Who is this choice relevant to?

If you’re looking for something strictly sugar-free

You don’t want to mistake a regular kano pastry for a sugar-free snack. The sugar levels listed for Albert Heijn and Jumbo’s kano pastries mean they don’t meet your requirements.

If you’re watching your added sugar intake

You’re looking for something sweet late in the evening and are happy to have a biscuit rather than a kano pastry. If so, compare the sugars per 100 g and check the ingredients and warnings too.

If you specifically want a kano pastry with almond paste

You’re choosing a butter pastry filled with almond paste, not looking for a sugar-free claim. The portion size and nutritional information on the packaging can help you decide how much to have.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether sugar-free is essential, or whether you mainly want to avoid added sugars. Then compare the nutritional information per 100 g: a biscuit and a kano pastry filled with almond paste are different kinds of snack.

What to look for What to check when buying Who it’s relevant to
Strictly sugar-free Check the claim on the packaging as well as the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. Albert Heijn lists 39 g of sugars per 100 g for its butter kano pastries; Jumbo lists 36.8 g for its butter kano pastries. If I don’t want any sugar in my late-night snack, these regular kano pastries aren’t suitable. For around 42% of consumers, avoiding sugar is the top priority.
No added sugars Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figures per 100 g and check which sweeteners or polyols have been used. Jumbo lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Verkade San Francisco Zero. I’m happy to choose a different biscuit if I mainly want to avoid added sugars, as long as I check the ingredients too. Around 33% of consumers say this is their priority.
Kano pastry and portion size Check the filling, sugars per 100 g and suggested portion size; Albert Heijn gives a portion of 45 g, while Jumbo gives 55 g. I specifically want a butter pastry filled with almond paste and use the portion size to decide how much to have. This is the top priority for around 25% of consumers.

Common mistakes

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

    A product with no added sugars may still contain sugars. Jumbo lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Verkade San Francisco Zero.

    Decide which of the two claims matters to you, then check the ‘of which sugars’ figure in the nutrition table.

  • Comparing portion sizes from different brands directly

    Albert Heijn gives a portion of 45 g for its kano pastries, while Jumbo uses a 55 g portion. This means the per-portion figures aren’t based on the same amount of pastry.

    Compare products per 100 g first, then consider how much you want to have. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also recommends comparing products per 100 g.

  • Overlooking the warning on biscuits containing polyols

    Verkade San Francisco Zero contains maltitols. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, large amounts of polyols may cause digestive problems; Jumbo’s listing for this biscuit warns that eating too much may have a laxative effect.

    Check the latest packaging and take the warning into account, especially if you’re sensitive to polyols.

Brands compared

Albert Heijn

AH Butter Kano pastries are butter pastries containing 41% baker’s almond paste, sold in a 270 g pack.

  • The product information gives a portion size of 45 g and lists the ingredients and allergens.
  • With 39 g of sugars per 100 g, these kano pastries aren’t suitable if you need a strictly sugar-free option.

Jumbo

Jumbo Butter Kano pastries are pastries containing 38% baker’s almond paste, sold in a 275 g pack.

  • Jumbo lists sugars per 100 g and per suggested portion of 55 g.
  • The kano pastries contain 36.8 g of sugars per 100 g. Check the listed allergens too if they’re relevant to your choice.

PLUS

PLUS Butter Kano pastries Per Tray is a 275 g pack; PLUS gives this product a Nutri-Score of E.

  • A regular kano pastry you can compare with other kano pastries by product type and packaging.
  • To check whether it meets a sugar-free requirement, look at the latest ingredients and nutritional information rather than relying on the Nutri-Score.

Heerlijck Banket

Heerlijck Banket Kano pastries at ALDI are described as pastries shaped like canoes and are sold in a 330 g pack.

  • Worth considering if you’re specifically looking for this type of pastry.
  • Check the latest nutritional information and ingredients before deciding whether the product meets your sugar requirements.

Verkade

San Francisco Zero is a biscuit with no added sugars, not a kano pastry filled with almond paste.

  • Jumbo lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for this biscuit.
  • The product contains maltitols, wheat, milk and soya. Jumbo warns that eating too much may have a laxative effect.

Joybuy products for a different kind of snack

If you’re also considering sweet liquorice as a late-night snack instead of a kano pastry or biscuit, this is a different type of product to look at. If you need to avoid sugar strictly, always check the latest nutritional information.

Klene Sweet Suns sweet liquorice, 110 g

Klene Sweet Suns, 110 g

An option to consider if you fancy liquorice as a sweet late-night snack; this isn’t a kano pastry or biscuit.

The pack contains 110 g. Check the latest nutritional information for sugars and polyols: according to the product information, eating too much may have a laxative effect. The product information also warns people with high blood pressure against excessive consumption because it contains liquorice root.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Are Albert Heijn and Jumbo’s kano pastries sugar-free?

No. Albert Heijn lists 39 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Butter Kano pastries, while Jumbo lists 36.8 g per 100 g for its Butter Kano pastries. Neither product is suitable if you’re looking for a strictly sugar-free option.

Does ‘no added sugars’ mean the same as sugar-free?

No. A product with no added sugars may still contain sugars. For example, Jumbo lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Verkade San Francisco Zero, so check the nutrition table as well as the claim.

Why do maltitols matter in a late-night snack?

Products containing maltitols may have a laxative effect if you eat too much. Verkade San Francisco Zero contains maltitols, and Jumbo displays this warning on the product listing. Check the packaging if you’re considering this biscuit.

How do I compare snacks when the portion sizes differ?

First compare the nutritional information per 100 g, then consider how much you want to have. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that manufacturers’ portion sizes can make comparisons misleading; check the ingredients and allergens too.