Sugar-conscious traveller
You want to take biscuits for the car journey, but the amount of sugar matters more to you than the kano shape. So you compare the nutritional values per 100 g, then check how much you’ll actually take with you.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Kano biscuit fan with a portion plan
You’re choosing the filled biscuit itself and want to decide how many you’ll eat on the way before setting off, rather than treating the whole pack as one snack.
Traveller who checks ingredients
Allergens and ingredients are essential considerations for you or someone travelling with you. If you’re considering an alternative containing polyols, you’ll also want to read the warnings on the pack in advance.
What should you consider when choosing?
First decide whether you want to stick with a filled kano biscuit or choose a different kind of snack to reduce your sugar intake. Then compare the nutritional values and the portion you’ll pack for the journey.
Regular butter kano biscuit
A good fit if: you mainly want to take a filled kano biscuit with you and choose your portion in advance.
Consider: the Jumbo and Albert Heijn products we looked at list 36.8 g and 39 g of sugars per 100 g respectively.
A different type of biscuit
A good fit if: the sugar content matters more to you than almond paste and the texture of a kano biscuit.
Consider: the Jumbo product page lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Verkade San Francisco Naturel Zero toegevoegd suiker, but it also contains maltitols and carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
A different kind of snack
A good fit if: you’re not set on biscuits and want to consider different types of snacks for the journey.
Consider: with any other snack, the portion you choose should suit what you want to take and eat; check the ingredients for everyone travelling with you.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Especially relevant to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars | Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g, then check the amount in the portion you plan to eat. | If my main aim is to take less sugar with me, I don’t let wording on the front of the pack take the place of the nutritional information table. This is the top priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| Kano biscuits and portions | Check the weight per portion and the number of portions in the pack. | I want to keep the flavour and filling of a kano biscuit, but decide how many I’ll eat before setting off. This is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Ingredients | Read the allergen information and, for products containing polyols, the usage warning on the pack. | If a snack also needs to be suitable for the people travelling with me, I check the ingredients and warnings first. Around 33% of consumers put this first. |
Common mistakes
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Mistaking a sugar claim for a low-sugar kano biscuit
Verkade’s biscuit labelled ‘Zero toegevoegd suiker’ is a different type of biscuit from the regular kano biscuits sold by Albert Heijn and Jumbo. The wording on the pack also doesn’t tell you how much sugar you’ll eat per portion.
First compare products you’d genuinely consider taking as an alternative per 100 g, then compare your chosen portion.
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Looking only at sugars
A lower sugar value doesn’t tell you everything about the nutritional value. For example, the Jumbo product page also lists 401 kcal per 100 g for Verkade San Francisco Naturel Zero toegevoegd suiker.
As well as sugars, check the listed energy, fat, fibre and salt, using the same basis for each comparison.
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Treating a whole pack as one portion
Albert Heijn lists six 45 g portions for AH Roomboter kano’s; Jumbo lists five 55 g portions for Jumbo Kano’s met Roomboter. A pack and a portion aren’t the same thing.
Before setting off, put aside the number of kano biscuits you want to take for the journey.
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Leaving it until the journey to read the warnings
The kano biscuits we looked at contain allergens. According to the Jumbo product page, the Verkade biscuit mentioned contains maltitols and carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Before buying, check the current ingredients, allergen information and warnings for everyone who’ll be eating them.
Brands and product ranges to compare
These product examples show why the type of biscuit, nutritional value and portion size each deserve separate consideration; the brand name alone doesn’t make the choice for you.
Albert Heijn
AH Roomboter kano’s are an example of a regular filled kano biscuit.
- Albert Heijn lists 39 g of sugars per 100 g and a 45 g portion.
- This means the product isn’t a substantiated low-sugar alternative; check the ingredients and allergens too.
Jumbo
Jumbo Kano’s met Roomboter are another example of a regular filled kano biscuit.
- Jumbo lists 36.8 g of sugars per 100 g and a 55 g portion.
- Compare values per 100 g before comparing portions of different products; check the allergens too.
Verkade
San Francisco Naturel Zero toegevoegd suiker is a biscuit, not a kano biscuit.
- The Jumbo product page lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for this biscuit.
- The product contains maltitols; according to the product page, excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Aviateur
Gevulde Kano’s 7 stuks is another example in the filled kano biscuit category.
- The Jumbo product page lists 38.0 g of sugars per 100 g for this product.
- Check current availability before choosing this specific product for a journey.
Alternative snacks at Joybuy
This selection includes a muesli bar, biscuits, wafers and cookie bars to consider as alternatives to kano biscuits. They aren’t filled kano biscuits: first decide what kind of snack you want, then read the nutritional information and ingredients on the pack.
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Hero B'Tween Muesli Bar Zero White Chocolate 120 g
A muesli bar to consider if you’d like something other than a filled kano biscuit while you’re on the go. Compare sugars per 100 g on the pack and read the ingredients and warnings if polyols are a concern for you.
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Panpan Low GI Sugar-Free Oat High Fiber Biscuits 216 g
Oat biscuits if you’re happy to choose a different type of biscuit instead of a kano biscuit. Don’t base your choice on the wording in the product name alone: compare the nutritional information per 100 g and check the ingredients and allergens.
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NABATI Strawberry Wafer 12 × 27 g
Strawberry wafers if you’d rather take individual 27 g packs for the journey than kano biscuits. Compare sugars per 100 g; for energy and allergen information, check the current pack.
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g'woon Cookie Bars Less Sugar, 6 pieces
Cookie bars if the kano shape doesn’t matter to you. ‘Less Sugar’ in the product name doesn’t mean that no sugars have been added; compare the nutritional information and ingredients before choosing them for your journey.
Frequently asked questions
Are the kano biscuits we looked at a low-sugar alternative?
No, the products we looked at don’t support that description: Albert Heijn lists 39 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Roomboter kano’s, while Jumbo lists 36.8 g per 100 g for Jumbo Kano’s met Roomboter. These examples don’t tell you what’s available for every other kano biscuit; compare a specific alternative using its current label.
Does ‘no added sugar’ also mean a biscuit is low in energy?
No, that wording alone doesn’t tell you how much energy it contains. The Jumbo product page lists both 1.7 g of sugars and 401 kcal per 100 g for Verkade San Francisco Naturel Zero toegevoegd suiker. So compare more than just the sugar value.
What should I look out for in a biscuit containing maltitols when I’m travelling?
Read the usage warning before deciding how much to take with you. According to the Jumbo product page, excessive consumption of Verkade San Francisco Naturel Zero toegevoegd suiker may have a laxative effect; check the warning on the current pack.
What information should I compare on the pack before setting off?
Compare the nutritional values per 100 g, decide on your portion, and read the ingredients and allergen information. Voedingscentrum recommends comparing nutritional values on the same basis and explains that allergens must be clearly identifiable on the label.