A larger pack of Kano biscuits is handy if you want to spread them across several lunches. Before packing them, check the ingredients on the exact pack and the school’s food policies. If you’re mainly comparing pack sizes, ALDI and Lidl list 330 g and 325 g respectively, while Jumbo and PLUS each list 275 g. However, the weight doesn’t tell you how many biscuits you’ll want to pack at a time.
If you’re filling the biscuit tin for more than one lunch, the words ‘family pack’ tell you less than the net weight. Jumbo, PLUS, Lidl and ALDI list packs ranging from 275 g to 330 g; also check whether the number of servings is given.
If your child has a diagnosed food allergy or coeliac disease, the label on the exact pack is what matters. For the Kano biscuits reviewed, Jumbo and PLUS list wheat or gluten, as well as several other allergens. Check with the school which arrangements apply to your child.
A Kano biscuit can be an extra treat rather than the lunch itself. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a varied daily diet based on the Wheel of Five for teenagers, and suggests options such as fruit, vegetable snacks and wholemeal bread between meals.
First, check that the exact pack is suitable for any allergies and complies with the school’s food policies. Then consider the biscuit’s place in the lunch, the pack size and how you’ll take the biscuits with you.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens and school policies | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack; check which food policies apply at school. | If a pupil needs to avoid certain ingredients, you’ll want to know what’s in the pack and which school policies apply. This is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Its place alongside lunch | Decide whether the Kano biscuit is an extra treat, and check the nutrition information per 100 g and, if provided, per serving. | If you’re packing a biscuit, you’ll want it to remain an addition to the rest of the lunch. This matters most to around 29% of consumers. |
| Pack size and keeping a supply at home | Compare the net weight and the stated number of servings; choose a quantity you’re happy to store and use. | If you’re buying biscuits for several lunches, you’ll want a pack size that suits your needs, rather than relying on the words ‘family pack’. Pack size is the main consideration for around 21% of consumers. |
| Portioning and packing | Check the serving information and storage instructions, and consider how to protect the biscuits in the lunch bag. | If you’re packing biscuits individually, you’ll want them to be easy to portion and take with you. Around 14% of consumers put these practical considerations first. |
The packs listed by Jumbo, PLUS, Lidl and ALDI range from 275 g to 330 g. Jumbo specifies five servings of 55 g; that serving size doesn’t automatically apply to other packs.
Compare the net weight and check whether servings are listed for the pack you’ve chosen. Decide how much you want to pack for each lunch.
As well as wheat or gluten, the product information from Jumbo and PLUS lists ingredients such as milk, soya, almonds and eggs. Which ingredients matter depends on the exact product and the arrangements for the pupil.
Read the full allergen information on the pack and follow the individual arrangements agreed with the school if your child has a diagnosed allergy.
A biscuit doesn’t replace the need to think about what else goes in the lunchbox. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a varied daily diet based on the Wheel of Five for teenagers.
Think of the Kano biscuit as a possible extra treat, and plan the rest of the lunch separately.
Product information can change, so an ingredients list you checked earlier may no longer be enough if an allergen affects your choice.
Just before packing, check the ingredients and allergen information on the actual pack you’re using.
ALDI lists Heerlijck Banket Kano biscuits in a 330 g pack.
Lidl lists Sondey Kano biscuits in a 325 g pack.
PLUS lists butter Kano biscuits in a 275 g pack, with nutrition and allergen information available online.
Jumbo lists butter Kano biscuits in a 275 g pack, divided into five 55 g servings.
Albert Heijn provides product information for 280 g packs of AH BASIC Kano biscuits and 270 g packs of AH butter Kano biscuits.
Don’t assume they are: the product information for AH BASIC, Jumbo and PLUS lists wheat or gluten-containing grains. Check the label on the exact pack every time you buy, and follow the arrangements that apply to the pupil.
It depends on the recipe. For the varieties reviewed, Jumbo and PLUS list milk, soya, almonds and eggs, among other ingredients, as well as gluten. Also check the pack for any statements about possible traces of other allergens.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging. For the varieties described, Albert Heijn recommends storing them in a sealed tin after opening; Jumbo and PLUS advise keeping their products in a cool, dry place.
It’s better to think of a Kano biscuit as an extra treat rather than the lunch itself. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a varied daily diet based on the Wheel of Five for teenagers, so decide separately what else to put in the lunchbox.
