Who are these considerations important for?

Parents looking for an occasional little treat

You want to give your toddler a chocolate biscuit without automatically assuming that a small packet means a small portion.

Parents who want to take one snack with them

For days out or childcare, you want to know in advance whether a sealed wrapper contains one biscuit, a duo or a bar.

Parents who need to consider allergens or childcare rules

You check the current ingredients and allergen information, and ask the school or childcare setting what’s allowed.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you’re looking for an everyday snack or an occasional treat. Then consider the portion, wrapper and allergens separately: convenient packaging doesn’t replace any of these checks.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Portion and occasion Check the nutritional information for the amount you plan to give, and count how many biscuits are in one wrapper. If I give a biscuit occasionally, I want to be able to set the portion rather than automatically giving the whole packet. Portion size is the biggest consideration for around 42% of consumers.
Individually wrapped Check whether one sealed wrapper contains one biscuit, two biscuits or a bar. When we’re out and about, I want to pack one snack without opening a large packet. Packaging convenience is the top priority for an estimated 33% of consumers.
Allergens and childcare rules Read the label on the current packaging and ask the childcare setting what rules apply. If I’m sending something to childcare, I need to know which allergens it may contain and whether it’s allowed there. This is the main concern for around 25% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming an individual wrapper means a small portion

    An individually wrapped biscuit bar may still be larger than the biscuit you intended to give your toddler as a treat. The wrapper doesn’t determine how much your toddler gets.

    Compare the nutritional information with the actual portion and decide in advance how much you’ll give.

  • Counting a duo pack as one biscuit

    Lotus Bakeries lists two biscuits per packet for its Biscoff XL packs; ALDI Netherlands also describes its Biscotto Chocolate Biscuits as being packed in pairs. So one opened packet may contain more than you intended to give.

    Check how many biscuits are in each sealed packet. Look for individually wrapped biscuits if you want to pack exactly one.

  • Relying only on online allergen information

    The ingredients and allergens that matter for your choice are listed on the packaging of the specific product you’re actually giving your toddler.

    Read the packaging before packing the snack, and ask the school or childcare setting directly about its rules. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens must be listed on the labels of prepacked foods.

Brands and product ranges to consider

Verkade

Verkade’s range includes Chocorondjes Milk Chocolate, among other products.

  • Verkade states that each Chocorondje contains 58.5 kcal.
  • Check separately how many biscuits are in each wrapper and read the allergen information on the current packaging.

LU

Albert Heijn describes the Time Out Choco Chip variety as a pack of five individually wrapped biscuit bars.

  • The individually wrapped bars can be treated as separate portions to take with you.
  • A biscuit bar isn’t automatically a small portion for a toddler; check what’s in each wrapper.

Lotus Biscoff

Lotus Bakeries lists Biscoff Original Speculoos XL, among other products, with two biscuits per packet.

  • The packaging clearly states how many biscuits are in each packet.
  • Biscoff is a speculoos biscuit, not a chocolate biscuit, and a duo pack doesn’t contain one individually wrapped biscuit.

Albert Heijn

For AH Choco fourré vanilla, Albert Heijn states that the biscuits are individually wrapped.

  • The product description explicitly states the packaging format.
  • Check the current product listing and packaging before relying on portion or ingredient information.

Biscotto / ALDI

ALDI Netherlands describes Biscotto Chocolate Biscuits as a pack of 20 biscuits, packed in pairs.

  • The number of biscuits in each sealed packet is stated.
  • Check the nutritional information and allergens on the packaging; two biscuits per packet isn’t the same as one biscuit per wrapper.

Chocolate biscuits for a snack on the go

This Joybuy product is a match if you’re looking for a chocolate biscuit to take with you occasionally. Before buying, check whether each biscuit is individually wrapped, the nutritional information for the portion you plan to give and the allergens.

LU Choco Cookies with chocolate and vanilla, 171 g

LU Choco Cookies with chocolate and vanilla, 171 g

For an occasional snack on the go: check the packaging to see whether each biscuit has its own wrapper.

The pack contains 171 g. Check the portion per biscuit, its nutritional information and the current allergen information separately.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is an individually wrapped chocolate biscuit an everyday snack for a toddler?

No. Individual packaging doesn’t make biscuits an everyday choice. For everyday snacks, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre suggests options such as fruit, vegetables, wholemeal bread and wholegrain crispbread, and recommends keeping biscuits for occasional treats.

How do I assess the portion in one wrapper?

First count how many biscuits are in the sealed wrapper, then check the nutritional information for the amount you actually plan to give. Figures per 100 g or per whole pack aren’t necessarily the same as the values per biscuit.

Should I read the label if the online shop lists allergens?

Yes. Check the allergen information on the current packaging of the biscuit you’re giving your toddler. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens must be labelled on prepacked foods; an online product description doesn’t replace checking the packaging.

Can I send a chocolate biscuit containing gluten or milk to childcare?

Ask the childcare setting what rules apply to snacks brought from home and allergens. Also check the current packaging to see which allergens the specific biscuit contains or may contain.