Who are these choices relevant to?

Parents who focus mainly on the sugar content

You’re looking for a biscuit with a low figure next to ‘of which sugars’. The sweeteners used and the number of biscuits you give your child matter too.

Families who want to set clear snack times

On days off, you may want to set aside a portion rather than leave an open packet lying around. The number of biscuits and the portion size can help you do that.

Shoppers who need to check ingredients and allergens

If your child has an allergy or needs to avoid certain ingredients, check the current packaging rather than relying on the sugar claim. Look out for cereals containing gluten, milk, eggs, soya and nuts if they’re relevant to your child.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide what matters most for this snack: the sugar content, a set portion or the ingredients. Then compare the nutritional information of products that meet your main requirement.

What to consider What to check Who it matters to
Sugars and claims Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and per biscuit. For ‘less sugar’ claims, check what the product is being compared with. If I mainly want a biscuit with little sugar per piece, I look beyond the claim on the front of the pack. For around 42% of consumers, sugar content comes first.
Portion and snack time Check the number of biscuits, the stated portion size and the energy per biscuit or slice. On a day off, I want to be able to agree a small snack time in advance, without reaching into the packet again and again. For around 33% of consumers, portion size is the top priority.
Ingredients and allergens Read the ingredients, allergen information and any warnings about polyols on the current packaging. If my child needs to avoid an ingredient, I need to be able to assess whether this particular product is suitable. That’s why ingredients come first for around 25% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘no added sugars’ means ‘sugar-free’

    These claims don’t mean the same thing. Jumbo still lists 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g for Peijnenburg Volkoren zonder toegevoegde suikers.

    Compare the nutrition tables side by side, and check energy, fat and portion size before you choose.

  • Overlooking the warning about polyols

    Several biscuits low in sugars contain polyols. Product information for Céréal and AH Digestive, among others, warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

    Check which sweetener has been used and stick to the portion you’ve chosen for snack time.

  • Relying on a familiar brand when your child has an allergy

    Ingredients vary between products and varieties. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergen information for pre-packed products is shown on the label.

    When buying and before eating, check the allergen information on the current packaging, including any ‘may contain’ statements.

  • Taking a large pack without agreeing a portion

    Portioning biscuits yourself lets you set a limit for snack time, but it’s easy to take another when the packet is open. For children aged 4 to 12, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends no more than four eating or drinking occasions between meals.

    Set aside a portion in advance rather than giving your child the whole packet as a snack for the day.

Brands and product ranges compared

These examples show why the sugar claim alone doesn’t tell you enough: portion size, other nutritional values, ingredients and allergens vary from product to product.

Céréal

Céréal offers products including Speculoos stukjes amandel zonder suikers and Minder Suikers Choco Delight Puur.

  • Albert Heijn lists 0.4 g of sugars per 100 g for Speculoos; Jumbo lists 0.5 g per 100 g for Choco Delight Puur.
  • Check the sweeteners and allergens for each variety. The Speculoos packaging also warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

Albert Heijn

AH Digestive 0% suiker is a biscuit that you can portion out of the packet yourself.

  • Albert Heijn lists a 15 g portion, 0.3 g of sugars and 5.7 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • The biscuit contains wheat and polyols. The nutritional information also lists 465 kcal and 20 g of fat per 100 g; consider these figures alongside the sugar content.

Verkade

San Francisco Zero is a biscuit variety labelled ‘0% added sugar’.

  • Albert Heijn lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for this variety.
  • The same nutritional information lists 401 kcal and 5.4 g of saturated fat per 100 g. Check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging too.

Peijnenburg

Peijnenburg wholegrain breakfast cake without added sugars is a soft alternative served by the slice, rather than a biscuit.

  • Jumbo lists 17 g of fibre per 100 g and 4.7 g of fibre per slice.
  • ‘Without added sugars’ doesn’t mean sugar-free in this case: Jumbo lists 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g. The product contains xylitol; read the warnings on the packaging.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘no added sugars’ mean the same as ‘sugar-free’?

No. A product with no added sugars may still contain sugars. For example, Jumbo lists 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g for Peijnenburg Volkoren zonder toegevoegde suikers, while Albert Heijn lists 0.4 g per 100 g for Céréal Speculoos zonder suikers. So compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure as well as the claim.

What should I look for in biscuits with sweeteners for children?

Check which sweeteners are used, the portion size and any warnings on the packaging. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that children can consume sweeteners; several products containing polyols also carry a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

Is a lower-sugar biscuit suitable as a snack throughout the day?

A lower sugar content doesn’t make a biscuit something to eat throughout the day. For children aged 4 to 12, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends fruit and vegetables as snacks and advises no more than four eating or drinking occasions between meals. It’s better to agree a separate snack time and portion for a biscuit.

Which allergens should I check in lower-sugar biscuits?

Check the allergen information for the specific product, rather than relying on the brand name or sugar claim. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority lists cereals containing gluten, eggs, nuts, soya and milk among the relevant allergens. Which of these are present varies by biscuit and is shown on the current packaging.