Who is this choice relevant to?

Sugar-conscious shoppers planning an Easter spread

You want to choose an Easter biscuit based on the exact claim and sugar content per 100 g, rather than relying on a name like ‘zero’.

Fans of kano biscuits with almond paste

You’re specifically looking for the combination of biscuit and almond paste filling. A different biscuit with no added sugars won’t offer the same combination.

Label readers shopping for guests

You want to be able to check the ingredients and allergens on the exact product’s packaging before serving it.

What should you look for when choosing?

When choosing kano biscuits or other biscuits for your Easter spread, it comes down to what matters most: clear information about sugar or the familiar biscuit with almond paste filling.

Traditional kano biscuit with almond paste

Choose this if: the filled kano biscuit itself matters more to you than a specific sugar claim.

The trade-off: the product type alone tells you nothing about whether it contains less sugar. Check the latest nutritional information before drawing that conclusion.

Another biscuit with no added sugars

Choose this if: an explicit claim is your priority and a kano biscuit with almond paste isn’t essential. Verkade describes San Francisco Zero as a biscuit with no added sugars.

The trade-off: ‘no added sugars’ doesn’t mean ‘sugar-free’, and the claim alone doesn’t tell you how much sugar the biscuit contains.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Sugars For similar biscuits, compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and read the exact claim. I want to know what a sugar-conscious choice is based on, even if that means choosing a biscuit other than a kano. For around 42% of consumers, clearly lower sugar is the top priority.
Kano biscuit with almond paste Check the product description for a filled kano biscuit with almond paste; if you’re buying for a group, check the number of biscuits too. A biscuit with almond paste belongs on my Easter table, and a plain biscuit doesn’t meet that need. Around 33% of consumers prioritise the kano style.
Ingredients and allergens Read the ingredients, allergen information and any ‘may contain’ statements on the current packaging. When I’m shopping for guests, I want to check that the exact product meets their needs before serving it. Checking labels and allergens is the top priority for around 25% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Reading ‘no added sugars’ as ‘sugar-free’

    A biscuit with no added sugars may still contain naturally occurring sugars. The Voedingscentrum distinguishes this from ‘sugar-free’, which means no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g.

    Read the exact claim and the ‘of which sugars’ line in the nutrition table.

  • Assuming a standard kano biscuit contains less sugar

    The description ‘kano biscuit with almond paste’ tells you what type of product it is, not whether its sugar content is lower.

    Check the latest nutritional information and any claim before choosing that kano because you want less sugar.

  • Comparing portions only

    Different portion sizes make it difficult to compare the sugar content of two biscuits side by side.

    Compare similar products per 100 g, as the Voedingscentrum recommends, then check the weight of an individual biscuit.

  • Relying on an old product listing for allergen information

    Albert Heijn says that product ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change.

    Just before serving, read the packaging of the exact variant, including any ‘may contain’ statements.

Relevant brands to consider

Verkade

An alternative if a biscuit with an explicit claim matters more to you than a kano biscuit with almond paste.

  • Verkade describes San Francisco Zero as a biscuit with no added sugars.
  • San Francisco Zero isn’t a kano biscuit. When choosing, also compare the sugar content per 100 g on the packaging.

Jumbo

A supermarket own brand to consider if you’re looking for a traditional kano biscuit with almond paste.

  • Jumbo describes its kano biscuits as butter biscuits with 38% almond paste filling.
  • That product description makes no claim about lower sugar. Use the latest nutritional information to compare sugar content.

Albert Heijn

A supermarket own brand with butter kano biscuits; the retailer also has a separate category for sugar-conscious products.

  • Albert Heijn lists AH Roomboter kano’s as one of its own products.
  • A sugar-conscious shopping category doesn’t automatically make a standard kano biscuit a lower-sugar product. Albert Heijn says product information can change, so check the latest label.

PLUS

A supermarket own brand to consider if you’re looking for a traditional butter kano biscuit.

  • PLUS lists butter kano biscuits in a 275 g pack with a Nutri-Score of E.
  • Nutri-Score doesn’t replace a comparison of sugar content per 100 g, and on its own it doesn’t show that this is a lower-sugar kano biscuit.

Heerlijck Banket

An ALDI brand for anyone looking for a traditional pastry biscuit in a kano shape.

  • ALDI describes Heerlijck Banket Kano’s as pastry biscuits shaped like canoes, in a 330 g pack.
  • The product description doesn’t justify treating them as lower-sugar kano biscuits. Check the label to find out more.

Sondey

A Lidl brand to consider if you’re looking for a traditional kano biscuit with almond paste.

  • Lidl describes Sondey Kano’s as butter biscuits filled with almond paste, in a 325 g pack.
  • Lidl lists this variant as available in store only. The product description doesn’t confirm a lower sugar content.

Biscuits on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘no added sugars’ mean the same as sugar-free?

No, these are different claims. According to the Voedingscentrum, a product with no added sugars may still contain naturally occurring sugars; the ‘sugar-free’ claim means no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. So also check the ‘of which sugars’ information on the packaging.

How do I compare the sugar content of kano biscuits and other biscuits?

Compare the sugar content per 100 g in similar biscuits, as the Voedingscentrum recommends. Also read the exact claim and the ingredients: another biscuit may differ from a kano in its filling and product type.

Is a standard kano biscuit automatically a lower-sugar choice?

No, the name ‘kano’ and the presence of almond paste say nothing about reduced sugar content. Before choosing a product for that reason, check the sugar content per 100 g and the exact claim on the latest packaging.

Where can I check allergen information when buying kano biscuits for guests?

Check the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging of the exact kano biscuit you plan to serve. Also read any ‘may contain’ statements if they’re relevant to a guest; Albert Heijn says product information can change.