Choose a chocolate biscuit for your street festival by checking the exact sugar claim and the stated sugar content: ‘no added sugars’ does not mean ‘sugar-free’. Then check that the pack size, storage advice and allergen information suit the people you want to share the biscuits with. If the product contains polyols, read the warning about excessive consumption too.
The claim on the front of the pack isn’t enough for you: you also want to compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and, if stated, per portion. For products containing polyols, check the ingredients and usage warning too.
You’re looking for a pack with a suitable number of biscuits that you can take with you and store as advised on the packaging. For the Céréal Chocolate chip cookie, Albert Heijn recommends storing it in a cool, dry place.
If you’re buying for other people, you need to check which ingredients and allergens may be relevant to them. To do this, read the current label, including any warnings about the possible presence of allergens.
Start with the sugar claim and nutritional information for the chocolate biscuit. Then consider whether the pack, ingredients and storage instructions are suitable for sharing at a street festival.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar claim and sugar content | Read the exact claim and compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. Also check the value per portion, if stated. | If I want to choose biscuits with less sugar, the claim needs to match what the nutritional information shows. Around 42% of consumers would prioritise the sugar content and what the claim means. |
| Taking them along and sharing | Check the number of biscuits, how to store the pack once opened and the storage advice. | If I’m buying for a group, I want to take enough biscuits without leaving them unprotected during transport. A suitable pack size for sharing and taking along would be the main concern for around 25% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current allergen information and check for sweeteners, polyols and any related warnings. | When I’m handing out biscuits, I want to know in advance whether any ingredients or allergens could be a problem for someone in the group. For around 33% of consumers, those ingredients and allergens would be the top priority. |
A biscuit with no added sugars can still contain sugars. For example, Verkade lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for San Francisco Zero, a biscuit with no added sugars that isn’t a chocolate biscuit.
For the chocolate biscuit you’re considering, compare the exact claim with ‘of which sugars’ in the nutrition table.
According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Céréal Chocolate chip cookie without sugar and AH Digestive 0% sugar contain polyols. Both carry a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Read the ingredients and warning on the pack you choose, especially if you plan to take several biscuits or hand them out.
The front of the pack doesn’t provide all the information you need to assess whether a biscuit is suitable for someone with an allergy. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights that allergens must be listed on the label.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging, including any ‘may contain’ warning.
A pack with enough biscuits also needs to be stored as advised for the product. For the Céréal Chocolate chip cookie, Albert Heijn recommends storing it in a cool, dry place.
Before taking the biscuits with you, check the number in the pack, the storage advice and whether you can seal the pack securely after opening.
Verkade San Francisco Zero shows why the precise sugar claim matters. It’s a plain biscuit, not a chocolate biscuit.
The sugar-conscious biscuit category and AH Digestive 0% sugar offer useful starting points for comparing labels. AH Digestive 0% sugar isn’t a chocolate biscuit.
Jumbo’s ‘Sugar Conscious’ category is a useful starting point for checking individual products and their labels.
No. ‘No added sugars’ doesn’t mean the nutrition table will state 0 g of sugars. For chocolate biscuits, compare the exact claim with ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and, if available, per portion.
Read the usage warning and leave the packaging available for anyone taking a biscuit. According to Albert Heijn, both Céréal Chocolate chip cookie without sugar and AH Digestive 0% sugar carry a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Check the warning on the product you actually buy.
Check the current packaging for all allergens relevant to the people in your group. For the Céréal Chocolate chip cookie, Albert Heijn lists wheat and oats and mentions the possible presence of, among other things, milk, eggs, nuts, soya and sesame. Don’t assume that list applies to another biscuit without checking.
Follow the storage advice on the pack you choose and check whether it can be sealed securely after opening. Albert Heijn recommends storing the Céréal Chocolate chip cookie in a cool, dry place. For AH Digestive 0% sugar, it advises storing the biscuits in a cool, dark, dry place and keeping them in a sealed tin after opening.
