Who are these choices relevant to?

Sugar-conscious shoppers planning an Easter table

You want to serve biscuits with less sugar, so you compare the nutritional information for similar products per 100 g rather than relying on the claim on the front of the pack.

Hosts catering for guests with different dietary preferences

You’re shopping for several guests and want to check the sweeteners and allergens in each product, such as wheat, milk or nuts, on the packaging.

Shoppers looking for a familiar biscuit to enjoy

You’re looking for something to serve with coffee or tea, but want to tell the difference between a biscuit, a speculoos biscuit, a gingerbread biscuit and a breakfast cake.

What should you look for when buying?

First, decide what type of biscuit you want to serve. Then compare the nutritional information within that product category and check the ingredients for everyone who’ll be eating them.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Sugars and sugar claims Compare similar biscuits per 100 g and check whether the pack says ‘less sugar’, ‘sugar-free’ or ‘no added sugar’. If I want to serve less sugar, I want to know how much sugar a biscuit contains and exactly what the claim means. Around 46% of consumers put this check first.
Type of biscuit and portion Check whether it’s a biscuit, a speculoos biscuit, a gingerbread biscuit or a breakfast cake, and look at the portion size and packaging. When serving coffee to guests, I’m looking for a treat that’s easy to serve and suits the occasion. This is the first consideration for around 27% of consumers.
Ingredients and allergens Read the current ingredients and allergen list, including any sweeteners and warnings about excessive consumption. If guests avoid certain ingredients, I want to know what I’m offering them before I put the biscuits out. Around 27% of consumers put this check first.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘less sugar’ means ‘sugar-free’

    ‘Less sugar’ describes a relative reduction, while ‘sugar-free’ and ‘no added sugar’ are different claims. They don’t answer the same shopping question.

    Read the exact wording on the pack and compare the grams of sugars per 100 g with a similar product.

  • Looking only at sugars

    A low sugar figure doesn’t tell you everything about a product’s nutritional value. Biscuits, for example, can vary in energy, fat, fibre and salt.

    Compare the nutrition panels of similar products side by side, preferably per 100 g, and focus on the values that matter to you.

  • Forgetting about sweeteners when serving

    For AH Digestive 0% sugar, Céréal Speculoos stukjes amandel zonder suikers and Verkade San Francisco Zero, Albert Heijn includes a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

    Check which sweeteners your chosen product contains, and keep the packaging information available if guests have more than one biscuit.

  • Assuming a sugar claim means a product suits every guest

    The products mentioned contain different allergens. According to Albert Heijn’s product information, AH Digestive 0% sugar contains wheat; the listed allergens for Céréal Speculoos include wheat, almonds, eggs, soya and milk.

    Check the current allergen information on every pack you buy, and leave the packaging available when serving.

Brands to help you choose

These product examples show why the precise claim and product type matter. They aren’t a ranking and don’t indicate what a particular shop will stock for Easter.

Albert Heijn

According to Albert Heijn, AH Digestive 0% sugar is a biscuit made with sweeteners.

  • The product information lists 0.3 g of sugars and 14 g of polyols per 100 g.
  • The product contains wheat and carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Check the current packaging.

Céréal

Céréal Speculoos stukjes amandel zonder suikers is a speculoos-flavoured biscuit with almonds and sweetener.

  • According to Albert Heijn’s product information, it contains 0.4 g of sugars and 29 g of polyols per 100 g.
  • The allergen information lists wheat, almonds, eggs, soya and milk, among other ingredients. This product also carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

Verkade

Verkade San Francisco Zero is a biscuit sold with the claim ‘0% added sugar’.

  • Albert Heijn’s product information lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • The same information lists 75 g of carbohydrates per 100 g and allergens including wheat, milk and soya. Check the warning about excessive consumption too.

Lotus

Lotus Mini Zero Ontbijtkoek is a breakfast cake bar which, according to Lotus Bakeries, contains 0% added sugars. It isn’t a Biscoff biscuit.

  • The manufacturer lists 2.5 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • A breakfast cake bar isn’t automatically a substitute for the small biscuit you want to serve with coffee. Check the ingredients and allergens when buying.

Goud Gebakken / ALDI

ALDI sells Goud Gebakken Koekhappers with the claim ‘30% less sugar’.

  • According to ALDI, the pack contains six individually wrapped gingerbread biscuits, which may be useful if you want to hand them out.
  • A gingerbread biscuit isn’t a small biscuit of the kind you might serve with coffee. Check the basis for comparison behind the claim and the nutritional information on the pack before comparing it with other products.

Related Joybuy products

Matching products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

How do I compare low-sugar biscuits for Easter?

First, compare biscuits of the same type per 100 g. The Voedingscentrum recommends using this basis when comparing labels. Then consider the portion you want to serve and read the ingredients and allergen list.

Does ‘0% added sugar’ mean a biscuit contains no sugars or carbohydrates?

No. The claim doesn’t mean that all sugars or carbohydrates are absent. According to Albert Heijn’s product information, despite the ‘0% added sugar’ claim, Verkade San Francisco Zero contains 1.7 g of sugars and 75 g of carbohydrates per 100 g.

What should I look for in biscuits containing polyols?

Check which sweeteners the biscuit contains and follow the warning on the packaging. Albert Heijn’s product pages for AH Digestive 0% sugar, Céréal Speculoos and Verkade San Francisco Zero warn that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

How should I store biscuits for an Easter brunch?

Follow the storage advice on the packaging of the product you buy. For AH Digestive 0% sugar, Albert Heijn recommends storing the biscuits in a cool, dark, dry place and keeping them in a sealed tin after opening.