First, decide whether you want biscuits with no sugars or products with less sugar: the former may contain sweeteners and polyols, while the latter still contain sugar. For a Dutch doughnut stall, taste, portion size and allergen information also determine whether a product suits the way you plan to serve it.
You want to be able to explain what a claim such as ‘sugar-free’ or ‘less sugar’ means for the biscuit you have chosen. To do so, check the nutritional information, ingredients and any comparison with a standard version, rather than relying on the front of the pack alone.
You’re looking for a familiar flavour, such as speculoos or syrup waffle, but don’t want to confuse a regular biscuit containing sugar with a lower-sugar or sugar-free version. If you choose an alternative with sweeteners, the ingredients and allergens matter too.
If you open packs or display biscuits unwrapped, you must be able to provide information about any allergens before purchase. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority sets out the rules for unpackaged foods.
Decide which flavour and serving style suit your stall. Then compare the sugars, other nutritional information and allergens on the current label for each product.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar and ingredients | Compare sugars, polyols and energy per 100 g. For ‘less sugar’ products, check what they are being compared with. | I want to offer a sugar-conscious option and need to understand what the claim means for this biscuit. For around 27% of consumers, verifiable sugar reduction comes first. |
| Allergens when selling loose | Check the current allergen list and decide how you’ll make the information available before purchase when selling unpackaged products. | If I take biscuits out of their packaging, I want to give customers accurate information about any allergens. This is the main concern for around 33% of consumers. |
| Flavour for the occasion | Choose between, for example, a plain digestive, a speculoos flavour or a syrup waffle. Then check the sugar content and ingredients for that particular version. | Alongside Dutch doughnuts, I’m looking for a biscuit with a familiar flavour, without assuming that a classic recipe contains less sugar. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this choice of flavour. |
| Stock and serving | Check the number of biscuits, portion size, individual wrapping and storage instructions after opening. | I want to hand out biscuits quickly and choose packaging that suits the way my stall operates. For around 20% of consumers, this is the main priority. |
Albert Heijn states that its Roomboterstroopwafels contain 32% less sugar than the standard AH Roomboter stroopwafels. According to the product information, the lower-sugar version still contains 23 g of sugars per 100 g.
Check both the comparison on the packaging and the amount of sugars per 100 g before deciding how to describe the product.
According to Albert Heijn’s product information, AH Digestive 0% suiker contains 14 g of polyols per 100 g. The packaging also carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Keep the current packaging to hand and check the ingredients and warnings as well as the sugar content.
For unpackaged foods, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority requires customers to be able to access information about any allergens before purchase. Opening a sealed consumer pack therefore changes what you need to arrange at your stall.
Keep a record of the current allergen information for each product you serve loose and make sure customers can check it before purchase.
This also takes time: you’ll need to keep product information up to date and make it available at the point of sale.
Lotus Bakeries Nederland states that Lotus Biscoff Original contains 38,1 g of sugars per 100 g. Its familiar speculoos flavour doesn’t make it a lower-sugar product.
Make sure standard biscuits are clearly distinguished from products whose packaging carries a claim about less or no sugars.
The product ranges discussed from Albert Heijn include both a digestive with 0% sugar and a butter syrup waffle with less sugar.
The Céréal biscuits discussed include chocolate and speculoos versions with sweeteners.
Jumbo publishes product information for the Céréal versions discussed, including Choco Delight and the speculoos version with almonds.
ALDI Nederland lists Koekhappers in a lower-sugar version and a raisin version.
Here, Lotus Biscoff Original is a reference for standard speculoos flavour, not a lower-sugar biscuit.
No. Alongside 0,3 g of sugars, Albert Heijn lists 14 g of polyols and 465 kcal per 100 g for AH Digestive 0% suiker. So compare sugars, polyols and energy separately on the label.
No. Albert Heijn compares its Roomboter minder suiker stroopwafels with the standard AH version and states that they contain 32% less sugar. However, the lower-sugar version still contains 23 g of sugars per 100 g. The comparison doesn’t mean the product contains no sugar.
Yes. When selling unpackaged products, information about any allergens must be available before purchase. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority sets out rules covering 14 allergens. Check the current packaging for each biscuit and make the information available at the point of sale.
This warning may be related to the polyols in the product. Albert Heijn includes one for AH Digestive 0% suiker. Read the warning and ingredients on the specific pack before serving the biscuit.
Follow the storage instructions for the product you’ve chosen. For AH Digestive 0% suiker, Albert Heijn recommends storing it in a cool, dark, dry place and using a sealed tin after opening. If you’re selling biscuits loose, keep the current product and allergen information available too.
