Who is this for?

Anyone comparing sugar content

You’re looking for biscuits with as little sugar as possible and comparing the nutritional information per 100 g. You also check which sweeteners or polyols are listed in the ingredients.

Families looking to adapt a familiar treat

You’re looking for a familiar type of biscuit for coffee time or the biscuit tin, but with less sugar than the standard version. You also want to know how much sugar it still contains.

Breakfast loaf shoppers

You choose sliced breakfast loaf as a planned snack and want to consider fibre, portions and any sweetener warnings alongside the sugar content.

What should you look for?

First, decide which type of biscuit you want to buy for the week. Then compare the nutritional information for similar products per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says portion-based figures can be confusing because manufacturers decide the portion size themselves.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Sugars per 100 g Compare ‘of which sugars’ for the same type of biscuit and check which sweeteners have been used. If my main aim is to consume less sugar, I don’t want to rely on a claim on the front of the pack. This sugar figure is the top priority for around 36% of consumers.
A familiar biscuit with less sugar Check which standard version the biscuit is being compared with and how much sugar the product itself contains per 100 g. I want to keep buying a familiar syrup waffle or biscuit for the tin, even if it doesn’t have the lowest sugar content. This preference is the main consideration for around 29% of consumers.
Breakfast loaf and fibre Compare breakfast loaf with breakfast loaf: check sugars, fibre and sweeteners per 100 g. I’d rather take sliced breakfast loaf with me and want to keep an eye on fibre too. This type of biscuit matters most to around 21% of consumers.
Portions and your weekly supply Check the number of pieces, the weight of each piece and storage instructions after opening. If I need the biscuits to last all week, I want to know in advance how many portions the pack contains. This is the first thing around 14% of consumers consider.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘less sugar’ means a low sugar content

    ‘Less sugar’ compares a product with a reference product. Albert Heijn says its Butter Syrup Waffles with Less Sugar contain 32% less sugar than the standard AH version, while still containing 23 g of sugars per 100 g.

    For the same type of biscuit, compare both the reference version and the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g.

  • Looking at sugars alone

    A low sugar figure doesn’t tell you how much energy a biscuit contains. For example, Albert Heijn lists 0.3 g of sugars and 465 kcal per 100 g for AH Digestive 0% Sugar.

    Decide which nutritional values matter for your choice and check the portion size too, rather than using a single figure to judge the whole product.

  • Skipping the ingredients and warnings

    Biscuits with little or no added sugar may contain polyols. The product information for Céréal almond speculoos lists maltitols and allergens including wheat, almonds, soya, egg and milk; Albert Heijn and Verkade include a warning on certain products that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

    Check the ingredients, allergens and warnings on the pack before choosing a variety.

  • Relying only on the online product description

    Ingredients and nutritional information can change. Albert Heijn notes in its product information that the packaging at the time of purchase should be treated as the definitive source.

    Use product pages to compare options, then check the packaging of the variety you choose during your weekly shop.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

The own-brand range includes digestive biscuits, syrup waffles with less sugar and sliced zero breakfast loaf.

  • Albert Heijn lists 0.3 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Digestive 0% Sugar, and provides nutritional information and ingredients for each product.
  • AH Butter Syrup Waffles with Less Sugar still contain 23 g of sugars per 100 g. Check the pack for the latest information when you buy them.

Céréal

The almond-piece speculoos with no sugars is a biscuit option for anyone specifically comparing sugars per 100 g.

  • Product information shown by Jumbo lists 0.4 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • This variety also contains 29 g of polyols per 100 g, as well as wheat, almonds, soya, egg and milk.

Verkade

San Francisco Zero is a biscuit variety marketed as having no added sugar.

  • Product information at Albert Heijn lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • The variety contains maltitols, wheat, milk and soya. The product information warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

Jumbo

The own-brand range includes a breakfast loaf bar with less sugar than the standard Jumbo breakfast loaf bar.

  • Jumbo says its Breakfast Loaf with Less Sugar contains at least 30% less sugar than its plain breakfast loaf bar, and 17.8 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • According to Jumbo, the same bar contains 22.7 g of sugars per 100 g; the relative reduction doesn’t replace that absolute figure.

Koek & Bakker (ALDI)

ALDI describes its Sliced Zero Breakfast Loaf as a pre-sliced breakfast loaf with no added sugars.

  • The variety mentioned comes in a 485 g pack and is pre-sliced.
  • Check the pack for the sugar content, ingredients, sweeteners and allergens before comparing this breakfast loaf with other varieties.

Related products at Joybuy

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘less sugar’ mean a biscuit contains little sugar?

No. The claim compares the biscuit with a reference product and, on its own, doesn’t tell you how much sugar it contains. Albert Heijn says its Butter Syrup Waffles with Less Sugar contain 32% less sugar than the standard AH version, but they still contain 23 g of sugars per 100 g. So check both figures.

Do biscuits with no added sugar contain no sugar at all?

No, they may contain naturally occurring sugars. The product information for Verkade San Francisco Zero states that it has no added sugar but does contain naturally occurring sugars; Peijnenburg Wholemeal Breakfast Loaf with No Added Sugars lists 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g.

What should I look out for in biscuits containing maltitol or xylitol?

Check which sweetener has been used and read the warnings on the pack. Albert Heijn and Verkade state that excessive consumption of certain biscuit products may have a laxative effect. Peijnenburg’s product information also says that the xylitol in its breakfast loaf is not suitable for animals.

How do I compare biscuits during my weekly shop?

First compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g for the same type of biscuit, then check portions, ingredients and allergens. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing products per 100 g, as manufacturers decide portion sizes themselves.