People who decide on their evening portion in advance
If you don’t want to open a whole pack, you can choose between one biscuit per wrapper, two biscuits per bag or an individually wrapped slice. Also check how many portions are in the outer pack.
Who is this relevant to?
People comparing nutritional information
If you’re keeping an eye on sugar, fat or fibre, compare the nutritional values for the amount you’ll actually eat. A figure per 100 g isn’t the same as a value per biscuit or slice.
People who need to check ingredients
If you have an allergy or dietary restriction, the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging are what matter when choosing a product. A smaller portion doesn’t change whether an allergen is present.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide how much you want to open at a time. Then use the nutritional information and the label to compare products for the portion you’ve chosen.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Portion per wrapper | Count the biscuits or slices in each inner pack and the number of inner packs in the outer pack. | If I want a small late-night snack, I want to know in advance whether I’ll be opening one biscuit, two biscuits or a slice. Around 42% of consumers put portion size first. |
| Nutritional value per portion eaten | Compare energy, sugars, saturated fat, fibre and salt for the amount you want to eat; check whether the label gives values per 100 g or per portion. | When choosing my evening snack based on its nutritional value, I want to compare the amount I’ll eat rather than just read the front of the pack. For around 33% of consumers, this nutritional consideration comes first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients list, allergen information and any warnings on the packaging. | If I have an allergy or dietary restriction, I need to know which ingredients and warnings apply to this product, whatever the portion size. Around 25% of consumers put this check first. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming an individual wrapper makes a biscuit healthier
The wrapper defines an amount, but it doesn’t change the biscuit’s composition. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that snacks can contain a lot of energy, sugars, salt or saturated fat.
Compare the nutritional information for what you actually want to eat, even if you might open more than one inner pack.
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Choosing a large pack without counting the portions
Albert Heijn lists 150 individually wrapped biscuits for the Lotus Biscoff Dispenser and ten individually wrapped slices for Peijnenburg naturel. These are very different quantities to keep at home.
Check the number of inner packs, the contents per item and the best-before date before choosing a size.
A bulk pack takes up more storage space and may not suit how often you have an evening snack.
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Reading ‘no added sugars’ as a guarantee that it’s suitable for everyone
This claim doesn’t tell you everything about the other ingredients or nutritional value. For the Peijnenburg no added sugars variant, Jumbo includes a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Also read the ingredients, nutritional information and usage warnings. Keep products containing xylitol out of reach of pets.
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Skipping the label when buying a product again
Products with similar packaging can contain different ingredients and allergens. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority stresses the importance of clear information on the labels of pre-packed foods.
Check the current packaging again whenever an allergen or dietary restriction is relevant to your choice.
Brands to consider
Lotus Biscoff
Speculoos biscuits in a range of small pack sizes: Jumbo lists ten XL bags, each containing two biscuits, while Albert Heijn lists a dispenser with 150 individually wrapped biscuits.
- You can choose between one biscuit per wrapper and two per bag.
- The dispenser contains lots of individual portions; for these variants, also check the information about wheat and soya.
Peijnenburg
Individually wrapped slices of breakfast cake as an alternative to a small, crunchy biscuit. Albert Heijn lists ten 28 g slices in its naturel 10-pack.
- A slice gives you a pre-defined portion, with the amount per item stated.
- Check the grains and potential allergens for each variant. According to the product information, the no added sugars variant contains polyols and carries a warning about excessive consumption.
Biscotto
Chocolate biscuits from ALDI’s own brand. ALDI Netherlands lists twenty biscuits in the 250 g pack, wrapped in pairs.
- The inner pack defines a portion of two biscuits.
- If they affect your choice, check the nutritional information and allergens on the current packaging.
Goud Gebakken
Spiced or breakfast cake bites from ALDI’s own brand. ALDI Netherlands lists a pack with six individually wrapped pieces.
- Each piece has its own wrapper, so you don’t have to open the whole pack.
- Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information on the pack before comparing this biscuit with other options.
Biscuits and wafers at Joybuy
This selection includes biscuits and wafers in small or divided packs. Check how much you actually open for each product: the number of items and nutritional value per inner pack can’t always be worked out from the product name.
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Fruit Biscuit Coconut Snaps 5 × 3, 15 pieces
An option if you’d like to take your evening snack from a divided pack. The product name lists five packs of three; check the nutritional information for the amount you eat, and read the current label if you have an allergy.
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Hellema Smoeltjes Speculaas, 8 pieces, 200 g
For anyone considering speculaas as an evening snack. The product name lists eight pieces and 200 g; check how many biscuits you’d open at a time, then compare the nutritional information for that amount.
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NABATI Strawberry Wafer, 12 × 27 g
A wafer option if a 27 g pack is the amount you want. The product name lists twelve packs; check the current packaging for nutritional comparisons and allergen information.
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Oreo Raspberry & Blueberry Flavor sandwich biscuits, 97 g, 2 packs
For anyone who’d rather have two separate packs than one opened pack. The product name lists 97 g in total; check the contents of each individual pack to work out your snack portion.
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LU Scholiertje milk chocolate biscuits, 150 g
An option if you want to compare chocolate biscuits with your planned evening portion. The product name lists 150 g; check the pack for the contents per inner pack and the current allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
Is an individually wrapped biscuit automatically a better choice for my evening snack?
No, the packaging doesn’t tell you about the nutritional composition. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that snacks can contain a lot of energy, sugars, salt or saturated fat, so compare the nutritional information for the amount you want to eat.
When should I choose one biscuit, two biscuits or a slice of breakfast cake?
Choose the format that suits the amount you want to eat. Albert Heijn lists one biscuit per wrapper for the Lotus Biscoff Dispenser and 28 g slices for the Peijnenburg naturel 10-pack; Jumbo lists two biscuits per bag for Lotus Biscoff XL. A slice of breakfast cake is a different type of product from a biscuit, so compare the nutritional value per portion eaten, not just the number of items.
How do I check allergens in individually wrapped biscuits?
Before choosing the product, read the allergen information and any warnings on the current outer packaging. If an ingredient or possible cross-contamination matters to you, don’t rely on the small inner wrapper or an online description alone.
Can I treat the nutritional information on a product page as definitive?
Use the product page to compare options in advance, but confirm the ingredients, nutritional values and allergens on the current packaging. With individual portions in particular, it’s important to check whether a figure is per 100 g, per item or per inner pack.