First decide what you’re looking for: a very low sugar content, no added sugars, or less sugar than a comparable biscuit. Then compare the sugars per 100 g and per portion. If you’re putting together a sharing platter, also check the allergens, any polyols used and any warnings on the packaging.
You’re looking for a biscuit with as little declared sugar as possible to serve with drinks. The nutritional information per 100 g makes products easy to compare, while the amount per biscuit helps you work out a portion.
Perhaps you’d like to serve syrup waffles or chocolate biscuits, but are looking for a lower-sugar option. It’s worth comparing both the claim on the packaging and the actual sugar content of the product.
You want to know in advance how much you’re serving and what the biscuits contain. When you’re sharing a plate, check the allergens, possible traces and polyols as well as the sugar content.
First, check exactly what the sugar claim is comparing. Then look at the nutritional information and ingredients of the biscuits you want to serve.
| What matters | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| As little sugar as possible | Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and per portion, and check which sweeteners have been used. | I mainly want to choose based on the declared sugar content, not just the wording on the front. This would be the most important consideration for around 42% of consumers. |
| A sweet treat with less sugar | Check what ‘less sugar’ is being compared with, and look at the sugar content per 100 g too. | If I’m serving syrup waffles, I want a familiar treat with less sugar than the regular version. Around 33% of consumers would prioritise this. |
| Ingredients and portions when sharing | Check the allergens, possible traces, polyols and portion size on the current packaging. | When guests are sharing from the same plate, I want to know what’s in the biscuits and how many I’m serving. This would be the main concern for around 25% of consumers. |
According to Albert Heijn, AH Roomboter minder suiker stroopwafels contain 32% less sugar than the regular AH version, but still have 23 g of sugars per 100 g. So the comparison doesn’t tell you how much sugar the biscuits actually contain.
As well as reading the claim, check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and work out how much that means for the portion you plan to serve.
A low sugar content doesn’t tell you how much energy or fat a biscuit contains. Albert Heijn lists 465 kcal per 100 g for AH Digestive 0% suiker; Jumbo lists 427 kcal per 100 g for Céréal Kokos zonder suikers.
Compare energy and fat per 100 g too, and consider how many biscuits you want to serve as a portion.
Some biscuits with little sugar contain polyols. The Albert Heijn and Verkade product pages warn that their respective products may have a laxative effect if consumed in excess.
Read the ingredients and warnings on the packaging, especially if you’re serving other products containing polyols too.
Ingredients and possible traces vary from one biscuit to another. For the varieties discussed, Albert Heijn and Jumbo list ingredients including wheat, milk, egg or soya.
Check the current packaging for each variety and keep it beside the biscuits so guests can read the ingredients for themselves.
The own-brand range includes AH Digestive 0% suiker and AH Roomboter minder suiker stroopwafels.
The Céréal range shown by Jumbo includes coconut biscuits without sugars and Choco Delight with less sugar.
San Francisco Zero is a biscuit with no added sugars.
Sondey is a brand of biscuits and snacks in Lidl’s range.
No, it may still contain naturally occurring sugars. Albert Heijn states that Verkade San Francisco Zero has 0% added sugars, but also lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g. So always check the nutrition table.
Not necessarily: the sugar content alone doesn’t tell you the total energy content. According to Albert Heijn, AH Digestive 0% suiker contains 465 kcal per 100 g. So compare energy and fat separately from sugars.
Check which polyols have been used and follow the warning on the packaging. Albert Heijn warns that AH Digestive 0% suiker may have a laxative effect if consumed in excess. Check any other snacks you’re serving alongside it too.
Follow the storage instructions for the specific product. Albert Heijn recommends keeping AH Digestive 0% suiker in a cool, dark, dry place and storing it in a sealed tin once opened.
