Anyone looking to serve treats with less sugar
You’re looking for something for King’s Day, but want to compare the sugar content before choosing a kano. A label on the front of the pack isn’t enough to do that.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Fans of the classic kano
You want a butter biscuit filled with almond paste to enjoy with coffee or serve on a party platter. That preference doesn’t tell you anything about the sugar content, so check the ingredients and nutritional information too.
Shoppers comparing pack sizes
You need kano biscuits for a group and want to know how many packs to buy. Pack weight and availability are practical details to check before you shop.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you need a kano with almond paste or whether another type of biscuit will do. To compare sugar content, check the nutritional information per 100 g, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
Classic kano
Choose this when: You want a butter biscuit with almond paste for your party spread.
What to consider: Without comparing the sugar values per 100 g, you can’t identify any of these kano biscuits as the lower-sugar option.
Another type of biscuit
Choose this when: You don’t need the kano shape or almond paste filling for your party spread.
What to consider: Verkade labels its San Francisco Zero biscuits ‘no added sugars’, but they’re not kano biscuits. According to the Consumers’ Association, products with this label can still contain sugars.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Less sugar | Compare the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g for similar products, and check the label on the current packaging. | If I want less sugar, I need to make a fair comparison between similar kano biscuits. This is the top priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the ingredients list and declared allergens on each pack. | If you need to avoid certain ingredients, the current recipe determines whether a biscuit is suitable. This check is the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Pack size and availability | Check the pack weight, work out how many you need and check availability at your chosen shop. | If I’m bringing treats for a group, I want to make sure there are enough biscuits available. The quantity needed and availability are top priorities for around 20% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
-
Assuming ‘no added sugars’ means ‘less sugar’
According to the Consumers’ Association, a product with no added sugars can still contain sugars. So the label doesn’t tell you whether it contains less total sugar than a comparable kano.
Compare the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g, and make sure you’re comparing like with like.
-
Calling a classic kano low in sugar without comparing it
A classic recipe doesn’t mean a lower sugar content. Jumbo lists sugar as the first ingredient in its butter kano biscuits, but that doesn’t show how they compare with other kano biscuits.
Use the nutritional information on the current packaging to compare the sugar content per 100 g.
-
Guessing allergens from the product name
A name such as ‘butter kano biscuits’ doesn’t tell you which other allergens the product contains. Product information can also change.
Check the ingredients and declared allergens on the pack every time you buy, especially if you need to avoid an ingredient.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
AH butter kano biscuits are a classic supermarket option.
- Albert Heijn stocks these kano biscuits in its online range.
- Albert Heijn points out that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change. Check the current packaging.
Jumbo
Jumbo describes its 275 g kano biscuits as butter biscuits with 38% almond paste.
- The product description and ingredients are useful if you’re looking for a classic kano.
- Sugar is listed as the first ingredient. This doesn’t prove that the product contains less sugar than another kano.
PLUS
PLUS lists its own 275 g butter kano biscuits, as well as 230 g Aviateur Kano biscuits.
- The different pack weights can help you work out how many you need.
- PLUS gives its own butter kano biscuits a Nutri-Score of E. This score isn’t a direct comparison of sugar content per 100 g.
Sondey
Lidl describes Sondey Kano biscuits, sold in 325 g packs, as butter biscuits filled with almond paste.
- The description tells you what type of kano and pack size to expect.
- Check the packaging in store for the latest ingredients, allergens and nutritional values.
Verkade
Verkade San Francisco Zero is a biscuit, not a kano filled with almond paste.
- Verkade labels these biscuits ‘no added sugars’.
- That label doesn’t tell you the total sugar content. Check the ‘of which sugars’ value on the pack, and don’t compare these biscuits as if they were kano biscuits.
Related products on Joybuy
Related products will appear here soon.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare the sugar content of two kano biscuits?
For comparable kano biscuits, compare the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing products per 100 g to give you a common basis. Values per biscuit alone can be misleading if the portions are different.
Does ‘no added sugars’ mean a biscuit is low in sugar?
No, the label doesn’t tell you how much sugar a biscuit contains in total. The Consumers’ Association points out that products with no added sugars can still contain sugars, so check the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g as well.
Which allergens should I check in kano biscuits?
Check the allergens for the specific product on the current packaging. Jumbo lists wheat, milk, soya, almond and egg yolk among the allergens in its kano biscuits. Don’t assume the same ingredients apply to other brands.
Is Nutri-Score enough to compare the sugar content of kano biscuits?
No, check the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g to compare sugar content. According to the Dutch government, Nutri-Score is designed to compare products of the same type. The score also doesn’t replace checking the ingredients and allergens.