Kano biscuits are filled with almond paste; they’re not boxes of chocolates. They’re only an option for a school lunch or treat if the school allows biscuits and the label on your chosen variety is suitable for the child’s allergies and other dietary requirements. For an everyday school lunch, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends vegetables, fruit and wholegrain foods instead. Always check the label and school rules, even when choosing an alternative.
For a packed lunch or treat, you need to know which ingredients the child must avoid and what the class rules are. Product information from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS lists ingredients and allergens in their Kano biscuits, including wheat or gluten, milk, egg, soya and almond or other nuts.
For a one-off treat, the number of biscuits, portion size and school rules all matter. Before handing them out, also ask about allergies and other dietary requirements in the class, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
If you’re looking for something for an everyday lunch, the considerations are different from those for a treat. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists vegetables, fruit and wholegrain foods as options to include in food you send with primary school children.
First, check whether the biscuit is suitable under the school rules and for the child’s diet. Then consider which size is right for the lunch or treat occasion.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens and school rules | Read the allergen information and any warnings on the packaging you choose. Ask what the school allows for a lunch or treat. | If my child needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know before packing whether this biscuit and the school rules are suitable. This is the main concern for around 42% of consumers. |
| Everyday lunch or treat | Decide which eating occasion you’re buying for. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists vegetables, fruit and wholegrain foods as components of a school lunch. | For an ordinary school day, I’m looking for food that fits into an everyday lunch, not a biscuit I’d choose for a treat. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this consideration. |
| Portions and packaging | Compare the pack weight with the number of portions or biscuits, and check whether your preferred variety is available. | When I want to pack or hand out a small treat, I want the pack to suit the number of occasions. For around 25% of consumers, size is the first thing they consider. |
The products listed by Albert Heijn, Jumbo, PLUS and Lidl are biscuits filled with almond paste. If you’re looking for a box of chocolates, you’re comparing a different type of product.
Check the product type and ingredients before looking at the pack size.
A product name doesn’t tell you which allergens or warnings appear on the packaging of the variety you’ve chosen. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains why allergens must be clearly listed on the labels of prepacked foods.
Read the full label on the pack you buy. If you’re unsure, discuss the dietary requirements with the parent or carer concerned and the school.
A Kano biscuit doesn’t replace the lunch items recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre for an ordinary school day, such as vegetables, fruit and wholegrain foods.
Distinguish between a one-off treat and food you pack regularly for lunch.
Pack weight and the stated number of portions aren’t the same thing: Albert Heijn lists six 45 g portions in its 270 g pack, while Jumbo lists five portions in its standard 275 g pack.
Work out how many biscuits you’ll need for the occasion and check the portion information for the variety you’re buying.
Albert Heijn sells a 270 g pack of butter Kano biscuits; the product information lists six 45 g portions.
Jumbo’s standard butter Kano biscuits come in a 275 g pack, with five portions according to the product information.
PLUS Butter Kano biscuits come in 275 g packs and are described as butter biscuits with 39% almond paste filling and an almond decoration.
Lidl describes Sondey Kano biscuits as butter biscuits with almond paste filling, in a 325 g pack.
ALDI describes Heerlijck Banket Kano biscuits, in a 330 g pack, as pastries shaped like canoes.
This granola is a different type of product from Kano biscuits and may be worth considering if you’re looking for something other than an almond paste-filled biscuit for an ordinary school day. Check whether granola is suitable for the occasion, the school rules and the child’s diet.
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A granola alternative if you’d rather not pack a Kano biscuit for an ordinary school day. The pack contains 330 g, so check how much you’d like to pack each time. If there are allergies, don’t rely on the variety name alone: read the label for information about peanuts and possible traces of nuts and soya, and check that the product meets the school rules.
No. The Kano biscuits mentioned here are described by Albert Heijn, Jumbo, PLUS and Lidl as biscuits with almond paste filling, not as boxes of chocolates. So check the product type when you’re shopping.
It depends on the school rules and the children the biscuit is intended for. For treats, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends asking in advance what’s allowed and taking allergies and other dietary requirements into account.
On the exact pack you buy, check at least for wheat or gluten, milk, egg, soya and almond or other nuts. These allergens appear in the product information for the standard varieties mentioned from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS. Also read any warnings on the pack you buy.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging for your variety. The products mentioned should be stored in a cool, dry place; Albert Heijn recommends keeping its Kano biscuits in a sealed tin after opening.
Vegetables, fruit and wholegrain foods are among the options the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends for food at primary school. Before choosing a specific product, check the school rules and, where necessary, the label against the child’s individual dietary requirements.
