Buffet organiser looking to offer less sugar
You want to serve taaitaai without labelling standard biscuits as reduced-sugar. So check the claim and nutritional information on the product you actually buy.
Choose taaitaai for your buffet as a lower-sugar option only if the current packaging makes a suitable nutrition claim and you can compare its sugars per 100 g with those in similar standard taaitaai. The standard varieties listed by Jumbo and PLUS both contain around 38.6 g of sugars per 100 g; a small portion or a different product format does not make them reduced-sugar. For your buffet, also consider portion size, allergens and whether your chosen pack will be available just before Boxing Day.
You want to serve taaitaai without labelling standard biscuits as reduced-sugar. So check the claim and nutritional information on the product you actually buy.
You want to portion out biscuits alongside the other buffet dishes. Jumbo lists a 14 g portion and around 36 portions per 500 g pack for its Sint Taai Taai Figuurtjes. This helps with planning, but says nothing about sugar reduction.
If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you choose. This is separate from the amount of sugar.
First decide whether less sugar is essential. Then compare the nutritional information, using portion size and pack contents to plan how much taaitaai to serve.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Verifiably lower in sugar | Check the exact nutrition claim and compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g with similar standard taaitaai. | I only want to present taaitaai as lower in sugar if the label backs up that choice. Around 50% of consumers prioritise a verifiably lower-sugar option. |
| Portions and quantity | Check the stated portion size and how many portions the pack contains; don’t confuse a small portion with a different recipe. | If there are other sweet treats on the buffet, I want to know how many biscuits to serve. Around 30% of consumers prioritise portions that are easy to share. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack; check any ‘gluten-free’ claim separately from the sugar content. | If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know what’s in the taaitaai before serving it. For around 20% of consumers, allergens or gluten are the main selection criteria. |
Jumbo lists 5.4 g of sugars per 14 g portion for its Sint Taai Taai Figuurtjes, but also 38.6 g per 100 g. The portion figure helps you plan how to serve them; the per-100 g figure is the basis for comparing products.
First compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g, then use the portion size to plan your buffet.
According to PLUS, both its 500 g bag of taaitaai and its 250 g artisan variety contain 38.594 g of sugars per 100 g. The name ‘gluten-free’ also says nothing by itself about the amount of sugar.
Check the claim and nutritional information for the exact variety, not just its name, shape or packaging.
Ingredients and allergens can vary between taaitaai products. If guests need to avoid certain ingredients, the information on the pack you choose is what matters.
Check the label before serving and keep the packaging or product information by the buffet.
Jumbo lists a Mini Taai Taai variety as no longer available online. So a previous product listing doesn’t guarantee you’ll be able to buy the same pack for your buffet.
Check that your chosen taaitaai is available shortly before Boxing Day, and read the label again.
These product ranges give you a starting point for comparing packaging, portions and nutritional information; a brand name alone doesn’t substantiate a sugar-reduction claim.
Jumbo Sint Taai Taai Figuurtjes comes in a 500 g pack, with a stated portion size of 14 g and around 36 portions per pack.
PLUS lists a 500 g bag of taaitaai and a 250 g artisan variety.
Albert Heijn lists Maître Mathis Taai taai glutenvrij, which may be relevant if a guest specifically asks for a product labelled gluten-free.
Only do so when the current packaging makes a suitable nutrition claim and you can compare the sugars per 100 g with similar standard taaitaai. According to the European Commission, nutrition claims are only permitted if they are included in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006; a smaller portion or a different product name isn’t a sugar claim in itself.
Use the per-100 g figure to compare similar products and the portion figure to plan what you’ll serve. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists 7.5 g of sugar for a 20 g piece of taaitaai; Jumbo lists 5.4 g per stated 14 g portion for its Sint Taai Taai Figuurtjes and 38.6 g per 100 g. The portions are therefore not the same size.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you’re going to serve. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority describes the mandatory declaration of 14 allergens on food labels; if a guest has a specific question, also check the other information about the product you’ve chosen.
No. A ‘gluten-free’ claim says nothing about the amount of sugars. For taaitaai labelled gluten-free, check both the ingredients and allergen information and the ‘of which sugars’ figure in the nutritional information; treat these as two separate questions.