Who is this choice for?

School pupils keeping an eye on sugar

You want to pack a sweet biscuit, but you look beyond the claims on the front of the pack. The sugars per 100 g, the portion size and the ingredients all affect what you actually put in the lunchbox.

Fans of classic spritz biscuits

For you, the familiar taste of a spritz matters more than getting the sugar content as low as possible. The standard spritz biscuits from Albert Heijn, Verkade and PLUS all list sugar in their nutrition tables.

Families following the school’s allergy rules

Before packing, you need to know which ingredients and warnings appear on the current packaging. Also check the arrangements for the pupil and their school: a lower sugar content says nothing about allergens.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you want a proper spritz biscuit, a lower sugar content or a regular snack that isn’t a biscuit. Then compare the packaging and portion sizes of the products that fit your choice.

Standard spritz biscuit

A good fit when: The familiar spritz flavour comes first and the biscuit is a treat.

The trade-off: For the spritz biscuits listed, Albert Heijn, Verkade and PLUS respectively report 28 g, 24.2 g and 21.4 g of sugars per 100 g. These are not proven lower-sugar spritz options.

A different type of biscuit

A good fit when: Sugar content matters more than the flavour and shape of a spritz biscuit.

The trade-off: The Céréal speculoos-flavoured almond biscuit sold by Jumbo is not a spritz. Its label lists 0.4 g of sugars and 29 g of polyols per 100 g; check the ingredients and allergens too.

A snack without biscuits

A good fit when: You’re looking for something to pack regularly for the school day and a biscuit isn’t essential.

The trade-off: The Netherlands Nutrition Centre suggests snacks such as fruit, vegetable sticks and bread. Bear the pupil and any school rules in mind when choosing.

What to consider What should you check? Who is it important for?
Sugar content Compare sugars per 100 g and check the amount per portion. If a biscuit contains sweeteners, read the ingredients list too. If I want to pack less sugar, I need to know what’s in the biscuits that will actually go in the lunchbox. Around 33% of consumers put sugar content first.
Familiar spritz biscuit Check the product type and decide how many biscuits you want to pack as a treat. If you’re after the taste and crisp texture of a spritz, a biscuit that only looks more appealing because of its sugar content may not hit the mark. For around 27% of consumers, that spritz experience is the main priority.
Allergens and school rules Check the current label for wheat, milk, eggs, nuts and any warnings about cross-contamination. Make sure your choice follows the specific school rules. If I know about an allergy or have an arrangement with the school, I need to know whether this particular product can be packed before I put it in the lunchbox. This is the top priority for around 20% of consumers.
Regular lunchbox snack Decide whether you’re looking for a treat or a regular snack. Check the other nutrition information as well as the sugars. If something needs to go in the lunchbox every school day, I don’t want to choose only between two types of biscuit. Around 20% of consumers give a regular snack top priority.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking a biscuit with no sugars for a spritz

    According to Jumbo’s product information, the Céréal speculoos-flavoured almond biscuit has a different recipe and contains, among other things, wheat, almonds, soya, eggs and milk. A lower sugar content doesn’t make it the same kind of biscuit.

    Check the product type, ingredients and allergens before choosing it as an alternative.

  • Reading only the front of the pack

    A claim about sugar doesn’t tell you how much sugar is in the portion you’ve chosen or what other ingredients the biscuit contains.

    Compare the nutrition information per 100 g, check the portion you’ll be packing and read the ingredients list.

  • Checking for allergens only when packing

    The standard spritz biscuits listed contain wheat. Depending on the product, the label may also list milk or eggs, or include warnings about other allergens. A biscuit with a lower sugar content can contain allergens too.

    Read the current packaging when choosing, then check the arrangements for the pupil and their school before packing.

  • Automatically packing a lower-sugar biscuit every day

    Sugar content alone doesn’t determine where a biscuit belongs in a school lunch. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also suggests fruit, vegetable sticks and bread as snacks.

    Distinguish between a treat and something you’ll pack regularly, then choose for the occasion.

Brands to consider

Verkade

NoboSprits Original is a familiar spritz biscuit; San Francisco Volkoren is a different type of biscuit.

  • Verkade lists 24.2 g of sugars per 100 g for NoboSprits Original.
  • NoboSprits Original contains wheat and milk. The nutrition information doesn’t establish it as a lower-sugar option.

Albert Heijn

Sells its own AH Spritsen as well as other types of biscuits.

  • Albert Heijn lists 28 g of sugars and 25 g of added sugars per 100 g for AH Spritsen, along with portion and ingredient information.
  • Check the packaging when you buy: Albert Heijn says product information may change.

Jumbo

Sells both its own spritz varieties and other types of biscuits.

  • Jumbo lists 34.4 g of sugars per 100 g for its Spritsen met Advocaatsmaak.
  • The Céréal speculoos-flavoured almond biscuit also sold by Jumbo isn’t a spritz; don’t compare the two as if they were identical varieties.

PLUS

Sells its own spritz biscuits, with nutrition and ingredient information available online.

  • PLUS lists 21.4 g of sugars and 21.1 g of added sugars per 100 g for its Spritsen, along with a Nutri-Score of E.
  • According to PLUS, this product contains wheat, eggs and milk, among other ingredients. Check the current packaging for all allergens and warnings.

Céréal

The speculoos-flavoured almond biscuit is a different type of alternative for anyone mainly comparing sugar content.

  • Jumbo’s product information lists 0.4 g of sugars and 29 g of polyols per 100 g.
  • According to that information, the biscuit contains wheat, almonds, soya, eggs and milk; it isn’t a spritz.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is a lower-sugar biscuit suitable as a daily school snack?

A lower sugar content alone won’t tell you that. Check the ingredients, nutrition information and portion size. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also suggests fruit, vegetable sticks and bread as snacks.

Can a biscuit with no sugars replace a standard spritz?

Only if you want to pack a different type of biscuit. The Céréal biscuit sold by Jumbo is flavoured with speculoos and almond, and isn’t a spritz. According to the product information, it contains 0.4 g of sugars and 29 g of polyols per 100 g. Compare the portion size, ingredients and allergens too.

Does a school biscuit always have to be gluten-free?

There’s no one-size-fits-all choice for every pupil and school. The standard spritz biscuits listed here contain wheat. If there’s a relevant allergy or other individual need, check the current packaging and make sure your choice follows the school’s rules.

Why read the label again if you buy the same biscuit regularly?

Because a product’s ingredients and allergy information can change. Albert Heijn and PLUS advise checking the information on the current packaging. This is especially important if an ingredient or warning affects what you can pack for school.