Who is this choice important for?

Film fans keeping an eye on sugars

You want biscuits to enjoy during the film, but the sugar content is the main factor in your choice. Compare similar products per 100 g and check exactly what the claim on the packaging means.

Shoppers checking for sweeteners

You’re looking for a biscuit with less sugar, but also want to know whether it contains sweeteners or polyols. Read the ingredients and any warnings before choosing a pack to share.

Hosts and guests with different needs

If several people are sharing, allergens and pack size matter too, alongside sugars. Ask about allergies and check the current packaging of the product you plan to serve.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you want a biscuit with no sugars, a lower-sugar option or simply a familiar style of biscuit. Then compare products of the same type: a stroopwafel, a biscuit and a cookie bar are not necessarily equivalent portions.

What to consider What to check Who is this important for?
Sugar content Compare sugars per 100 g in similar biscuits and check what any sugar-reduction claim refers to. I want to know how much sugar my chosen biscuit contains, without relying solely on the front of the pack. For around 36% of consumers, sugar content is the main consideration.
Sweeteners and polyols Read the ingredients list and any warnings about excessive consumption. If there’s more than one biscuit on the table during the film, I want to know in advance which sweeteners they contain. This is the main consideration for around 29% of consumers.
Other nutritional information For similar products, also check energy, saturated fat and fibre per 100 g. A lower sugar value alone isn’t enough to guide my choice; I want to take the rest of the nutritional information into account too. Around 21% of consumers pay most attention to this.
Sharing and allergens Check the allergen information, any ‘may contain’ statements and the number of biscuits in the pack. I’m buying for several people and want to consider what they can eat and how we’ll share the biscuits. This is the top priority for around 14% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Choosing based only on ‘zero’ or ‘less sugar’

    That kind of claim won’t tell you at a glance how two biscuits compare in every respect. Energy, saturated fat, fibre and the exact sugar content may all factor into your choice.

    Compare similar biscuits side by side using their nutritional information per 100 g, as recommended by the Voedingscentrum.

  • Overlooking a sweetener warning

    Some products with sugar-conscious claims contain polyols. Certain packs warn that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect; this is worth bearing in mind if you’re putting out a plate of biscuits to share.

    Read the ingredients and the warning for the specific product before deciding how many to serve.

  • Assuming less sugar means suitable for people with allergies

    A claim about sugars says nothing about the allergens in a biscuit. For your guests, the ingredients list may therefore matter more than the sugar claim.

    Ask about allergies in advance, then check the allergen information and any ‘may contain’ statement on the current packaging.

  • Relying on out-of-date product information

    Albert Heijn states that product ingredients, nutritional values and allergy information can change. A product page you looked at earlier may not match the pack you receive.

    Check the packaging again before serving the biscuits, especially if a guest needs to avoid an ingredient.

Brands and product ranges to compare

These examples show different biscuit styles and claims about sugars. Assess each option individually using the current packaging.

Céréal

Albert Heijn lists a Céréal Chocolate Chip Cookie labelled ‘sugar-free’; Jumbo also lists products such as Choco Delight Dark and sesame-vanilla biscuits.

  • There are different biscuit styles to compare for their nutritional information and ingredients.
  • Albert Heijn lists a sweetener in the Chocolate Chip Cookie. Check each option for any warnings too; the ingredients in one biscuit won’t necessarily apply to the whole range.

Albert Heijn

The own-brand range includes AH Digestive 0% sugar and butter stroopwafels labelled ‘less sugar’.

  • You can consider a digestive biscuit and a stroopwafel as two different types of treat.
  • Albert Heijn notes that product information can change. Don’t compare these different types of biscuit as if they were the same portion.

Verkade

Within its San Francisco range, Albert Heijn lists a zero option alongside plain and wholegrain varieties.

  • The varieties give you a starting point for comparing options within a familiar biscuit range.
  • Don’t assume how much sugar a product contains or whether it uses sweeteners from the word ‘zero’ in its name; check the label for the option you’ve chosen.

Goud Gebakken

ALDI lists Koekhappers less sugar in a pack of six individually wrapped pieces. A Koekhap is a different kind of snack from a biscuit.

  • The individual wrappers can be handy when each guest wants to pick up a piece.
  • Use the current nutritional information to assess this option; ‘less sugar’ on its own doesn’t give you a complete comparison.

A cookie bar for a film night on Joybuy

This cookie bar, named Less Sugar, is an option if you’re looking for a pack of individually wrapped pieces for your film night. Ideally, compare its nutritional information with that of other cookie bars.

g'woon Cookie Bars Less Sugar, pack of 6

g'woon Cookie Bars Less Sugar, 6 pieces

A cookie bar for anyone who wants to serve individually wrapped treats during the film.

Compare the current nutritional information per 100 g with that of other cookie bars, and check what the Less Sugar claim refers to.

If you have allergies, check the packaging: the product information lists possible traces of wheat, barley, oats, milk, almonds and hazelnuts.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

How do I compare biscuits with less sugar?

Compare similar biscuits per 100 g, rather than relying only on the figures per biscuit or per portion shown on the front of the pack. The Voedingscentrum recommends this basis for comparison. Check the rest of the nutritional information and the ingredients list as well as sugars.

Does ‘0% added sugars’ mean there are no sugars in the product?

No. A claim about added sugars isn’t the same as the total sugar content. Check the sugars per 100 g for the specific product in the nutrition table.

What does a warning about a laxative effect mean?

The warning means that consuming too much of the product may have a laxative effect. If you’re sharing biscuits containing sweeteners during a film night, check the ingredients and warnings on the packaging first.

Do I still need to check for allergens in lower-sugar biscuits?

Yes. A sugar claim doesn’t tell you whether a biscuit is suitable for someone with an allergy. Check the allergen information and any ‘may contain’ statement on the current packaging.

How should I store an opened pack?

Follow the storage advice for your chosen product. For AH Digestive 0% sugar, for example, Albert Heijn recommends storing it in a cool, dark and dry place, and keeping it in a sealed tin after opening.