If reducing sugar is your priority, don’t assume a regular kano biscuit is the right choice: Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS list 39 g, 36.8 g and 38.9 g of sugars per 100 g respectively for the butter kano biscuits included in our research. Another type of biscuit may better suit that specific need, but it won’t have the same filling. For an everyday snack, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends fruit and vegetables for children aged 4 to 12. Before packing anything for school, check the current label and the school’s rules, especially if allergies are a consideration.
If you want to pack a biscuit and reducing sugar is important to you, compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per serving. The regular butter kano biscuits from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS list between 36.8 g and 39 g of sugars per 100 g.
If there are rules for the class or a child has an allergy, check the label on the product you choose and find out what the school has agreed. The product information for the kano biscuits from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS lists ingredients including wheat or gluten, milk, egg, soya and almonds or other nuts.
If you want to buy something in advance that’s easy to pack, check the pack size, portions and availability of the product you choose. These are practical differences; they don’t indicate that a biscuit contains less sugar.
First decide whether it has to be a filled kano biscuit or whether another snack would work too. Then compare the nutritional information and check the allergens and school rules.
When: you specifically want a filled kano biscuit for an occasional treat.
The trade-off: the varieties from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS included in our research list between 36.8 g and 39 g of sugars per 100 g.
When: you’re looking for a biscuit but don’t need the kano shape or almond paste filling.
The trade-off: Verkade lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for San Francisco Zero, but this biscuit contains wheat, milk and soya.
When: for an everyday school snack, you’d rather choose fruit or vegetable sticks, as the Netherlands Nutrition Centre discusses for children aged 4 to 12.
The trade-off: this won’t replace the taste and filling of a kano biscuit. Check the class rules for any other products you pack too.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars and type of product | Compare sugars per 100 g and per serving. Check whether you’re choosing a filled kano biscuit, a plain biscuit or another snack. | I want to pack a biscuit, but I’m mainly looking for an option with less sugar than a regular kano. This is the priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| Allergens and school rules | Read the current label and find out what rules apply to the class. | If there’s an allergy rule in the class, I want to pack something that meets it. For around 30% of consumers, this takes priority. |
| Packaging and availability | Check the pack size and where the product you’ve chosen is available. | For the new school year, I want to be able to decide in advance what to buy and how much to pack. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this practical consideration. |
A smaller serving doesn’t change the composition per 100 g. Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS list between 36.8 g and 39 g of sugars per 100 g for the regular kano biscuits included in our research.
So compare both the amount per 100 g and the amount per serving, and decide whether you want a filled kano biscuit or a different product.
Verkade states that San Francisco Zero has no added sugars, but the biscuit contains wheat, milk and soya. Verkade also lists 401 kcal per 100 g, so the sugar information alone doesn’t give you the full nutritional picture.
As well as checking the text on the front, read the ingredients, allergens, nutritional information and serving size.
According to VOO, schools can set rules for treats. If there’s an allergy in the class, the choice may also depend on the specific product and the rules in place.
Before you buy, find out what can be brought in or handed out, then check the current label.
If the treat doesn’t meet the class rules, a pack you’ve already bought could go to waste.
These product ranges show what information you can compare. A brand name alone doesn’t tell you whether a biscuit suits your needs or the school rules.
AH Butter Kano biscuits are regular filled biscuits; Albert Heijn lists a pack size of 270 g.
Jumbo Butter Kano biscuits are regular filled biscuits in a 275 g pack.
PLUS Butter Kano biscuits are a supermarket own-brand version of the filled biscuit with almond paste.
Verkade San Francisco Zero is a biscuit, not a kano; it’s only an alternative if you’re happy to choose a different shape.
These crackers, biscuits and sachima are options if you’re also looking beyond kano biscuits for the new school year. They aren’t interchangeable types of product, so check the nutritional information, allergens and school rules on each pack.
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A cracker for anyone who doesn’t need a filled kano biscuit. Compare the sugars per 100 g on the label, and check the allergens and school rules before packing it.
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A biscuit for anyone looking for a snack without sticking to the kano shape. Don’t rely on the sugar claim in the product name alone: compare the sugars in the current nutritional information and check the allergens.
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A matzo cracker for anyone considering an alternative outside the biscuit category. Carefully check the current label for allergens and find out what the class rules are; don’t rely on the product name alone.
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Sachima is a different kind of sweet snack, not a kano biscuit or a plain biscuit. Only assess a claim about reduced sugar alongside the nutritional information and the product it’s being compared with. Check the allergens and any warnings on the packaging too.
A regular kano biscuit isn’t the obvious choice if reducing sugar is your main priority. Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS list 39 g, 36.8 g and 38.9 g of sugars per 100 g respectively for the regular kano biscuits included in our research. An alternative biscuit is a different type of treat, though.
That doesn’t follow from the claim. Verkade lists 1.7 g of sugars and 401 kcal per 100 g for San Francisco Zero. So compare the full nutritional information and serving size, rather than judging the whole product on the basis of one value.
Before packing or handing them out, check the rules for the school and class. According to VOO, schools can set policies on treats. If you’re unsure, ask the school or teacher what the rules are for that class.
Always check the allergens for the specific product on the current packaging. For the kano biscuits included in our research, Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS list ingredients including wheat or gluten, milk, egg, soya and almonds or other nuts. For San Francisco Zero, Verkade lists wheat, milk and soya.
