Who should consider these points?

Shoppers avoiding animal-derived ingredients

You want to know what the exact variant contains before choosing a mini chocolate biscuit. The ingredients list matters more than the name on the front, especially when it comes to chocolate and fillings.

Shoppers who want to divide biscuits into portions

You’re looking for a small treat to enjoy on the go, with a coffee or in a lunchbox. Even if the packaging is convenient, check the ingredients of those specific biscuits.

Shoppers who also check for allergens

Assess whether a product is suitable for vegans separately from its allergen information. A biscuit without animal-derived ingredients could still contain wheat or soya, as the ingredients list for Lotus Biscoff Original shows.

What should you look for when choosing?

Check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact variant first. Then compare the number of biscuits and how they’re divided between packs, based on when you plan to eat them.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Ingredients in the variant Read the ingredients list on the pack you’ve chosen. If you’re choosing a vegan product, look out for ingredients such as milk derivatives, egg and gelatine. If I want to avoid animal-derived ingredients, I don’t rely on a small size or a product name. For around 50% of consumers, a vegan formulation comes first.
Portion size Compare the number of biscuits and how they’re divided between packs; check the ingredients of the mini variant separately. When I’m out and about, I want to decide in advance how many biscuits to take with me. For around 30% of consumers, portion size is the deciding factor.
Allergen information Read the allergen information on the current packaging, separately from any vegan label. When choosing a vegan biscuit, I also want to check whether it contains an allergen I need to avoid. For around 20% of consumers, this check is the top priority.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘mini’ or ‘coconut’ means a product is vegan

    Lotus Bakeries Nederland lists free-range eggs in Lotus Mini Biscuits. For Choco S'mores Kokos, Verkade lists ingredients including milk derivatives and bovine gelatine.

    Read the ingredients for the exact variant instead of drawing conclusions from its size or a word on the front of the pack.

  • Assuming the regular variant’s ingredients also apply to the mini variant

    Lotus Biscoff Original and Lotus Mini Biscuits have different ingredients lists: egg is listed for the Mini Biscuits, while egg is not listed as an ingredient in the Original ingredients list.

    Check the full product name and ingredients list on the pack you’re actually choosing.

  • Confusing vegan with allergen-free

    Choosing a vegan product does not rule out other allergens. For example, Lotus Bakeries Nederland lists wheat and soya in Biscoff Original.

    Check the allergen information separately. If you need to avoid a particular allergen, don’t rely on a vegan label alone.

  • Assuming a product you found before is still available

    Jumbo says on its Vegan Chocolade Cranberry Haverkoek page that the product is no longer part of its online range. It’s also a chocolate product with oat biscuit crumble, not a mini chocolate biscuit.

    Check the current product when you buy, and read the packaging for that exact variant.

Brands to consider

Lotus Biscoff

An example of why portion packs and mini variants need to be assessed separately; Biscoff Original is not a chocolate biscuit.

  • Lotus Bakeries Nederland lists a Pocket Pack of 8 x 2 biscuits for Biscoff Original. The ingredients list does not include milk or egg.
  • According to Lotus Bakeries Nederland, the separate Lotus Mini Biscuits contain free-range eggs. Biscoff Original contains wheat and soya.

Jumbo

A retailer example that shows why both the product category and the availability of a specific product matter.

  • Jumbo describes a product called Vegan Chocolade Cranberry Haverkoek, made with oat biscuit crumble.
  • It’s not a mini chocolate biscuit, and Jumbo says on the product page that it is no longer part of its online range.

Verkade

An example of why the ingredients in a specific chocolate variant matter more than its flavour name.

  • Verkade publishes an ingredients list for Choco S'mores Kokos, so you can assess this variant on its own.
  • For this variant, Verkade lists whey powder, milk powders and bovine gelatine. This information does not automatically apply to other Verkade products.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are mini biscuits automatically suitable for vegan shoppers?

No. ‘Mini’ describes the size, not the ingredients. For example, Lotus Bakeries Nederland lists egg in Lotus Mini Biscuits, while egg is not listed as an ingredient in Lotus Biscoff Original. So always check the variant you’ve chosen.

What information should I check on a pre-packed biscuit?

At the very least, check the ingredients list, allergen information, net quantity and nutritional information. According to the European Union, this information must be included on the labels of pre-packed foods. If you’re choosing a vegan product, the ingredients of the exact variant are still what matter.

Can a vegan biscuit still contain an allergen?

Yes. Being suitable for vegans doesn’t mean a biscuit is allergen-free. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority lists allergens that consumers must be informed about, including cereals containing gluten, peanuts, nuts and soya. So check the allergen information for your chosen product separately.

What should I do if the online ingredients differ from those on the pack?

Check the packaging of the product you receive before eating it. Albert Heijn warns that online product information about ingredients, nutritional value and allergens can change. If the information conflicts, ask the retailer or manufacturer to clarify.