When stocking up, first compare the amount of sugars per 100 g, then check the ingredients: ‘less sugar’, ‘0% sugar’ and ‘no added sugar’ don’t mean the same thing. A biscuit with a very low stated sugar content may suit you if that’s your priority. If you’re looking for a stroopwafel or soft biscuit, assess its higher sugar content separately. Before buying a larger quantity, also check the pack size, allergens, any warning about polyols and the best-before date on the packaging.
If you want biscuit-style cookies with as few stated sugars per 100 g as possible, compare the nutrition tables. Products with a low sugar content may contain sweeteners or polyols, so check whether those ingredients are suitable for the people you’re buying for.
If a stroopwafel or soft biscuit matters more to you than the lowest sugar content, a ‘less sugar’ version may be worth comparing. That claim is relative, so check how many sugars the product itself contains per 100 g.
If you’re buying several packs for home or work, check the ingredients of each variety. Review the latest allergen information, sweeteners, storage instructions and best-before date before deciding how much to stock up on.
Start by choosing the type of biscuit you actually want to eat. Then compare the nutritional information per 100 g within that category and work out how many packs you can use before they reach their best-before date.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars per 100 g | Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure for similar types of biscuit; don’t consider claims on the front of the pack separately from the nutrition table. | If I’m mainly looking for a low sugar content, I need to be able to compare packs without different serving sizes distorting the picture. For around 31% of consumers, sugar content comes first. |
| Stock and portions | Check the net weight, number of biscuits or portions, best-before date and storage instructions on the packaging. | If I want to keep several packs in the cupboard, I need to know whether the quantity suits how often we eat these biscuits. Around 23% of consumers give this kind of stock planning top priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the latest ingredients and allergen list. For products containing polyols, also look out for any warning about excessive consumption. | If I’m buying for other people, the ingredients in the variety I choose need to suit them. For around 31% of consumers, suitability is the most important consideration. |
| Flavour and type of biscuit | Decide whether you want a plain biscuit, stroopwafel, soft biscuit or cookie bar, then compare products of the same type. | If I’m buying a biscuit for a particular snack break, I don’t want to end up with a completely different texture. A familiar type of biscuit matters most to around 15% of consumers. |
Albert Heijn states that its butter stroopwafels with less sugar contain 32% less sugar than its regular version, but the product still contains 23 g of sugars per 100 g.
Use the claim as a reason to compare, not as a substitute for checking the nutrition table. Compare the amount of sugars per 100 g with that of a similar stroopwafel.
Biscuits with a low stated sugar content may contain polyols. Several Albert Heijn and Jumbo product pages warn that excessive consumption of these products may have a laxative effect; allergens vary between varieties.
Check the current packaging and, if you like, try one pack before buying several.
Biscuits, stroopwafels, ontbijtkoek and cookie bars differ in shape, texture and portion size. So a larger pack of one product won’t necessarily replace the type of biscuit you were looking for.
Choose the product type first, then compare sugars per 100 g, ingredients and pack size across suitable alternatives.
Albert Heijn notes that product information may change. This is particularly relevant if you’re choosing a variety for a specific sugar content, sweetener or allergen listing.
When your order arrives, read the label and check the best-before date before putting the packs away for later.
The Albert Heijn range includes different product types with sugar-related claims, including AH Digestive 0% suiker and AH Roomboter minder suiker stroopwafels.
San Francisco zero is a tea biscuit for anyone specifically looking for a product with no added sugar.
The range reviewed includes coconut biscuits labelled ‘sugar-free’ and Choco Delight labelled ‘less sugar’.
Koekhappers minder suiker are soft biscuits for anyone looking for individually wrapped treats rather than plain biscuits.
Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff as a crunchy biscuit with a caramelised flavour.
This product selection is a pack of six cookie bars, not plain biscuits. If this is the type of biscuit you’re looking for, compare its nutritional information with that of other cookie bars.
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An option if you’re looking to stock up on cookie bars rather than biscuits.
The product name states that the pack contains six pieces and says ‘Less Sugar’. Check the latest nutrition information and compare the sugars per 100 g with a similar cookie bar; the name alone doesn’t tell you how much lower the amount is.
No. ‘Less sugar’ compares a product with a similar product; on its own, it doesn’t tell you how much sugar it contains. For example, Albert Heijn states that its butter stroopwafels contain 32% less sugar than its regular version, but they still contain 23 g of sugars per 100 g.
No. A product with no added sugar may still contain sugars. The Albert Heijn product page for Verkade San Francisco zero states 0% added sugar and 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g. Always check the nutrition table for the amount.
Some products containing polyols carry a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Check the warning and ingredients for the specific variety, particularly if several people will be eating from the same stock.
Compare the nutritional values per 100 g for the type of biscuit you want to buy, then check the net weight and the number of pieces or portions. Before storing several packs, check the best-before date and storage instructions on the packaging you receive.
No. A low sugar content on its own doesn’t tell you how much energy a biscuit contains. Albert Heijn states that AH Digestive 0% suiker contains 0.3 g of sugars and 465 kcal per 100 g. If both figures matter to you, compare the full nutrition table.
