A standard spritz biscuit isn’t suitable if you’re strictly avoiding sugar: according to Albert Heijn, Verkade and PLUS, their listed spritz biscuits contain 28 g, 24.2 g and 21.4 g of sugars per 100 g respectively. A sugar-free biscuit is a different kind of biscuit; AH Digestive 0% sugar also contains wheat. If you have a food allergy, first check the current ingredients, allergens and warnings about possible cross-contamination, then look at the sugar claim.
You’re buying for yourself or someone else with a known allergy. The ingredients, allergens and any warnings about cross-contamination determine which biscuits you can consider. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre highlights how important label information is when you have a food allergy.
You want a biscuit that meets the threshold for the ‘sugar-free’ claim, and you’re happy for it not to be a spritz biscuit. Under European Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the claim can be used for solid foods containing no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g.
You want to know whether to stick with a standard spritz biscuit or choose something else. The distinction matters: ‘no added sugar’ doesn’t mean the same as ‘sugar-free’, and a digestive biscuit isn’t a spritz biscuit.
First, compare the allergen information with the ingredients you need to avoid. Then distinguish between a standard spritz biscuit, a sugar-free biscuit and a biscuit with no added sugar.
Choose this when: having a familiar spritz biscuit matters to you and the current allergen information fits your list of ingredients to avoid.
The trade-off: the spritz biscuits listed by Albert Heijn, Verkade and PLUS aren’t sugar-free.
Choose this when: avoiding sugar is the priority and you’re happy with a different kind of biscuit.
The trade-off: AH Digestive 0% sugar isn’t a spritz biscuit and, according to Albert Heijn, contains wheat; it may also contain barley, oats and rye.
Choose this when: you’re specifically looking at added sugar, but don’t need the biscuit to be sugar-free.
The trade-off: Jumbo lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Verkade San Francisco Zero, as well as the allergens wheat, milk and soya.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens | Check the ingredients, clearly stated allergens and any warnings about cross-contamination on the current packaging. | When I’m buying for someone with a food allergy, I want to know whether the biscuit is suitable for their allergens to avoid. For around 46% of consumers, this check comes first. |
| Sugar-free | Check the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g. Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the ‘sugar-free’ claim applies to products containing no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. | If you want a strictly sugar-free option, ‘no added sugar’ on its own isn’t enough. For around 36% of consumers, being genuinely sugar-free is the main priority. |
| Type of biscuit | Decide whether you specifically want a spritz biscuit or would also consider a biscuit or cracker; then compare the information for that product. | With my coffee, I’d rather have a spritz biscuit than another kind of biscuit, as long as it meets my other requirements. Around 18% of consumers put this biscuit choice first. |
These are different claims. Jumbo lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Verkade San Francisco Zero; under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the threshold for ‘sugar-free’ is no more than 0.5 g per 100 g.
If avoiding sugar is essential for you, check the ‘of which sugars’ amount per 100 g.
A biscuit can contain allergens even if it’s sugar-free. For example, Albert Heijn lists wheat in AH Digestive 0% sugar.
First, compare the full allergen information and any warnings about cross-contamination with your list of ingredients to avoid.
According to the relevant product information, AH Spritsen, Verkade NoboSprits Original and PLUS Spritsen contain 28 g, 24.2 g and 21.4 g of sugars per 100 g respectively.
If you need a sugar-free option, consider other types of biscuit too, and check their sugar content and allergens.
According to Albert Heijn, AH Digestive 0% sugar contains maltitol and isomalt. The product information warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
As well as the sugar content, read the ingredients and warnings on the packaging.
Albert Heijn lists both AH Spritsen and AH Digestive 0% sugar, which is a digestive biscuit rather than a spritz biscuit.
Verkade makes NoboSprits Original, a spritz biscuit; San Francisco Zero is a different kind of biscuit.
Jumbo provides product information for Verkade San Francisco Zero and also has a separate category for gluten-free biscuits.
PLUS lists standard spritz biscuits and also offers other biscuits for those keeping an eye on sugar.
ALDI lists Biscotto butter spritz biscuits. The also-mentioned ontbijtkoek zero is a different type of product.
This mango-flavoured sandwich cracker is a different kind of biscuit from a spritz biscuit. Before choosing it for this purchase, check the current packaging for sugars per 100 g and allergens.
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If you’re happy to choose a cracker instead of a spritz biscuit, you could consider this 270 g mango-flavoured option as an alternative.
Check the current packaging for sugars per 100 g, ingredients, allergens and any warnings about cross-contamination. Don’t rely on the product type alone to determine whether it’s sugar-free or suitable for your allergy.
No. Under European Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the ‘sugar-free’ claim for solid foods applies to products containing no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. Despite its added sugar wording, Jumbo lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Verkade San Francisco Zero.
Not the standard spritz biscuits listed here: according to Albert Heijn, AH Spritsen contain 28 g of sugars per 100 g; according to Verkade, NoboSprits Original contains 24.2 g; and according to PLUS, PLUS Spritsen contain 21.4 g per 100 g. If you need a sugar-free option, check both the sugar content and allergens of any other biscuit you’re considering.
Read the ingredients and product warnings. According to Albert Heijn, AH Digestive 0% sugar contains maltitol and isomalt, and carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
