Who are these options for?

Parents keeping an eye on sugar

You’re looking for a chocolate biscuit for the party whose sugars per 100 g you can compare. Sweeteners are an option for you, provided the ingredients and portion suit your plans.

Organisers handing out treats to a group

You want to take allergies, dietary requirements and any school or after-school club rules into account in advance. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends small portions for treats; the packaging of the product you choose is the source of information about allergens.

Shoppers choosing in the supermarket

You want to find a suitable biscuit while doing your usual shop. A ‘sugar-conscious’ section can help you search, but it won’t tell you how much sugar a particular chocolate biscuit contains.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start with the nutrition information per 100 g. Then check whether the specific biscuit suits the children you’re buying for and the portion you plan to give them.

What to look for What should you check? Who is this most important for?
Sugars on the label Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and check whether it says ‘sugar-free’ or ‘no added sugars’. I want to see how much sugar the biscuit contains, rather than relying on the wording on the front of the pack. Around 29% of consumers would consider this their main selection criterion.
Allergens Ask about allergies and dietary requirements in advance; check the ingredients and warnings on the current packaging. When I’m handing out treats to several children, I want to avoid giving a child a biscuit they can’t eat. For around 29% of consumers, this would be their main concern.
Portion per child Check the weight and number of biscuits, and decide whether you can give each child a small portion. I want to keep handing out treats simple, without having to offer more biscuits repeatedly. Around 24% of consumers would put the portion first.
Choice in store Use a category to help you search, but read the nutrition information for the individual chocolate biscuit. When I’m shopping, I want to find a suitable option quickly without mistaking another type of biscuit for a chocolate biscuit. For around 18% of consumers, this practical consideration would matter most.

Common mistakes

  • Treating ‘sugar-conscious’ as a product specification

    A shop category doesn’t tell you how much sugar each chocolate biscuit contains. For example, Albert Heijn lists AH Gesuikerde biscuits pure chocolade as containing 35 g sugars per 100 g.

    Use the category to find products, then compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g on each biscuit.

  • Handing out biscuits with little sugar without limiting the amount

    Céréal biscuits containing polyols carry a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. A low sugar value doesn’t change that warning.

    Read the packaging and stick to a small portion. Also consider whether you’ll be handing out other products containing polyols at the same time.

  • Checking only sugars and overlooking allergens

    When handing out treats to a group, one biscuit could be unsuitable for a child with an allergy. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the need to list allergens on food labels.

    Ask in advance what the children can’t eat, read the current packaging and, if needed, provide a separate suitable alternative.

Brands and shops to consider

A brand or shop name is no substitute for checking the nutrition information for the biscuit you’re buying.

Céréal

Offers chocolate biscuits with low sugar values listed in the product information at Albert Heijn and Jumbo.

  • Albert Heijn lists Céréal Chocolate chip cookie as containing 0 g sugars per 100 g; Jumbo lists Céréal Choco Delight Puur as containing 0.5 g per 100 g.
  • These products contain polyols. Check the allergens and the warning about excessive consumption on each pack too.

Verkade

San Francisco Zero is a biscuit with no added sugars, but it isn’t a chocolate biscuit.

  • Verkade lists San Francisco Zero as containing 1.7 g sugars per 100 g.
  • Don’t use this value as nutrition information for other Verkade biscuits; also check the ingredients, including wheat, milk and soya.

Lotus

Speculoos with chocolate is a standard biscuit option if lower sugar isn’t your main priority.

  • Lotus Bakeries lists this product as containing 39.6 g sugars per 100 g, so you can compare it directly with other labels.
  • The product contains wheat, milk and soya, among other ingredients, and isn’t suitable if your main priority is a low listed sugar content.

Albert Heijn

The sugar-conscious products category can help you find options, including a Céréal chocolate biscuit.

  • The product information for Céréal Chocolate chip cookie lists 0 g sugars per 100 g.
  • Other chocolate biscuits have a different composition, so always check the product you choose.

Jumbo

The sugar-conscious category includes Céréal Minder Suikers Choco Delight Puur as a chocolate biscuit option.

  • Jumbo lists this product as containing 0.5 g sugars per 100 g.
  • Check the polyols and allergens in the pack you choose, including egg, milk, oats, soya and wheat.

ALDI

The biscuit range gives you a place to start, but a category overview doesn’t show the nutritional value of every chocolate biscuit.

  • ALDI’s biscuit range includes products such as chocolate chip cookies.
  • Ontbijtkoek zero is a different type of product. If you’re looking for a chocolate biscuit with less sugar, check its nutrition information specifically.

Lidl

When searching, be sure to distinguish between chocolate and chocolate biscuits.

  • Lidl lists a chocolate bar with no added sugar.
  • That bar isn’t a chocolate biscuit; check any biscuit separately for its ingredients and sugars per 100 g.

Related products at Joybuy

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘no added sugars’ mean a biscuit contains no sugars?

No, these are different claims. Verkade lists San Francisco Zero, a biscuit with no added sugars, as containing 1.7 g sugars per 100 g. Albert Heijn describes Céréal Chocolate chip cookie as ‘sugar-free’ and lists it as containing 0 g sugars per 100 g. Always check the nutrition information when choosing.

Can I hand out biscuits containing maltitol at a children's party?

They may be an option if the ingredients are suitable for the children and you give them a small portion. Read the product warning: Céréal biscuits containing polyols carry a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

How do I check allergens when buying for several children?

Ask about allergies in advance, and read the ingredients and any warnings on the current packaging of each biscuit you choose. The Céréal and Lotus products mentioned contain ingredients such as wheat, milk or soya; the composition varies from product to product.

Should I check the school or after-school club rules?

Yes, if you plan to hand out the biscuits there. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends asking in advance about allergies and products children avoid for other reasons; a school or after-school club may also have its own rules about treats.