Sugar-conscious host
You want to serve chocolate biscuits, but look beyond ‘zero’ or ‘less sugar’ on the front of the pack. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing products per 100 g.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Host with a mix of guests
You want to be able to show guests the ingredients and allergens, and take into account how much they eat when serving biscuits containing polyols.
Shopping for a sharing occasion
You’re looking for enough biscuits to share, without assuming that a larger pack of standard chocolate biscuits will meet your lower-sugar needs.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide whether reducing sugar is a requirement. Then compare the nutritional information for suitable biscuits and check the packaging of your chosen variety before serving.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Less sugar | Compare the sugar content per 100 g of similar biscuits and check what any less-sugar claim is based on. | I don’t want to rely on the front of the pack alone; I want to see how the sugar levels compare. Around 40% of consumers prioritise a demonstrable reduction in sugar. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the allergen information and ingredients list; if the biscuits contain polyols, also look for any warnings on the packaging. | If different guests are sharing from the same plate, I want to keep the packaging handy so they can check the ingredients for themselves. Suitability for guests is a priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| How many to share | Check the pack weight and, if stated, the number of biscuits; also make sure you’ve checked the variety you’re buying. | I want to put out enough to share without mistaking a standard sharing pack for a lower-sugar product. Having enough biscuits to share is the main concern for around 20% of consumers. |
| Taste and texture | Check whether you’re choosing a biscuit with a filling, chocolate pieces or a chocolate coating; if in doubt, try a small pack first. | The type of biscuit my guests enjoy matters too, even when I’m keeping an eye on sugar. Taste and texture are the deciding factors for around 10% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Treating a less-sugar claim as a complete comparison
This kind of claim compares one product with another. On its own, it doesn’t tell you how much sugar the biscuit contains per 100 g or what ingredients it contains.
Compare the nutrition tables of similar biscuits and check what the claim is being compared with.
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Overlooking polyols
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems. This is worth bearing in mind when guests are helping themselves to biscuits from a plate.
Read the ingredients and keep the packaging, including any warnings, available for guests.
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Relying only on ‘zero’ or ‘0% sugar’ in the name
A product name doesn’t tell you which allergens or other ingredients are in the variety you buy. Albert Heijn also warns that online product information can change.
Check the nutritional information and allergens on the packaging of the exact variety you’re serving.
Brands and retailers to explore
Céréal
Jumbo lists Céréal Minder Suikers Choco Delight Puur 126 g as a biscuit with less sugar than a comparable product.
- A specific product range to explore if reducing sugar is a priority.
- Check the sugar content and the basis of the claim on the packaging; if you’re taking polyols into account, read the ingredients too.
Verkade
Albert Heijn lists Verkade San Francisco zero. The product name alone doesn’t confirm that this variety is a chocolate biscuit.
- A familiar name to keep in mind when exploring zero varieties.
- Before choosing this variety for your garden party, check the current packaging for the product type, sugar content, ingredients and allergens.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists AH Digestive 0% suiker. A digestive biscuit isn’t necessarily a chocolate biscuit.
- The product listing can help you explore biscuits with a sugar-related claim.
- Albert Heijn recommends checking the packaging, as ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change.
Jumbo
Jumbo has a chocolate biscuit category and also lists the Céréal variety with less sugar.
- The individual product listings let you explore different types of packs.
- A standard chocolate biscuit from the category isn’t automatically a lower-sugar option; assess the variety you choose on its own merits.
A product to compare
This standard option is worth considering if reducing sugar isn’t a firm requirement. Don’t treat it as a lower-sugar product without comparing its sugar content with that of a suitable chocolate biscuit.
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Liga Crunchy Muesli Chocolate 225 g
A standard option to consider if reducing sugar isn’t a firm requirement for your garden party.
The pack contains 225 g. Before buying, compare the sugar content per 100 g on the current packaging with that of a similar product, and check the ingredients and allergens for your guests.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare lower-sugar chocolate biscuits?
Compare similar biscuits per 100 g and check what any less-sugar claim refers to. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing products per 100 g; also read the ingredients of the varieties you’re considering.
Is a lower-sugar biscuit suitable for every guest?
Not on the basis of sugar content alone. Check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging of the product you buy, and let guests check that information for themselves.
What should I look out for if a biscuit contains maltitol or other polyols?
Read the ingredients and any warning on the packaging before serving the biscuit. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems, so keep the packaging available alongside the biscuits.
How can guests check for allergens?
Keep the original packaging available so guests can read the allergen information for the exact product being served. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the mandatory labelling of 14 allergens.
Is online nutritional information enough to choose biscuits for the party?
Use it to shortlist products, but check the packaging of the product you actually buy. Albert Heijn says that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change.