If you specifically want a kano biscuit with almond paste filling, choose one as a treat and check the portion size and allergens; don’t assume a standard kano contains less sugar. PLUS lists 38.9 g of sugars per 100 g for its butter kano biscuits. If your main aim is to avoid added sugars, you could compare a different type of biscuit, but it won’t be a kano, and ‘no added sugars’ doesn’t mean a biscuit is sugar-free.
You’re looking for a biscuit-style snack for the holidays, but don’t want to rely on the front of the pack alone. Check the exact wording of the claim and compare sugars per 100 g and per portion eaten. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that ‘no added sugars’ is not the same as sugar-free.
If the almond paste filling is the reason you’re buying kano biscuits, a biscuit with no added sugars isn’t an equivalent replacement in terms of product type. For kano biscuits, compare the portion size, nutritional information and allergens on the current packaging.
You want to have something at home for the breaks between holiday activities, without automatically reaching for a biscuit every time. For children aged 4–12, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends fruit and vegetables as good snack choices.
First decide whether you’re looking for a kano biscuit with almond paste or mainly want to avoid added sugars. If you’re choosing for a child aged 4–12, you can also consider what place biscuits should have among their snacks.
Best for: anyone specifically looking to buy a kano biscuit with almond paste filling.
The trade-off: a standard kano doesn’t automatically contain less sugar; PLUS lists 38.9 g of sugars per 100 g for its butter kano biscuits.
Best for: anyone looking to avoid added sugars who is happy with a different type of biscuit; Verkade markets San Francisco Zero as this kind of biscuit.
The trade-off: it isn’t a kano biscuit with almond paste, and the Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that a product with no added sugars may still contain sugars.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Less sugar | Read the exact claim and compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and per portion eaten. For the claim ‘reduced sugar’, the NVWA also specifies a comparison with a similar product and its energy value. | I want to choose a biscuit because it demonstrably contains less sugar, not just because of the wording on the front. Around 40% of consumers put this need first. |
| A snack for a child | Decide whether the biscuit is a treat or a regular snack. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends fruit and vegetables as good snack choices for children aged 4–12. | I don’t want to automatically reach for biscuits every time my child eats. This is a priority for around 40% of consumers. |
| Kano biscuits and allergens | Check that the biscuit is actually a kano with almond paste filling, and read the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging. | If I specifically want kano biscuits, a different biscuit isn’t a substitute; the label of the product I choose also matters if there’s an allergy. Around 20% of consumers give the kano biscuit product type top priority. |
A biscuit with this wording may still contain sugars, as the Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains. The wording alone also doesn’t tell you how much sugar you’ll get per portion eaten.
Check the ‘of which sugars’ line in the nutrition table and consider how many biscuits make up your portion.
PLUS lists 38.9 g of sugars and 38.5 g of added sugars per 100 g for its butter kano biscuits. This information doesn’t support choosing this kano if you’re specifically looking to reduce your sugar intake.
Choose a standard kano if this is the product type you want. If you want to compare a product that claims to have reduced sugar, check the claim and compare its nutritional values with those of a similar product.
Verkade markets San Francisco Zero as a biscuit with no added sugars, whereas a kano is a biscuit with almond paste filling. The product types remain different, whatever the wording about sugar.
Before choosing between the two, decide whether the almond paste filling or avoiding added sugars matters more to you.
Ingredients and allergens vary between products and can change. Albert Heijn warns that product information, including allergy information, may change.
Before eating, check the current packaging of the biscuit you’ve chosen, especially if someone has an allergy or intolerance.
These product ranges help you see the difference between kano biscuits and other types of biscuit. Always assess nutritional values and ingredients for each individual product.
PLUS describes its 275 g butter kano biscuits as biscuits with almond paste filling and an almond decoration.
Lidl describes its 325 g Sondey Kano biscuits as butter biscuits filled with almond paste.
Albert Heijn’s range includes own-brand kano biscuits and butter kano biscuits.
Verkade markets San Francisco Zero as a biscuit with no added sugars, an alternative in a different biscuit category.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, it may still contain sugars. So compare the ‘of which sugars’ line in the nutrition table, even if the front of the pack says ‘no added sugars’.
Check whether the product actually carries the claim ‘reduced sugar’ and which similar product it is compared with. According to the summary of the NVWA handbook dated 23 December 2021, this claim requires at least 30% less sugar and an equal or lower energy value than the similar product. ‘No added sugars’ is a different claim.
If you’re buying a kano for its almond paste filling, you can choose it as a biscuit without making it your go-to snack. For children aged 4–12, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends fruit and vegetables as good snack choices, so consider where biscuits fit among their eating occasions.
Check the allergen information on the current packaging of the kano you’re buying, as ingredients vary from product to product. PLUS lists wheat, egg, soya, milk and nuts among the allergens in its butter kano biscuits. If you have an allergy or intolerance, don’t rely on the ingredients of another brand or an earlier product listing.
