Parents taking snacks out
For a day out, playdate or car journey, you can pack an individual packet for each person in advance. Choose between one biscuit per wrapper and a packet with several biscuits, depending on when you plan to have a snack.
Who are individually wrapped portions useful for?
People handing out snacks
If someone needs to avoid certain ingredients, the information on the pack you buy matters more than the flavour name or brand. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority requires allergens to be clearly listed on the labels of prepacked foods.
Families choosing biscuits as a treat
An individually wrapped packet makes it easier to decide in advance what to take, but it says nothing about nutritional value. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends fruit and vegetables as good snacks for children; you can consider biscuits as a separate treat.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide how many biscuits you want to take for each person. Then check the label and how many individual portions you need for your outing.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Individually wrapped portions for taking out | Count the packets and the biscuits in each one: one, two or three biscuits make different portions. | I want to pack an individual portion for each person to take out, without sharing from an open pack. Around 36% of consumers prioritise this type of portion for taking out. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list and highlighted allergens on the pack you buy; check each flavour separately. | If I’m taking biscuits for someone with a food allergy, I need to know what’s in this exact variety. This check comes first for around 29% of consumers. |
| Portion size and nutritional information | Compare the amount in each packet and read the nutritional information per portion and per 100 g. | For a child, I want to choose carefully how many biscuits make up one snack, even when they’re together in a single packet. Portion size is the top priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Pack size and wrappers | Compare the number of individual portions with the number of planned snack breaks, and check the disposal instructions on the pack. | For a small group, I don’t want to take many more biscuits and individual wrappers than necessary. Around 14% of consumers prioritise quantity and packaging. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming every packet contains one biscuit
The Lotus Biscoff XL pack listed by Jumbo contains two biscuits per packet; the listed chocolate variety contains three. So one individual packet may contain more than you intended for one person.
Check how many biscuits are in each packet and which portion the nutritional information refers to.
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Treating different flavours as the same product
The allergens listed may vary between varieties. The Lotus Biscoff chocolate variety reviewed lists milk, among other ingredients, so don’t rely on the ingredients for a different flavour.
Check the ingredients list and allergen information again for every flavour and new pack.
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Relying only on online information
If someone needs to avoid certain ingredients, the label on the product you buy is the key thing to check. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority sets requirements for listing ingredients and allergens on prepacked foods.
Use product pages to compare options, then check the physical packaging before handing out or eating the biscuits.
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Choosing a large sharing pack for one short outing
Albert Heijn lists a Lotus pack containing 300 individually wrapped biscuits. That calls for a different decision from a small multipack if you only need a few portions.
Count the people and planned snack breaks in advance, then choose the right number of individual portions.
Brands to consider
Lotus Biscoff
Worth considering if you’re looking for speculoos biscuits sold individually or in packets containing several biscuits.
- Jumbo lists packs with ten packets of two XL biscuits and six packets of three chocolate biscuits. Albert Heijn also lists a pack containing 300 individually wrapped biscuits.
- Portion sizes and allergens vary by variety, so read the label on the pack you choose.
Peijnenburg
An alternative if you’d rather take an individually wrapped slice of ontbijtkoek than biscuits.
- Jumbo lists a plain pack containing four individually wrapped slices, each weighing 28 g.
- Ontbijtkoek is not a biscuit. The listed variety contains rye and may contain milk and nuts.
Bolletje
Another dry snack to take out if you’re considering something other than sweet biscuits.
- Albert Heijn lists a sesame crispbread variety containing 72 individually wrapped pieces.
- Crispbread is not a biscuit, so check that this type of product is right for what you want to hand out.
Biscuits for individually wrapped portions on the go
These Joybuy products come in packets or individual packs for enjoying biscuits on the go. Check the difference between the number of outer packs and the number of biscuits in each portion.
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Hellema Smoeltjes Speculaas Cookies, 8 biscuits, 200 g
For anyone who wants to take or hand out several individual packets of mini speculaas biscuits.
The product information describes eight individual packets; check how many biscuits are in each packet if portion size matters. If you have allergies, check the label: the product information lists wheat, milk and egg, among other ingredients.
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Lu Scholiertje milk chocolate biscuits, 150 g
For anyone looking for an individual packet containing two biscuits.
The product description says the packets are individually wrapped and contain two biscuits each. The product information lists milk, wheat and soya as allergens and gives it a Nutri-Score of E; check the label on the pack you buy.
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Ulker Halley Mini Biscuit, 3 × 77 g
For anyone who wants to spread three individual packs of mini biscuits across several snack breaks.
Each pack weighs 77 g; check how many biscuits are in each pack if you’re looking for a specific portion size. If you have allergies, check the current label: the product information lists wheat, milk, soya, hazelnuts and egg, among other ingredients.
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Fruit Biscuit Coconut Snaps, 5 × 3 biscuits
For anyone who wants to take biscuits in portions of three.
The product description lists five smaller packs containing 15 biscuits in total, not a wrapper around each biscuit. Check the packaging of the product you buy for allergen information.
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Oreo raspberry and blueberry flavour sandwich biscuits, 97 g
For anyone who wants to split the biscuits between two individual packs.
The product description lists two separate packs. Check how many biscuits are in each pack if portion size matters for each snack break; the product information lists wheat and soya as allergens.
Frequently asked questions
Do individually wrapped biscuits stay crisp for longer?
You can’t tell from the packaging alone for all biscuits. According to its product description, Lotus Biscoff says that the packets of three chocolate biscuits help preserve their flavour and crispness. For the product you choose, also check the best-before date and storage instructions.
Should I read the label if the online shop lists allergens?
Yes. Before handing the biscuits out, check the ingredients and allergens on the pack you bought. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority requires allergens to be clearly listed on the labels of prepacked foods.
What does an individual packet tell me about nutritional value?
The wrapper tells you nothing about the biscuits’ nutritional value. Check how many biscuits are in the packet and compare the nutritional information per portion and per 100 g. For children’s snacks, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre also recommends fruit and vegetables as good choices.
Is an allergen symbol on the front enough?
Don’t use a symbol as a substitute for the ingredients list. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergens must be clearly identifiable on the labels of prepacked foods, so read the full information on the pack you bought.