Stocking up while avoiding added sugar
You’re looking for biscuits to keep at home and want to understand what the claim ‘no added sugar’ means. It also matters whether you’d be happy to buy a biscuit rather than a kano.
Who is this choice for?
Kano biscuit fan comparing labels
You want to stock up on filled kano biscuits and compare the ingredients, sugars per 100 g, portion size and shelf life of the packs.
Stocking up while keeping an eye on allergens
You’re buying for several people and checking the ingredients, allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings for each product.
What should you consider when stocking up?
First, decide whether you want a filled kano biscuit, or whether the ‘no added sugar’ claim matters more and a different type of biscuit would be suitable.
Traditional kano biscuit
A good fit if: you specifically want a filled kano biscuit and avoiding added sugar isn’t your deciding factor.
The trade-off: the kano biscuits from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS described here contain sugar as an ingredient.
Biscuit with no added sugar
A good fit if: you’re looking for a biscuit with that claim and are happy with a biscuit rather than a kano.
The trade-off: Verkade San Francisco Zero is not a filled kano biscuit; the label also warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar claim | Read the exact claim and compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g with the ingredients list. ‘No added sugar’ does not automatically mean sugar-free, as the Voedingscentrum explains. | If I’m buying biscuits for the cupboard to avoid added sugar, I don’t want to rely on the front of the pack alone. For around 33% of consumers, this check comes first. |
| Product type | Check whether the product is a filled kano biscuit or another type of biscuit; if you’re unsure, try one pack of the other type first. | I specifically want to stock up on kano biscuits, not discover afterwards that I’ve bought biscuits of a different type. For around 27% of consumers, sticking with kano biscuits matters most. |
| Stock and storage | Compare the net weight and number of portions, check the use-by date on the pack you receive and follow the storage instructions. | If I buy several packs, I need to be able to store and use them before the date on the packaging. For around 20% of consumers, convenience when stocking up is the main concern. |
| Allergens and warnings | Check the ingredients, allergens and ‘may contain’ statement on each pack; for biscuits containing maltitol, also read the usage warning. | If I’m buying for other people, I need to know whether everyone can eat the product I’ve chosen. For around 20% of consumers, this check is the top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Reading ‘no added sugar’ as ‘sugar-free’
These claims don’t mean the same thing. Despite the no added sugar claim, Albert Heijn lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Verkade San Francisco Zero.
Read the exact claim, then compare the nutritional information per 100 g on the current packaging.
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Buying a biscuit when you want kano biscuits
Verkade San Francisco Zero is a biscuit, whereas the kano biscuits described here are filled biscuits. One product type won’t automatically satisfy a preference for the other.
Before buying several packs, decide whether a biscuit is an acceptable alternative for you; if not, try one pack first.
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Overlooking allergens and usage warnings
The kano biscuits described here and the biscuit have different ingredients and allergens. The Verkade San Francisco Zero label also warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
For every pack you choose, check the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements, as well as any usage warnings.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
The butter kano biscuits described here come in a 270 g pack, which Albert Heijn says contains six portions.
- The product information lists the ingredients, allergens, nutritional values and storage advice.
- Albert Heijn lists sugar as an ingredient and 39 g of sugars per 100 g. Check the current packaging when your order arrives.
Jumbo
The butter kano biscuits described here come in a 275 g pack, which Jumbo says contains five portions.
- The pack weight and number of portions help you work out how many packs you need.
- Jumbo lists sugar as an ingredient and 36.8 g of sugars per 100 g. If you’re stocking up, check the use-by date on the pack.
PLUS
PLUS describes its butter kano biscuits as coming in a 275 g pack.
- The product information includes nutritional values, allergens and storage advice.
- PLUS lists sugar as an ingredient and 38.9 g of sugars per 100 g, so this isn’t an option if you’re avoiding added sugar.
Verkade
San Francisco Zero is a biscuit sold as a no added sugar alternative, not a kano biscuit.
- Albert Heijn lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for this biscuit, so you can compare the claim with the nutritional information.
- The biscuit contains maltitol; according to the label, excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Also check the allergens on the pack you choose.
Biscuits as an alternative on Joybuy
This biscuit is only relevant if you’re also considering a different type of biscuit from a kano for your cupboard. Assess the sugar claim by checking the current packaging and nutritional information.
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Panpan oat biscuits 216 g
A biscuit to consider if you don’t need a kano. The pack contains 216 g. The product title describes it as Sugar-Free, while the nutritional information given lists 11.7 g of sugars per 100 g. So don’t take the title as confirmation that the product is sugar-free; check the current packaging. Also read the allergen information and use-by date before stocking up.
Frequently asked questions
Is a biscuit with no added sugar also sugar-free?
No, these claims don’t mean the same thing. The Voedingscentrum points out that a product with no added sugar can still contain sugars; Albert Heijn lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Verkade San Francisco Zero.
Are the butter kano biscuits described here sugar-free?
No, the kano biscuits from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS described here contain sugar as an ingredient. Their product information lists 39 g, 36.8 g and 38.9 g of sugars per 100 g respectively; check the current packaging for the variant you buy.
What should I check before ordering several packs?
Check the ingredients, allergens, net quantity, nutritional values and storage instructions for the product you choose. According to Ondernemersplein, mandatory food labelling information must also be available online; check the packaging again when your order arrives.
How should I store kano biscuits for the cupboard?
Follow the storage advice on the pack you choose and buy an amount you can use before the use-by date on the packs you receive. For its kano biscuits described here, Albert Heijn advises storing them in a cool, dry place and keeping them in a sealed tin after opening; Jumbo advises storing its version in a cool, dry and dark place.
What should I look for in a biscuit containing maltitol?
Read the usage warning before buying several packs. The Verkade San Francisco Zero label states that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.