Who is this important for?

Hosts keeping an eye on sugar

You want to serve biscuits with a sugar content that fits your choice to cut down on sugar. Look beyond the front of the pack: compare the nutritional information per 100 g and, if the weight is given, per biscuit.

Groups mindful of sweeteners

You’re serving biscuits to people with different preferences or sensitivities to polyols. For biscuits containing maltitol or similar sweeteners, the ingredients list is just as relevant as the sugar content.

Hosts who want to identify allergens

You want to be able to show guests which allergens and possible traces are listed on the label. Keep the current packaging to hand so everyone can decide for themselves whether a biscuit is suitable.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start by understanding what the sugar claim means and checking the nutritional information. Then make sure the ingredients are suitable for your guests and the packaging is convenient for sharing.

What to consider What should you check? Who is this most important for?
Sugar content and claim Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and per biscuit if the portion weight is given. Check whether the pack says ‘less sugar’, ‘sugar-free’ or ‘no added sugar’. If I want to serve less sugar, I want to know what’s actually in a biscuit, not just what the front of the pack promises. For around 36% of consumers, comparing sugar content comes first.
Allergens and ingredients Check the current allergen information and any ‘may contain’ statement; a diet-related claim is no substitute for checking this. When I’m hosting guests with different dietary requirements, I want to be able to show them which biscuits may be suitable. Around 29% of consumers put this choice of ingredients and allergens first.
Polyols Look for ingredients such as maltitol or isomalt, and read any warnings on the packaging. If guests are sensitive to polyols, their tolerance matters more to me than getting the sugar content as low as possible. This need comes first for around 21% of consumers.
Sharing and portions Check the number of biscuits, the weight of each one and whether they’re individually wrapped; also check the nutritional information. For a plate that’s easy to pass around, I look for familiar flavours or portions that are easy to hand out. Around 14% of consumers put ease of sharing and flavour preference first.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming different sugar claims mean the same thing

    A biscuit with no added sugar may still contain sugars. ‘Less sugar’ refers to a comparison and doesn’t, by itself, tell you how much sugar the product contains.

    Read the full claim and compare the stated sugars per 100 g. Use the value per biscuit if the weight of each one is given.

  • Assuming low sugar means low in calories

    Albert Heijn lists 0.3 g of sugars and 465 kcal per 100 g for AH Digestive 0% sugar. So the sugar content alone doesn’t tell you everything about the nutritional value.

    As well as sugars, check the energy, fat, fibre and portion size on the label.

  • Overlooking polyols when checking the ingredients

    Several low-sugar biscuits contain polyols. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, large quantities of polyols can cause intestinal discomfort, which is worth bearing in mind when guests are helping themselves from a plate.

    Read the ingredients list and any warning. If you don’t know your guests’ preferences, you could also offer an option without these sweeteners.

  • Assuming portion packs are a low-sugar option

    Individually wrapped packs are convenient for handing out, but they don’t change the ingredients. Lotus Bakeries Nederland lists 38.1 g of sugars per 100 g for Lotus Biscoff Original.

    Choose portion packs for convenience; assess whether they’re suitable for serving less sugar separately by checking the nutritional information.

Brands to consider

The details below apply to the specific biscuits listed, not automatically to every product from that brand. Always check the label of the variant you choose when buying.

Céréal

Céréal offers products including Choco Delight and a chocolate-chip variant described as a lower-sugar option.

  • Jumbo lists 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g for Choco Delight; at Albert Heijn, the chocolate-chip variant is sold as ‘sugar-free’.
  • These variants contain polyols. Check each pack for allergens and possible traces too; a low sugar content doesn’t, by itself, tell you how much energy the product contains.

Albert Heijn

AH Digestive 0% sugar comes in a large pack of biscuits that you can hand out to a group.

  • Albert Heijn lists 27 portions of 15 g and 0.3 g of sugars per 100 g for this variant.
  • The product contains wheat and polyols, and lists 465 kcal per 100 g. Check the current packaging, including if a dietary claim is relevant to a guest.

