Shoppers comparing sugar content
You want to know how much sugar a biscuit contains and what a claim such as ‘reduced sugar’ actually compares. The nutritional information per 100 g makes it easier to compare different varieties.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Shoppers checking polyols or allergens
You’re looking for a biscuit with a lower stated sugar content, but you also want to check which sweeteners and allergens the variety contains. This information varies by product.
Shoppers planning a portion for a film
You want to decide in advance how many biscuits to take and whether the packaging is convenient. Your cinema’s house rules will also determine whether bringing your own snack is an option.
What should you look for when buying?
Start by checking the sugar content per 100 g, then see whether the ingredients, portion size and packaging suit your film night. A claim on the front of the pack doesn’t replace these checks.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars and claims | Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and check what a comparative claim refers to. | If choosing a different biscuit because it has less sugar is my main reason, I want to be able to compare the sugar content. Around 36% of shoppers put this check first. |
| Polyols and allergens | Read the ingredients, the stated polyols and the allergen information for the exact variety. | A low sugar figure isn’t enough for me if I need to consider polyols or allergens. For around 29% of shoppers, personal tolerance is the most important factor. |
| Portion and cinema rules | Check the weight per biscuit and the packaging, and check your cinema’s house rules too. | For a film, I want to plan a portion that I’m actually allowed to take into the screening room. This is the first consideration for around 21% of shoppers. |
| Availability | Check whether the exact flavour and pack size are available when you need them. | If I’m shopping just before a film, I don’t want to depend on a specific variety that I might not be able to find. Around 14% of shoppers put this first. |
Common mistakes
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Reading ‘sugar-free’ as ‘low in carbohydrates’
Albert Heijn lists 0.3 g of sugars in AH Digestive 0% Sugar, but it also contains 63 g of carbohydrates and 465 kcal per 100 g. So the sugar figure doesn’t tell you everything about its nutritional value.
For the biscuit you choose, compare the energy, carbohydrates, sugars and polyols per 100 g. Then check the weight of one portion.
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Overlooking polyols
Albert Heijn lists 14 g of polyols per 100 g in AH Digestive 0% Sugar. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, high intakes of polyols can cause wind and diarrhoea.
If polyols are relevant to your choice, read the ingredients and nutritional information for the exact variety.
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Reading only the front of the pack
The biscuits reviewed differ in their ingredients and allergens. For example, the Céréal Sesame & Vanilla variety described by Albert Heijn contains wheat and sesame; the information may differ for another variety.
Whenever you buy, check the current allergen information and any ‘may contain’ statement for the product you choose.
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Assuming you can take your own biscuits into the screening room
Convenient packaging says nothing about a cinema’s rules. Kinepolis Netherlands states that you can’t take your own food and drink into the screening room.
Check the house rules of the cinema you’re visiting before buying a snack to take into the screening room.
Brands to compare
Céréal
Céréal offers sesame and vanilla biscuits, as well as chocolate-chip biscuits, among products labelled ‘sugar-free’.
- For the varieties reviewed, Albert Heijn lists 0 g of sugars per 100 g, with 17 g and 26 g of polyols per 100 g respectively.
- A low sugar figure doesn’t remove the need to consider polyols and variety-specific allergens. Check the pack you choose.
Albert Heijn
AH Digestive 0% Sugar is a biscuit for anyone looking for a low stated sugar content.
- Albert Heijn lists 0.3 g of sugars and 14 g of polyols per 100 g for this product.
- The biscuit reviewed contains wheat. Check the current packaging before relying on the ingredients or nutritional information.
ALDI / Goud Gebakken
Goud Gebakken Koekhappers with less sugar are a different type of product from a biscuit or cookie.
- ALDI presents these cakes as a pack of six individually wrapped pieces with 30% less sugar.
- Compare the nutritional information and ingredients for the variety you choose before comparing its sugar claim with that of a biscuit.
Lotus Biscoff
The Lotus Biscoff Original reviewed is a standard speculoos biscuit for anyone who values its familiar flavour more than a lower-sugar option.
- Lotus Bakeries Netherlands lists 38.1 g of sugars per 100 g for the Original variety, so you can compare this figure directly with other biscuits.
- This conclusion applies only to the Original variety reviewed; don’t assume the brand name indicates the nutritional value of other varieties.
Biscuits and cookie bars on Joybuy
These products offer two different types of snack: an oat biscuit labelled Sugar-Free and a cookie bar labelled Less Sugar. Assess both using their nutritional information, not just those words in the product name.
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Panpan Sugar-Free Oat Biscuits 216 g
An oat biscuit to compare if you’re looking for a product labelled Sugar-Free. However, the nutritional information provided lists 11.7 g of sugars per 100 g. Check the current packaging before relying on the claim.
Also check the ingredients and allergen information for the pack you choose. If you want to set aside one portion in advance, check how the biscuits are packaged.
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g'woon Cookie Bars Less Sugar, 6 pieces
A pack of six cookie bars for anyone who wants to plan a portion by the piece. The nutritional information provided lists 22.8 g of sugars per 100 g. Check the current packaging to put the Less Sugar label into context.
Check whether the pieces are individually wrapped if that matters for your film night. Also read the allergen information on the pack you choose.
Frequently asked questions
Does ‘reduced sugar’ mean the same as ‘sugar-free’?
No. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, a reduced-sugar claim means a product contains at least 30% less sugar than a similar product. The claim doesn’t tell you how many grams of sugar remain, so check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g.
Are sugar-free biscuits also low in carbohydrates?
Not necessarily. Albert Heijn lists 63 g of carbohydrates and 0.3 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Digestive 0% Sugar. For the variety you want to buy, check both figures in the nutritional information.
Why do some biscuits carry a warning about polyols?
Biscuits sweetened with polyols may carry a warning about a laxative effect if consumed in excess. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that a high intake of polyols can cause wind and diarrhoea. Read the ingredients and any warning on the pack you choose.
Can I take my own biscuits to the cinema?
It depends on the cinema’s house rules. Kinepolis Netherlands states that you can’t take your own food and drink into the screening room. Check the rules for the cinema you’re visiting before you go.