Who is this choice relevant to?

Students looking to cut down on sugar

You want a sweet snack, but you’d like to compare the amount of sugars it contains. Check the nutritional information per 100 g, and distinguish a lower sugar value from the claim ‘no added sugars’.

Students stocking their cupboards

After moving, you’re looking for something to keep at home for coffee or visitors. Pack size and storage advice can help you decide what’s practical; the packaging separately tells you how much sugar the product contains.

Students who need to check for allergens

If you or a housemate needs to avoid certain ingredients, check the current packaging before sharing biscuits. For the kano pastries reviewed, product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo lists ingredients including milk, egg, cereals containing gluten, soya and almonds; the exact declaration varies by product.

What should you consider when choosing?

First, decide whether it really needs to be a kano pastry. If another biscuit or cracker would do, compare the sugars per 100 g for each product and read any warnings on the packaging.

A standard kano pastry

Choose this when: You specifically want a kano pastry with almond paste filling and are happy with the sugar value shown on the packaging.

The trade-off: The three kano pastries for which Albert Heijn and Jumbo list nutritional values contain 36.8 to 39 g of sugars per 100 g.

A different type of biscuit

Choose this when: You’re mainly looking for a product with a verifiably lower sugar value and don’t need to have a kano pastry.

The trade-off: Jumbo lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Verkade San Francisco Zero; it’s a biscuit containing maltitol, not a kano pastry.

What to consider What should you check? Who does this matter to?
Demonstrably less sugar Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g; consider a claim about added sugars separately. After moving, I want to choose a snack whose sugar value I can compare, even if it isn’t a kano pastry. This is the top priority for around 45% of consumers.
Pack size and storage Check the pack weight and storage advice to see whether the packaging suits how you’ll use it. If I’m stocking my new room with something for coffee or visitors, I want a pack I can store and use. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this need.
Allergens and availability Read the current allergen declaration and any ‘may contain’ warning; check where the product is available. Before sharing biscuits with housemates, I need to know which allergens they contain and whether I can buy the product. This combination is the main concern for around 22% of consumers.

What could you get wrong?

  • Assuming ‘less sugar’ means ‘low sugar’

    A lower value than another biscuit doesn’t automatically mean a product qualifies for the ‘low sugar’ claim. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says this claim applies to products with no more than 5 g of sugar per 100 g; the values listed by Albert Heijn and Jumbo for the three standard kano pastries are higher.

    Check the nutritional information per 100 g on the product you’re actually choosing, rather than relying on a difference compared with just one other pack.

  • Assuming ‘no added sugars’ means ‘sugar-free’

    A product carrying the claim ‘no added sugars’ may still contain sugars. According to Jumbo, Verkade San Francisco Zero contains 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g and includes maltitol, for which there is a warning about excessive consumption.

    Before choosing an alternative, check the claim as well as the nutritional information, ingredients and usage warning.

  • Relying on an old product image

    Ingredients and nutritional values can change. Jumbo also listed the Aviateur kano pastry as no longer available online, while Lidl describes the Sondey kano pastry as an in-store product.

    Check the latest product information shortly before buying and read the label when it arrives, particularly if allergens matter to you or a housemate.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

AH Roomboter kano’s are standard kano pastries in a 270 g pack.

  • Albert Heijn lists 39 g of sugars per 100 g and 38 g of added sugars per 100 g, so you can distinguish between the two values on the label.
  • Albert Heijn lists ingredients including milk, egg, cereals containing gluten, soya and almonds; check the current packaging if allergens are relevant.

Jumbo

Jumbo Kano’s met Roomboter are standard kano pastries in a 275 g pack.

  • Jumbo lists 36.8 g of sugars per 100 g for this specific product.
  • The listed ingredients include allergens such as almonds, egg, gluten, milk and soya; read the packaging before use.

Aviateur

Aviateur Gevulde Kano’s are kano pastries with almond paste filling; Jumbo’s product information describes a pack of seven, weighing 325 g.

  • The nutritional information listed by Jumbo gives 38 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • Jumbo listed this product as no longer available online. Check current availability if you’re looking for this kano pastry.

Sondey

According to Lidl, Sondey Kano’s are butter biscuits filled with almond paste, in a 325 g pack.

  • Lidl describes this product as an in-store item.
  • Compare the nutritional information on the packaging before comparing its sugar value with that of another kano pastry.

Heerlijck Banket

ALDI lists Heerlijck Banket Kano’s in a 330 g pack.

  • The stated pack weight helps you assess how much the pack contains.
  • If you’re choosing based on sugar content or allergens, check the product’s own nutritional information and ingredients list.

Verkade

Verkade San Francisco Zero is a biscuit alternative for anyone who isn’t specifically looking for a kano pastry.

  • Jumbo lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for San Francisco Zero; Albert Heijn’s product information includes the claim ‘no added sugars’.
  • The product contains maltitol and carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

Crackers as an alternative to kano pastries

If a kano pastry isn’t essential, you could also consider a cracker as a snack. Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and check the allergens on the packaging before choosing.

Hollandia Matzo Crackers Natural, 16 pieces

Hollandia Matzo Crackers Natural, 16 pieces

A cracker to consider if you’re looking for a different kind of snack from a kano pastry for your student room. According to the product name, the pack contains 16 pieces; check the nutritional information and allergen declaration to see if it’s right for you.

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Frequently asked questions

Are standard kano pastries low in sugar?

The three kano pastries for which Albert Heijn and Jumbo list nutritional values are above the level the Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives for the ‘low sugar’ claim. Jumbo lists 36.8 g of sugars per 100 g for its kano pastries and 38 g for Aviateur; Albert Heijn lists 39 g per 100 g for AH Roomboter kano’s. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre sets a maximum of 5 g per 100 g for this claim.

Is a biscuit with no added sugars also sugar-free?

No, those terms don’t mean the same thing. A biscuit carrying the claim ‘no added sugars’ may still contain sugars, so check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g as well.

How do I compare the sugar content of two biscuits?

Compare the sugars per 100 g so that different portion sizes don’t skew the comparison. Also read the ingredients list if you want to know which sources of sugar or sweeteners have been used.

What should I check before sharing kano pastries with housemates?

Before sharing, check the allergens and any ‘may contain’ warning on the current packaging. For the kano pastries reviewed, product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo lists ingredients including cereals containing gluten, milk, egg, soya and almonds, but the declaration varies by product.