Parents who need to avoid allergens
If your child has an allergy, or the school has rules about food in the classroom, checking the ingredients and warnings comes before choosing a chocolate flavour.
Who is this choice important for?
Shoppers looking for a distinct dark chocolate flavour
If you choose ‘dark’ for its flavour, it’s important to distinguish the proportion of dark chocolate in a biscuit from the cocoa content of that chocolate.
Parents who want to pack a portion
A pack containing a few biscuits can be handy when you need a portion that fits straight into a lunchbox. With a larger pack, you can portion the biscuits yourself.
What should you look for?
Start with your child’s needs and the school’s requirements. Then compare the labels for chocolate flavour, portion size and nutritional information.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens and school rules | Check both ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ on the current packaging, and check the school or classroom rules. | If my child has an allergy or the class has food rules, I want to know whether this biscuit is allowed. This check is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Chocolate and cocoa | Distinguish between the percentage of dark chocolate in the biscuit and an explicitly stated percentage of cocoa solids in the chocolate. | I’m looking for a distinct dark chocolate flavour and don’t want to rely on the word ‘dark’ alone. For around 27% of consumers, flavour is the main consideration. |
| Portion size and packaging | Check the number of biscuits per portion, whether there are individual wrappers, and the storage instructions after opening. | A portion that fits straight into the lunchbox saves me time on a school morning. Portion convenience matters most to around 20% of consumers. |
| Everyday snack choice | Compare the nutritional information per portion and decide whether you want to pack a biscuit as a treat. | If I want to pack something for every school day, I also want to consider other snacks. For around 20% of consumers, this everyday choice is their main concern. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘dark’ means a high cocoa content
Albert Heijn states that AH Zaans huisje contains 63% dark chocolate. This describes the composition of the biscuit, not how much cocoa the chocolate contains.
If it’s important to your choice, look for a separate statement on the label giving the percentage of cocoa solids.
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Checking allergens on the front of the pack only
Dark chocolate biscuits may contain ingredients such as wheat, milk and soya; some packs also warn that they may contain nuts. The flavour name doesn’t tell you whether a product meets the school’s rules.
Before packing it, check the current allergen information and make sure it’s suitable for your child and the school.
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Assuming a large pack is ready to go in a lunchbox
You’ll need to portion out biscuits from a large pack and store the rest. Jumbo advises sealing its Chocolate Cookies pack tightly after opening and using the remaining biscuits within a few days.
Choose individually wrapped biscuits if you want to pack a measured portion straight away. Otherwise, check the storage instructions for the larger pack.
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Making a chocolate biscuit an everyday choice
For everyday snacks, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends fruit and vegetables as good choices for children.
Decide whether you want to pack a biscuit as a treat, and check the nutritional information per portion if you’ll be serving it regularly.
Brands to consider
LU
LU Scholiertje Puur is a butter biscuit topped with dark chocolate, for anyone looking for a pre-portioned option.
- According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Scholiertje Puur is packed in pairs; the stated portion is 25 g.
- This variety contains ingredients including milk, soya and wheat, and may contain nuts. Check that the current allergen information suits your child and the school’s rules.
Albert Heijn
The AH range includes biscuits with different amounts of dark chocolate.
- Albert Heijn states that AH Gesuikerde Biscuits has a 27% dark chocolate coating, while AH Zaans huisje contains 63% dark chocolate.
- These figures describe components of different biscuits; they aren’t comparable cocoa percentages. Check the allergens for each variety too.
Jumbo
Jumbo Chocolate Cookies met Stukjes Pure Chocolade are an example of an option for anyone who wants to portion biscuits from a larger pack.
- Jumbo states that these cookies contain 40% dark chocolate pieces.
- The cookies contain wheat and gluten and may contain other allergens. Jumbo advises sealing the pack tightly after opening.
Lotus Biscoff
Lotus Biscoff Speculoos Belgian Chocolate is a speculoos biscuit with chocolate, rather than a standard butter biscuit.
- Albert Heijn describes a pack containing six individual packs of three biscuits each.
- The mention of chocolate doesn’t indicate a particularly high cocoa content. For this variety, check the information on ingredients including wheat, milk and soya.
Joybuy biscuits for lunchboxes
These biscuits suit shoppers looking for a dark chocolate flavour and packaging that’s easy to take with you. A description such as ‘dark chocolate flavour’ doesn’t confirm a high cocoa content. Always check the current allergen information before packing one in a school lunchbox.
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Franzzi Premium Dark Chocolate Flavour Cookies 70 g
For anyone who wants to pack a biscuit with a dark chocolate flavour. Check the packaging for the cocoa content, portion size and allergens before adding it to a lunchbox.
Pack weight: 70 g.
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Franzzi Mellow Dark Chocolate Flavoured Cookies 115 g
An option if dark chocolate flavour matters more to you than a confirmed high cocoa content. Check the current packaging for allergens and the number of biscuits per portion.
Pack weight: 115 g.
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quduoduo Chunky Cookies Dark Chocolate Flavour 72 g
For anyone considering a small pack of dark chocolate-flavoured biscuits. Portion them yourself for the lunchbox if needed, and check the label for allergens and cocoa content.
Pack weight: 72 g.
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Bourbon Alfort Mini Chocolate Dark Matcha, 12 pieces, 60 g
For anyone considering small biscuits combining dark chocolate and matcha flavours. Before packing them, read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging, and check that the portion is suitable.
Pack: 12 pieces, 60 g in total.
Frequently asked questions
Does ‘dark chocolate’ on a biscuit mean it contains a lot of cocoa?
No. The words ‘dark chocolate’ don’t, by themselves, tell you the cocoa percentage. For example, Albert Heijn states that AH Zaans huisje contains 63% dark chocolate; this is the proportion of chocolate in the biscuit. If you want to know the cocoa content of the chocolate, look for a separate statement giving the percentage of cocoa solids.
Can I pack a biscuit containing gluten for school?
That depends on your child’s allergies and the school or classroom rules. Check the current packaging for ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’, and ask which lunchbox rules apply if you’re unsure. A mention of dark chocolate says nothing about whether the product contains gluten.
How can I pack biscuits from a larger pack?
Take a suitable portion from the pack and follow the storage instructions for the rest. Jumbo advises sealing its Chocolate Cookies pack tightly after opening and using the remaining biscuits within a few days.
Is a chocolate biscuit a sensible everyday snack?
For everyday snacks, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends fruit and vegetables as good choices for children. If you want to pack a chocolate biscuit now and then, check the portion size and nutritional information on the packaging rather than comparing only the weight per 100 g.