Who is this choice relevant to?

Buffet planner looking for authentic kano pastries

You want to serve a recognisable butter pastry filled with almond paste alongside coffee or tea. Reducing sugar isn’t your main priority.

Sugar-conscious wedding organiser

You want to offer a biscuit alongside the kano pastries that clearly states whether it contains added sugar or has reduced sugar, even if it has a different shape and filling.

Organiser responsible for allergen information

You want to be able to tell guests which ingredients and allergens are in each tray. This takes extra care when a caterer or other food business serves biscuits without their packaging.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, decide whether you need kano pastries on the table or whether another type of biscuit would work alongside them. Then compare the nutritional information for your chosen products and plan how you’ll make the allergens clear for each tray.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters most to
Sugar information Compare sugars per 100 g and per serving. If a product claims to contain less sugar, check what it is being compared with. I want to offer a biscuit alongside the kano pastries with sugar information that suits my buffet choices. This is the top priority for an estimated 46% of consumers.
Recognisable kano pastries Check that they are kano pastries filled with almond paste, and how many you can serve from each pack. If guests are specifically expecting kano pastries, I don’t want to offer a plain biscuit as a substitute. Around 36% of consumers prioritise the familiar kano pastry.
Allergens at the buffet Read the current label for each product and keep the relevant allergen information available for every tray. If the biscuits are served without their packaging, I want to be able to identify what’s on each tray and which allergens it contains. This is the top priority for an estimated 18% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Presenting a classic kano pastry as a lower-sugar biscuit

    Adding a sugar-conscious biscuit to the range doesn’t change the nutritional value of a kano pastry. Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS list 36.8 to 39 g of sugars per 100 g for the classic kano pastries mentioned.

    Use the nutritional information for the exact pack you’ll be serving at the buffet. Present a different biscuit as an alternative, not as a modified kano pastry.

  • Confusing no added sugar with sugar-free

    Albert Heijn lists Verkade San Francisco Zero as containing 0% added sugar and 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g. The product contains maltitols; the product information warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

    Use the exact wording on the packaging and check the ingredients and serving size before placing the biscuit alongside the kano pastries.

  • Removing the packaging without keeping the allergen information

    The allergens vary between kano pastries and biscuit alternatives. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, food businesses must inform customers about the allergens present in unpackaged foods.

    Keep the current packaging or record which product is on each tray and which allergens it contains. Keep the trays clearly distinguishable from one another.

Brands compared

Albert Heijn

Offers its own classic kano pastries, as well as other types of biscuits with sugar information on the label.

  • According to Albert Heijn, AH Butter Kano Pastries contain 41% almond paste and 39 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • Verkade San Francisco Zero, also available, is a biscuit, not a kano pastry. It contains maltitols and carries a warning about excessive consumption.

Jumbo

Offers its own kano pastries for anyone looking to serve the traditional filled pastry.

  • According to Jumbo, Jumbo Butter Kano Pastries contain 38% almond paste and 36.8 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • Verkade San Francisco Zero, also available, is a separate biscuit made with sweeteners, not a version of Jumbo’s kano pastry.

PLUS

Offers butter kano pastries filled with almond paste for a buffet featuring classic kano pastries.

  • PLUS states that its butter kano pastries have a 39% almond paste filling and an almond topping.
  • PLUS lists 38.9 g of sugars per 100 g; don’t present this product as a lower-sugar kano pastry without further evidence.

Verkade

Offers biscuit alternatives with different sugar claims, including San Francisco Zero and Sultana Banana Fruit Biscuit.

  • According to the product information on Albert Heijn, San Francisco Zero states that it contains 0% added sugar and 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g. Sultana Banana Fruit Biscuit states that it contains at least 30% less sugar than Fruit Biscuit, and 23 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • Neither product is a filled kano pastry. San Francisco Zero contains maltitols and carries a warning about excessive consumption.

A biscuit alternative on Joybuy

This biscuit bar is an option to serve alongside classic kano pastries, not a lower-sugar kano pastry. Check the Less Sugar claim against the current nutritional information and the basis for comparison on the packaging.

g'woon Cookie Bars Less Sugar, pack of 6

g'woon Cookie Bars Less Sugar, pack of 6

For anyone who’d like to add biscuit bars to the buffet alongside kano pastries; this product isn’t a kano pastry.

The product name indicates that the pack contains 6 bars. Check the current packaging for nutritional information, serving size and allergens before serving them.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Are classic kano pastries a lower-sugar option?

There’s no evidence to support this claim for the kano pastries mentioned. Albert Heijn lists 39 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Butter Kano Pastries, Jumbo lists 36.8 g per 100 g for Jumbo Butter Kano Pastries, and PLUS lists 38.9 g per 100 g for PLUS Butter Kano Pastries. Always check a sugar claim for the specific product you’re serving.

Does no added sugar also mean sugar-free?

No. According to the product information on Albert Heijn, Verkade San Francisco Zero states that it contains 0% added sugar, but also 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g. So, check both the claim on the front of the pack and the nutritional information.

Can a caterer give allergen information verbally?

Yes. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, a food business can provide allergen information verbally for unpackaged foods, provided the information is directly available before purchase, staff and inspectors can consult written or electronic information, and a notice at the point of sale tells guests they can ask for it. Make sure each tray is clearly labelled with the product it contains.

What is Sultana’s 30% less sugar claim compared with?

According to the product information on Albert Heijn, Sultana Banana Fruit Biscuit states that it contains at least 30% less sugar than Fruit Biscuit. This isn’t a comparison with a kano pastry. For your buffet, also check the sugars per 100 g and per serving.