Lower-sugar spritz biscuits with coffee: what to compare

Who is this comparison for?

Looking for a lower-sugar claim

You want a product with that claim on the pack, but also want to understand what it means for the amount of sugar in the product.

Classic spritz biscuit fan

You want to stick with spritz biscuits, so you compare sugars per 100 g across similar biscuits. You also check saturated fat.

Happy to consider another type of biscuit

You’d be happy with a different kind of biscuit with your coffee if the information on added sugars and sugar content better matches what you’re looking for.

What should you look for when choosing?

If you’re looking to cut down on sugar with your morning coffee, there are three different priorities to consider: a claim on the pack, the sugar content of spritz biscuits, or choosing a different type of biscuit.

What to consider	What to check before buying	Who is this important to?
Lower-sugar claim	Read the exact claim, the product description and the sugars per 100 g. PLUS lists 28 g of sugars per 100 g for Elvee Chocolade spritsen minder suiker.	If I’m looking for a product with a clear lower-sugar claim, I also want to know what the claim applies to. For around 33% of these consumers, an explicit claim comes first.
Sugars in spritz biscuits	Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g across spritz biscuits, and check saturated fat too. PLUS lists 21.4 g of sugars per 100 g for PLUS Spritsen and 25.7 g for PLUS Lunetta spritsen.	I want to stick with classic spritz biscuits and would rather choose based on the nutritional information than the front of the pack. Around 42% of these consumers give the sugar content of spritz biscuits top priority.
A different type of biscuit	Check whether it’s a biscuit rather than a spritz biscuit, and read the sugars, ingredients and allergen information. Verkade describes San Francisco Zero as a biscuit with no added sugars.	I’m happy to have a different biscuit with my coffee if it means I don’t have to stick to the spritz shape. For around 25% of these consumers, being able to choose between types of biscuit matters most.

Common mistakes

Assuming a lower-sugar claim means the lowest sugar content

PLUS lists 28 g of sugars per 100 g for Elvee Chocolade spritsen minder suiker, compared with 21.4 g for PLUS Spritsen. So the claim and the sugar content of different products don’t answer the same question.

Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g if you want to find out which of these products contains less sugar.
Looking only at sugars

The products also differ in saturated fat: PLUS lists 22 g per 100 g for Elvee Chocolade spritsen minder suiker and 17.2 g for PLUS Spritsen.

Read the nutritional information per 100 g, then think about how many biscuits you’ll have with your coffee.
Treating chocolate spritz biscuits as classic spritz biscuits

Elvee’s product name refers to spritz biscuits, but the PLUS product description specifies milk and dark chocolate with 30% less sugar. That makes it difficult to compare with a plain spritz biscuit.

Check the product description and ingredients if you’re specifically looking for a spritz biscuit.
Assuming local availability means it’s always in stock

A product that can’t be ordered from one shop can’t automatically be relied on as a regular choice for every coffee break.

Check the range at your local shop and read the current label when you buy.

Brands compared

Verkade

Worth considering if you want to compare Nobo Sprits Original with a different biscuit to have with your coffee.

Verkade describes Nobo Sprits Original as a crisp spritz biscuit and San Francisco Zero as a biscuit with no added sugars.
San Francisco Zero isn’t a spritz biscuit. Verkade lists maltitol, wheat, milk and soya; check the current packaging if these ingredients matter to you.

PLUS

Offers two spritz biscuits whose nutritional information can be compared per 100 g.

PLUS lists 21.4 g of sugars per 100 g for PLUS Spritsen and 25.7 g for PLUS Lunetta spritsen.
The same product information lists 17.2 g and 16.2 g of saturated fat per 100 g, respectively. Choosing based on sugars alone means overlooking this difference.

Elvee

Worth considering if you specifically want to assess the lower-sugar claim on Elvee Chocolade spritsen minder suiker.

PLUS’s product information states a claim of 30% less sugar and 28 g of sugars per 100 g.
The product description refers to milk and dark chocolate, rather than a classic butter spritz biscuit. PLUS also lists 22 g of saturated fat per 100 g.

Biscotto

An ALDI own-label option to consider if you’re looking for a standard butter spritz biscuit.

ALDI describes Biscotto Roomboterspritsen as a 175 g pack containing 12 biscuits, made with butter.
Check the nutritional information on the pack before comparing these spritz biscuits with other products for sugars or saturated fat.

Products related to this topic

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘less sugar’ also mean ‘sugar-free’?

No, those terms don’t mean the same thing. PLUS states that Elvee Chocolade spritsen minder suiker has a claim of 30% less sugar, but also lists 28 g of sugars per 100 g. So read the nutritional information as well as the claim.

How do I compare spritz biscuits in different-sized packs?

First compare the sugars per 100 g, then consider the portion you’ll have. PLUS lists 21.4 g of sugars per 100 g for PLUS Spritsen and 25.7 g for PLUS Lunetta spritsen; the difference in pack size doesn’t change that unit of measurement.

Should I check fat as well as sugars?

Yes, check the amount of saturated fat too when comparing the nutritional information for these products. PLUS lists 17.2 g of saturated fat per 100 g for PLUS Spritsen and 22 g for Elvee Chocolade spritsen minder suiker.

Which allergens are listed for the biscuits mentioned?

According to the product information, PLUS Spritsen contains wheat, milk and egg; PLUS Lunetta spritsen contains wheat, soya and milk. For San Francisco Zero, Verkade lists wheat, milk and soya, and warns that other cereals containing gluten may also be present. Always check the current packaging before buying.