Who is this choice relevant to?

Sportspeople keeping an eye on sugar

You want to take a snack with you, but you’re mainly checking the sugars per serving. Product information from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS shows why you shouldn’t judge a regular kano biscuit by its size or name alone.

Strength athletes with a protein target

You’re looking for a snack that fits your protein target. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing sugars, saturated fat and salt too. It also says that most sportspeople don’t need special sports nutrition.

Sportspeople who like taking a biscuit with them

You’re choosing mainly for the taste and convenience of a measured portion. Check how many grams you actually eat, and read the ingredients and allergens on the current packaging.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you’re mainly looking for less sugar, more protein or a convenient treat to take with you. A kano biscuit, a biscuit with no added sugar and a protein-focused snack are different types of product, so compare their nutritional information for the same quantity and per serving.

Regular butter kano biscuit

When: You mainly want to take a traditional sweet biscuit with you.

Trade-off: The figures listed by Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS range from 36.8 to 39 grams of sugars per 100 grams. A kano biscuit therefore isn’t automatically suitable if you’re trying to eat less sugar.

Biscuit with no added sugar

When: Avoiding added sugar matters more to you than the taste and almond paste filling of a kano biscuit.

Trade-off: ‘No added sugar’ doesn’t, by itself, tell you how much energy or fat a product contains. Albert Heijn’s product pages for AH Digestive 0% sugar and Verkade San Francisco zero also carry a warning about a possible laxative effect if eaten in excess.

Protein-focused snack

When: The amount of protein you get at this mealtime matters more than having a traditional biscuit.

Trade-off: Compare the nutritional information per serving with your usual diet. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that most sportspeople don’t need special foods to get enough protein.

What to consider What should you check? Who is this most important for?
Sugars Compare sugars per 100 g and per serving. Check added sugars separately if they’re listed. If I want to eat less sugar, I want to know what’s in my usual serving, even when a biscuit looks small. Less sugar is a priority for around 40% of consumers.
Protein Check the amount of protein per serving and compare sugars, saturated fat and salt too. After exercise, I sometimes look for a snack that fits my protein target, without judging it by the product name. Protein is the top priority for an estimated 30% of consumers.
Portion and portability Check the number of items, the serving size and how to store the product according to the packaging. I want something I can take with me and use to decide in advance how much I’ll eat; the packaging needs to suit that. Around 20% of consumers prioritise convenience.
Taste Consider whether you want a kano biscuit with almond paste filling or would prefer to take another type of biscuit or cracker. For me, a traditional sweet biscuit is the reason to pack a snack, while a specific sugar or protein target matters less. Taste comes first for around 10% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a small kano biscuit is low in sugar

    Portion size and sugar content aren’t the same thing. Albert Heijn lists 39 grams of sugars per 100 grams for its butter kano biscuit; Jumbo lists 36.8 grams per 100 grams.

    Check the sugars per serving on the packaging. For example, Jumbo lists 20.2 grams of sugars in a 55-gram serving.

  • Assuming ‘no added sugar’ means low in energy

    Albert Heijn also lists 465 kcal and 20 grams of fat per 100 grams for AH Digestive 0% sugar. Products containing certain sweeteners or polyols may carry a warning about excessive consumption.

    As well as the claim on the front, read the nutritional information, ingredients and warnings on the label.

  • Choosing a product based only on ‘protein’ in its name

    A product name doesn’t tell you how much protein you’ll get in a serving or what the rest of its nutritional profile looks like. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that most sportspeople don’t need special foods.

    Compare serving sizes and the full nutrition table, and consider the snack alongside what else you eat.

  • Skipping the label if you have allergies

    The product information for the kano biscuits from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS included in this comparison lists ingredients such as wheat, milk, soya, egg and almond. Product ingredients can change.

    If you have an allergy, check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging you have before eating the product.

Brands compared

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn sells its own butter kano biscuit as well as AH Digestive 0% sugar, a different type of biscuit.

  • The product information lists a 45-gram serving of its butter kano biscuit and 39 grams of sugars per 100 grams.
  • According to the product page, AH Digestive 0% sugar contains sweeteners and carries a warning about a possible laxative effect if eaten in excess.

Jumbo

Jumbo offers its own butter kano biscuit as a traditional sweet treat.

  • The product page lists 20.2 grams of sugars and 3.4 grams of protein per 55-gram serving.
  • The listed ingredients include wheat, milk, soya, egg and almond. If you have allergies, check the current label.

PLUS

PLUS sells its own butter kano biscuit for anyone comparing traditional kano biscuits.

  • PLUS lists 38.9 grams of sugars and 38.5 grams of added sugars per 100 grams.
  • With a listed Nutri-Score E and these sugar values, it may not be the right choice if reducing sugar is your main priority.

Verkade

Verkade San Francisco zero is a biscuit for anyone who isn’t looking for a kano with almond paste filling.

  • The product page at Albert Heijn lists 1.7 grams of sugars per 100 grams for this biscuit.
  • According to that product page, the biscuit contains sweeteners and ingredients including wheat, milk and soya. It also carries a warning about a possible laxative effect if eaten in excess.

Heerlijck Banket (ALDI)

Heerlijck Banket Kano's are a regular kano biscuit, which you can compare with other traditional kano biscuits.

  • ALDI lists a 330-gram pack.
  • Check the nutritional information and ingredients on the pack you buy to assess its sugars and allergens.

Snack alternatives on Joybuy

These products are alternatives to a kano biscuit if you’re looking for a protein bar or a plain cracker to take with you. They aren’t kano biscuits, so compare the nutritional information per serving and check that the taste, packaging and ingredients suit you.

Grenade Carb Killa High Protein Bars, Birthday Cake

Grenade Carb Killa High Protein Bars, Birthday Cake, 12 × 60 g

A bar to consider if you’re looking for a protein-focused alternative to a kano biscuit. Compare the nutritional information per bar and read the ingredients and warnings on the packaging.

Before buying, check the number of bars and the total pack weight: the listed pack size needs a closer look.

View on Joybuy
Hollandia Matzo Crackers Natural, 16 pieces

Hollandia Matzo Crackers Natural, 16 stuks

A plain cracker for anyone who’d rather take something other than a sweet kano biscuit. Check the packaging for sugars per serving and ingredients. If you want to take individual crackers with you, check how they’re wrapped too.

View on Joybuy
Bolletje Light Whole Grain Crackers, 190 g

Bolletje Light Whole Grain Crackers, 190 g

A wholegrain cracker for anyone who isn’t looking for a sweet biscuit with almond paste filling. Compare sugars and serving size on the label, and check the packaging if you want to put individual portions in your bag.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Are regular kano biscuits low in sugar?

The regular kano biscuits included in this comparison may not be suitable if reducing sugar is your main priority. Albert Heijn lists 39 grams of sugars per 100 grams, Jumbo 36.8 grams and PLUS 38.9 grams. Also compare the serving you actually plan to eat.

Does ‘no added sugar’ also mean low in energy?

No, that claim doesn’t tell you how much energy a biscuit contains. Albert Heijn lists 465 kcal and 20 grams of fat per 100 grams for AH Digestive 0% sugar. So be sure to check the nutritional information per serving too.

Which allergens should I check in a kano biscuit?

Always read the allergen information on the current packaging. Product information for the kano biscuits from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS included in this comparison lists ingredients such as wheat, milk, soya, egg and almond. Any cross-contamination warnings are important for your choice too.

Do I need a special protein snack for exercise?

Not necessarily: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, most sportspeople don’t need special foods to get enough protein. If protein is your reason for choosing a snack, compare the amount per serving and consider the rest of your diet too.