnings about sweeteners. If certain ingredients are a concern for me, I want to know exactly what’s in this particular variety before I buy it. This is the first consideration for around 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘Zero’ means sugar-free and calorie-free

    A product with no added sugars may still contain sugars and energy. Jumbo states that Verkade San Francisco Zero contains 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g.

    Compare sugars, carbohydrates, energy and saturated fat on the same basis, then consider the serving size you plan to have.

  • Mistaking a biscuit for a chocolate biscuit

    Verkade describes San Francisco Zero as a biscuit, while Albert Heijn’s Céréal Chocolate Chip Cookie contains chocolate chips and cocoa. The sugar claim doesn’t tell you what type of biscuit you’re buying.

    If chocolate matters for your coffee break, check the product description and ingredients.

  • Overlooking the warning about polyols

    The product listings for Céréal Chocolate Chip Cookie and Verkade San Francisco Zero say that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

    Check which sweeteners the biscuit contains and take the warning on the exact pack into account when choosing.

  • Assuming allergen information is the same across a brand

    Ingredients can vary between biscuit varieties. A product photo or information about another flavour is no substitute for checking the label.

    Check the allergen information on the pack you’re buying.

Brands compared

Céréal

A relevant option if you’re looking for a chocolate biscuit with a clear sugar claim.

  • Albert Heijn describes the Chocolate Chip Cookie as a biscuit with chocolate chips and cocoa, and lists the claim ‘sugar-free’.
  • This product carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Check the rest of the nutritional information too.

Verkade

San Francisco Zero is an option if you’re looking for a biscuit to have with coffee and chocolate isn’t a must-have.

  • Verkade presents San Francisco Zero as a biscuit with no added sugars; Jumbo lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • This Zero variety isn’t a chocolate biscuit. Its product listing also carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

Lotus

Biscoff Original is a spiced biscuit for anyone who wants to compare a familiar coffee-time treat—not a lower-sugar chocolate biscuit.

  • Lotus Bakeries Nederland presents Biscoff as a biscuit to enjoy with coffee.
  • Lotus Bakeries Nederland lists 38.1 g of sugars per 100 g for Biscoff Original, so it isn’t the choice for anyone specifically looking for a sugar claim.

Related products at Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘no added sugars’ mean the biscuit contains no sugars?

No, the product may still contain sugars. Jumbo lists Verkade San Francisco Zero as a biscuit with no added sugars, containing 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g, so be sure to check the nutritional information too.

Do ‘reduced sugars’ and ‘sugar-free’ mean the same thing?

No, they’re different claims. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that nutrition claims are subject to rules. For ‘reduced sugars’, check what the product is being compared with, and read the nutrition table for both claims.

Why do some biscuits containing sweeteners carry a warning about a laxative effect?

The warning relates to polyols, including maltitol. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre states that foods containing more than 10% added polyols carry this warning. Check the ingredients and warning on the biscuit you choose.