If you want a chocolate biscuit with less sugar to enjoy with your coffee, first check which sugar claim suits your needs, then compare the nutritional values per biscuit. Céréal states that its Chocolate Chip Cookie and chocolate and hazelnut shortbread biscuits contain 0 g sugars per biscuit, but both also contain energy and polyols. If you prefer a biscuit topped with a piece of dark chocolate, consider Choco Delight Puur and check the sugar value on the current packaging.
You’re looking for a chocolate biscuit to enjoy with your coffee and want to know how much sugar one biscuit contains. For you, the claim on the front of the pack is only useful when considered alongside the nutritional information.
You distinguish between chocolate pieces in a cookie, a shortbread biscuit with a hint of chocolate and a biscuit topped with a piece of chocolate. Then you weigh up the sugar claim and portion size.
You look out for specific allergens or sweeteners. A claim about sugars won’t tell you whether a biscuit also meets your other ingredient requirements.
A good fit if: you’re looking for a cookie with chocolate pieces and want to start with 0 g sugars per biscuit; Céréal states this value for its Chocolate Chip Cookie.
Bear in mind: according to Céréal, this cookie contains maltitol and sucralose, as well as 2,8 g polyols per biscuit.
A good fit if: you’d rather choose a shortbread biscuit with chocolate and hazelnut flavour; Céréal also states 0 g sugars per biscuit for this option.
Bear in mind: according to Céréal, the biscuit contains maltitol and 2,1 g polyols per biscuit.
A good fit if: a piece of chocolate on top matters more to you than a claim of 0 g sugars per biscuit; Jumbo describes Céréal Choco Delight Puur as having this format.
Bear in mind: check the sugar value on the packaging rather than using a ‘less sugar’ percentage as a direct comparison.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars per coffee break | Compare ‘of which sugars’ per biscuit and per 100 g; don’t treat ‘sugar-free’, ‘no added sugar’ and ‘less sugar’ as the same claim. | When I have a chocolate biscuit with my coffee, I want to know how much sugar my portion contains. For around 50% of shoppers, this is the top priority. |
| Type of chocolate | Check whether it’s chocolate pieces, chocolate and hazelnut flavour, or a piece of chocolate on top of the biscuit. | I mainly want a biscuit with the type of chocolate that suits the treat I’m looking for with my coffee. This preference comes first for around 30% of shoppers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients, allergen information, any ‘may contain’ statement and sweetener warnings on the current pack. | If an ingredient, allergen or sweetener is a deciding factor for me, I check that before looking at the sugar claim. Around 20% of shoppers prioritise this. |
A product may contain naturally occurring sugars. Albert Heijn states that Verkade San Francisco Zero contains both 0% added sugar and 1,7 g sugars per 100 g. This biscuit is also not a substitute for a chocolate biscuit if chocolate is a must-have.
When comparing products, check the ‘of which sugars’ line in the nutrition table as well as the precise wording of the claim.
According to Céréal, its Chocolate Chip Cookie contains 0 g sugars and 45 kcal per biscuit; for its chocolate and hazelnut shortbread biscuit, the brand states 0 g sugars and 50 kcal per biscuit. So a sugar claim doesn’t tell you how much energy a biscuit contains.
Compare products on the same portion basis and consider how many biscuits you’ll actually eat.
Céréal states that both its sugar-free biscuits contain polyols. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that products with more than 10% added polyols carry a label warning about the possible laxative effect of excessive consumption.
Read the ingredients list and any warning on the packaging if you want to take sweeteners into account.
Céréal markets its Cookies with Chocolate Pieces as gluten-free and lactose-free, but also states that they contain 29 g sugars per 100 g. One product feature doesn’t tell you anything about another.
Check ingredient requirements and the sugar value separately on the packaging of the specific product.
Céréal has several chocolate biscuits with a claim relating to less or no sugar, including Chocolate Chip Cookie, chocolate and hazelnut shortbread biscuits and Choco Delight Puur.
Verkade San Francisco Zero is a useful example for comparing sugar claims on biscuits, but it isn’t a chocolate biscuit in this comparison.
Albert Heijn has a category for sugar-conscious biscuits and lists Céréal Chocolate Chip Cookie in its Dutch range.
No, a claim about sugars isn’t a claim about energy. Céréal states that its Chocolate Chip Cookie contains 0 g sugars and 45 kcal per biscuit, and that its chocolate and hazelnut shortbread biscuits contain 0 g sugars and 50 kcal per biscuit. Compare the nutritional value per biscuit with the portion you intend to eat.
‘No added sugar’ doesn’t mean that a product contains no sugars. Albert Heijn states that Verkade San Francisco Zero contains 0% added sugar, but also 1,7 g sugars per 100 g. So check the precise claim as well as the ‘of which sugars’ line on the label.
Check the ingredients and warnings for the specific chocolate biscuit. Céréal states that its Chocolate Chip Cookie contains 2,8 g polyols and its chocolate and hazelnut shortbread biscuit contains 2,1 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that products with more than 10% added polyols carry a label warning about excessive consumption.
Not necessarily: these features address different questions. Céréal markets its Cookies with Chocolate Pieces as gluten-free and lactose-free, while also stating that they contain 29 g sugars per 100 g and 4,8 g per cookie. Check both requirements separately for the variety you want to buy.
