A coffee drinker keeping an eye on sugar
Wants to serve a biscuit with an afternoon coffee, so compares the sugars per 100 g with the amount per biscuit. A label such as ‘less sugar’ means something different from ‘no sugars’.
Who is this choice relevant to?
A consumer checking polyols and allergens
Wants to limit sugar, but also checks the ingredients and warnings. According to the Voedingscentrum, high intakes of polyols can cause flatulence and diarrhoea. The allergens present vary from one biscuit to another.
A coffee guest who prefers a familiar biscuit
Prefers a familiar syrup waffle or speculoos biscuit and also wants to compare serving sizes. A lower-sugar option may fit the bill, as long as the remaining sugars per biscuit suit their preferences.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, distinguish between the sugar content and the claim on the front of the pack. Then check whether the ingredients, allergens and usual serving size suit the occasion.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar content | Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and, if available, per biscuit. Don’t take ‘less sugar’ to mean sugar-free. | If I mainly want to serve less sugar with coffee, the amount in my usual serving should guide my choice. Around 42% of consumers prioritise sugar content. |
| Polyols and allergens | Read the ingredients, allergen information and any warning about a laxative effect. | If I’m sensitive to polyols or need to avoid an allergen, I want to know exactly what this option contains first. This check is the most important factor for around 33% of consumers. |
| Taste and serving size | Check the number of biscuits, the serving size and the nutritional information per serving. | For a coffee break, I want to serve a familiar type of biscuit without losing sight of the size of one serving. This is the first consideration for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Mistaking less sugar for sugar-free
According to Albert Heijn, AH Butter Less Sugar Syrup Waffles contain 32% less sugar than the regular AH version, but still have 23 g of sugars per 100 g. So the comparison on the pack doesn’t tell you everything about the biscuit’s nutritional value.
Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g and per serving before choosing between options.
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Assuming sugar-free also means low in energy
Albert Heijn states that AH Digestive 0% Sugar contains 0,3 g of sugars, but also 465 kcal per 100 g. A low sugar content on its own doesn’t tell you how much energy a product provides.
Check the energy content as well as the sugars, and decide how many biscuits you’ll serve with coffee.
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Overlooking the warning about polyols
Product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo warns that several biscuits containing sweeteners may have a laxative effect if eaten in excess. The Voedingscentrum lists flatulence and diarrhoea as possible effects of a high intake of polyols.
Check the ingredients and the warning on the pack of the option you choose.
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Assuming the sugar claim tells you about allergens
A sugar claim says nothing about the allergens present. The ingredients in the biscuits, speculoos and breakfast cake bars mentioned here vary.
Read the allergen information on the exact pack you’re buying, even if you’ve viewed the product online.
Brands and products compared
These examples show that options with no sugars, lower-sugar options and regular speculoos are different choices. Always compare the specific product, not just the brand.
Céréal
According to product information from Jumbo and Albert Heijn, Céréal offers biscuits with no sugars in flavours including speculoos and almond, sesame and vanilla, and chocolate chips.
- The options mentioned offer different types of biscuit for anyone comparing the sugar content of a coffee-time treat.
- The product information lists polyols and warns of a possible laxative effect if eaten in excess. Ingredients and allergens vary by option.
Albert Heijn
The range in this comparison includes both AH Digestive 0% Sugar and AH Butter Less Sugar Syrup Waffles.
- Albert Heijn lists 0,3 g of sugars per 100 g for its Digestive biscuits; the syrup waffles contain 32% less sugar than the regular AH version, according to the retailer.
- According to Albert Heijn, the syrup waffles still contain 23 g of sugars per 100 g. The Digestive biscuits list 14 g of polyols per 100 g; check the pack of the option you choose.
Jumbo
Jumbo Less Sugar Breakfast Cake is a breakfast cake bar, making it a different kind of treat from a crisp biscuit.
- According to Jumbo, the bar contains at least 30% less sugar than Jumbo plain breakfast cake bars.
- Jumbo lists 22,7 g of sugars per 100 g. The product contains rye and wheat and may contain other allergens; check the pack.
Lotus Biscoff
Regular Lotus Biscoff Speculoos is included here as a familiar speculoos biscuit for comparison, not as an option with a sugar-reduction claim.
- Regular speculoos provides a point of reference when a familiar flavour and texture with coffee are what matter most.
- Albert Heijn lists 38 g of sugars per 100 g for Lotus Biscoff Speculoos and names wheat and soya among the ingredients.
Cookie bars on Joybuy
This selection features cookie bars labelled Less Sugar. A cookie bar is different from a crisp biscuit to have with coffee, so compare the serving size and nutritional information before choosing one for your coffee break.
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g'woon Cookie Bars Less Sugar, 6 bars
This pack of six cookie bars is a good choice if you’d rather serve a bar than a crisp biscuit with coffee. Compare the nutritional information per bar and check the latest allergen information; the Less Sugar label alone doesn’t tell you how much sugar each bar contains.
Frequently asked questions
Does less sugar mean a biscuit is sugar-free?
No. A biscuit with less sugar can still contain sugars. Albert Heijn states that AH Butter Less Sugar Syrup Waffles contain 32% less sugar than the regular AH version, but also 23 g of sugars per 100 g. So check the amount per serving too.
Are biscuits with no sugars automatically a better choice for older people?
No. The ‘no sugars’ label on its own doesn’t tell you whether a product is right for every older person. The Voedingscentrum emphasises that older people are not a uniform group. For the biscuit you choose, also compare the serving size, energy, ingredients and any warnings about polyols.
What should I look for if a biscuit contains maltitol or other polyols?
Read the ingredients and check the pack for any warning about a laxative effect. According to the Voedingscentrum, high intakes of polyols can cause flatulence and diarrhoea. Product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo also includes warnings about excessive consumption for several options.