Only pack a kano biscuit if the label for that specific variety is suitable for the child’s allergies and the school’s rules. The listings checked for standard and mini kano biscuits do not confirm a chocolate-coated version. So check that the packaging actually states that the biscuit is coated, rather than assuming a standard kano or another chocolate biscuit is the same product. For everyday school lunches, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends choosing foods from the Wheel of Five. Think of a kano biscuit as a possible treat, not a replacement for lunch.
PLUS Butter Kano biscuits list wheat, egg, soya, milk and almond among their ingredients and allergen information. If you’re packing food for a child with an allergy, read the label on the variety you’ve chosen, including any warnings about traces, and take account of the class rules.
A kano biscuit can be considered as an addition to lunch, provided it fits the school’s rules. Check the portion size and make sure the biscuit doesn’t take the place of everyday lunch foods, for which the Netherlands Nutrition Centre mainly recommends items from the Wheel of Five.
The listings from PLUS, Albert Heijn and Jumbo for standard or mini kano biscuits do not confirm a chocolate coating. Check the exact product name and packaging before choosing one; another chocolate biscuit is not automatically the same product.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens and school rules | Check the packaging to see which allergens the product contains or may contain. Also check the school’s rules on biscuits and chocolate. | If a child has an allergy or the class has rules about food, I’d want to know first whether this biscuit can be packed. This would be the main concern for around 42% of consumers. |
| Its place in an everyday lunch | Decide whether the kano biscuit is a treat, and put lunch together without relying on the biscuit as a main part of it. For school lunches, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre mainly recommends foods from the Wheel of Five. | When I pack lunch for every school day, I don’t want a biscuit to replace other parts of the meal. This would be the main consideration for around 33% of consumers. |
| Portion size and exact variety | Check the number of biscuits or the portion size, and see whether the packaging actually states that the product has the chocolate coating you’re looking for. | If I’m looking for a small portion or specifically a chocolate-coated kano, I want to know exactly which variety I’m buying. This would be the main concern when choosing for around 25% of consumers. |
The PLUS variety lists several allergens, but another brand or a mini variety may have a different recipe. Albert Heijn also points out that product information can change.
Read the current packaging for the product you’re buying. Don’t use the allergen list for another kano biscuit as a substitute.
The listed standard and mini kano biscuits from PLUS, Albert Heijn and Jumbo do not, in themselves, confirm a chocolate coating. Another chocolate biscuit may also have a different recipe and contain different allergens.
Choose the variety you’re looking for only if the packaging clearly identifies it as a chocolate-coated kano, then read the ingredients and allergen information.
For school lunches, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends foods from the Wheel of Five. Choosing a kano biscuit as a treat is different from building a lunchbox around it.
Put lunch together first, then decide whether a biscuit fits as a treat within the school’s rules.
Rules on biscuits, chocolate or treats can vary from school to school. The Association for Public Education points out that parents should be informed about school rules on treats.
Check the school handbook and any class or allergy rules before packing the kano biscuit.
PLUS lists Butter Kano biscuits in a 275 g pack.
Jumbo lists 275 g packs of Butter Kano biscuits and, separately, 220 g packs of Butter Mini Kano biscuits.
Albert Heijn has a listing for AH Butter Kano biscuits.
Jumbo lists Aviateur Filled Kano biscuits in a pack of 7, weighing 325 g.
Don’t assume so: PLUS Butter Kano biscuits contain wheat and list gluten-containing cereals as an allergen. Assess only the current packaging for the specific variety, in line with the child’s dietary requirements.
That depends on the school’s rules and the label on the product you’ve chosen. Check the school handbook or class rules on biscuits and chocolate, and make sure the packaging actually identifies the product as a chocolate-coated kano.
No. The word ‘mini’ doesn’t tell you anything about allergens, ingredients or nutritional value. Jumbo lists a separate 220 g variety of Butter Mini Kano biscuits; check the portion size and current label for that variety.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging you buy. Jumbo’s Butter Kano biscuits are listed as needing to be stored in a cool, dry, dark place. Don’t apply this guidance to other varieties without checking.