Verkade

San Francisco Zero is a biscuit for anyone specifically looking for the claim ‘no added sugar’.

  • Verkade lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for San Francisco Zero.
  • The ingredients include maltitols, wheat, milk and soya. ‘No added sugar’ doesn’t mean the biscuit contains no sugars.

ALDI / Goud Gebakken

Koekhappers are an option if you want to hand out individually wrapped biscuits.

  • ALDI lists six individually wrapped biscuits and offers a variant labelled ‘30% less sugar’.
  • For your chosen variant, check the comparison behind the claim, the sugars per 100 g and the ingredients on the current packaging.

Lotus Biscoff

Lotus Biscoff Original is a familiar speculoos biscuit and is also available in packs of two.

  • The small packs can be handy if you want to hand out biscuits individually.
  • Lotus Bakeries Nederland lists 38.1 g of sugars per 100 g for Original and lists wheat and soya. Don’t choose this product based on the packaging if your main aim is to serve less sugar.

Biscuits and biscuit bars on Joybuy

These products are oat biscuits and biscuit bars for anyone wanting to compare sugar content for drinks and nibbles. Their names include sugar claims, so check the stated nutritional information and ingredients for both before deciding.

Panpan Low GI Sugar-Free Oat High Fiber Biscuits 216 g

Panpan Low GI Sugar-Free Oat High Fiber Biscuits 216 g

These oat biscuits may be worth considering if you want to compare the stated sugar content per 100 g for drinks and nibbles, but not if you’re expecting a sugar-free product based on the name alone.

The product information lists 11.7 g of sugars and 470 kcal per 100 g. The ‘Sugar-Free’ description doesn’t match the stated sugar content.

The ingredients include maltitol (E965); the product information lists wheat, soya, oats and egg as allergens. Before serving, check the current packaging for possible traces and the sugar content per biscuit too.

View on Joybuy
g'woon Cookie Bars Less Sugar, 6 pieces

g'woon Cookie Bars Less Sugar, 6 pieces

This pack of six biscuit bars is an option if you want to hand out individual portions; biscuit bars are not the same as individual biscuits.

The product information lists 22.8 g of sugars per 100 g. Assess ‘Less Sugar’ in the context of the comparison on the packaging: the name alone doesn’t tell you how much less sugar the bar contains.

The ingredients include rye and glucose-fructose syrup. The product may also contain wheat, barley, oats, milk, almonds and hazelnuts; check the current label and, if you want to compare per portion, the weight and sugar content per bar.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

What do ‘less sugar’, ‘sugar-free’ and ‘no added sugar’ mean on biscuits?

These are different claims: ‘less sugar’ makes a comparison, while ‘no added sugar’ doesn’t mean that the biscuit contains no sugars at all. Read the full claim and compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and per portion, if that information is available.

Does ‘sugar-free’ tell you enough about the nutritional value of a biscuit for drinks and nibbles?

No. The sugar content doesn’t tell you how much energy, fat or fibre a biscuit contains. For example, Albert Heijn lists 0.3 g of sugars and 465 kcal per 100 g for AH Digestive 0% sugar, so check the full nutritional information and the portion size.

Why do some biscuits carry a warning about a laxative effect?

Some biscuits contain polyols, such as maltitol, and according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, large quantities of polyols can cause intestinal discomfort. Check the ingredients and any warning on the packaging, especially if guests can help themselves to several biscuits.

How can I make allergen information available at Friday afternoon drinks?

Keep the current packaging with the biscuits so guests can check the allergens and possible traces for themselves. Check this information before putting the plate out; a sugar claim or a specific dietary claim doesn’t tell you which other allergens may be present.

Should I check the label again if I buy the same biscuits regularly?

Yes. Check the current ingredients, allergens and nutritional information each time you buy them if these matter to your choice. Albert Heijn points out that product information can change when ingredients are reformulated, so don’t rely solely on a product description you looked at previously.