Lower-sugar speculoos for school holidays: what to check

Who is this choice for?

Parents keeping an eye on sugar

You’re looking for a speculoos-style biscuit with a sugar claim, and want to check the sugars per 100 g, the serving size and any sweeteners on the label too.

Families planning a treat

You’d like to offer speculoos now and then, without making biscuits the go-to snack during the school holidays. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends vegetables and fruit as good snacks for children.

Shoppers for whom allergens are a deciding factor

You should only choose a biscuit if the current ingredients and allergen information are suitable for what the child needs to avoid. For its Céréal speculoos with almonds, Jumbo lists wheat, almonds, soya, egg and milk, among other ingredients.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you’re looking for a regular snack or a planned biscuit treat. If you’re choosing biscuits, compare the nutritional information and check any ingredients that matter for the child.

What to consider	What to check before buying	Who it matters to
Sugar in the biscuit	Read the exact claim and compare sugars per 100 g and in the serving you’ve chosen. Check the ingredients list for any sweeteners too.	If I’m looking for a lower-sugar biscuit, I want to look beyond the wording on the front of the pack. Around 46% of consumers put less or no sugar in biscuits first.
Everyday snack or treat	For regular snacks, choose the type of snack first; if you’re planning a biscuit treat, decide on the serving size in advance.	When there are several snack times during the holidays, I don’t want to offer biscuits every time. For around 36% of consumers, an alternative to an everyday biscuit matters most.
Allergens and ingredients	Check the current packaging for any ingredients and allergens the child needs to avoid.	If a child needs to avoid certain ingredients, the biscuit you choose must be suitable first and foremost. Around 18% of consumers prioritise allergens and ingredients.

Common mistakes

Taking ‘less sugar’ as a verdict on the whole snack

A sugar claim doesn’t tell you how the rest of a biscuit’s nutritional profile compares with that of another snack. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends vegetables and fruit as good snacks for children.

When comparing biscuits, check the serving size and nutrition table too, and decide whether you’re buying an everyday snack or a treat.
Looking only at the front of the pack

The claim on the front doesn’t replace the nutrition table or ingredients list. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, nutritional information per 100 g is shown on the label.

Read the current packaging just before buying, especially if sugar or a particular ingredient is a deciding factor.
Overlooking allergens in sugar-free biscuits

For its Céréal speculoos with pieces of almond, Jumbo lists wheat, almonds, soya, egg and milk, among other ingredients. The sugar claim doesn’t tell you whether it’s suitable for someone with an allergy.

Always check the current allergen information on the packaging for the product you’ve chosen.
Assuming gluten-free means lower in sugar

Jumbo lists a gluten-free speculoos as a separate product. Being gluten-free doesn’t, in itself, tell you how much sugar it contains.

Assess the gluten-free claim and the sugars in the nutrition table separately.

Brands and retailers to consider

Céréal

Céréal describes its speculoos with pieces of almond as ‘sugar-free’.

Jumbo lists maltitols as a sweetener in this variety.
Jumbo also lists several allergens, including wheat and almonds; check the current packaging.

Lotus Biscoff

Lotus Biscoff presents Original Speculoos as a crisp biscuit for a snack break.

An option if you’re specifically looking for classic speculoos for a planned treat.
Don’t assume this is a lower-sugar option without comparing the nutrition table.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists both AH Bakkers speculoos and Céréal Speculoos with almond pieces, with no sugars, in its online range.

The two products offer different starting points for comparing biscuits and sugar claims.
Albert Heijn notes that product information can change; check the ingredients and nutritional information on the current packaging.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists bakers’ speculoos, Céréal sugar-free speculoos and a separate gluten-free speculoos.

You can search for the specific product feature that matters to you.
These features apply to different products: gluten-free doesn’t automatically mean lower in sugar.

Related products at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is sugar-free speculoos automatically suitable as an everyday snack?

No. The claim only tells you something about sugars; it isn’t an assessment of the whole biscuit or when you eat it. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends vegetables and fruit as good snacks for children. If you choose biscuits, consider the serving size and the rest of the nutritional information too.

How do I compare the sugars in two types of speculoos?

Compare the sugars per 100 g for both products, then consider the serving you plan to give. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, nutritional information per 100 g is shown on the label. Check the ingredients list too if sweeteners matter to your choice.

What should I check if allergens matter when choosing Céréal speculoos with almonds?

Check the current packaging before choosing this variety. For its Céréal speculoos with pieces of almond, Jumbo lists wheat, almonds, barley, egg, milk and soya, among other ingredients.

Is gluten-free speculoos automatically lower in sugar?

No. Gluten-free and lower in sugar are different product features. Jumbo lists a gluten-free speculoos; to compare the sugar content, check that product’s nutrition table separately.