If you mainly want to cut down on sugar
You’re looking for a biscuit with less listed sugar than a standard spritz biscuit. A biscuit or speculoos biscuit is another option if you don’t mind a different flavour and texture.
Who is this choice for?
If you want to keep enjoying spritz biscuits
You want to stick with the familiar, crisp spritz biscuit you enjoy with your tea. In that case, choosing how many you have matters more than a sugar claim on a different type of biscuit.
If you need to check ingredients carefully
You look at sweeteners and allergens as well as sugar. Biscuit alternatives may contain maltitol or ingredients such as wheat, nuts, egg, milk and soya, for example. Always check the label on the product you choose.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start by deciding what you want to keep: the spritz biscuit itself, or simply something to enjoy with your tea. Then check the nutritional information and ingredients to see if a particular product meets your needs.
Standard spritz biscuits
Choose these if: The flavour and crisp texture of a spritz biscuit are what matter most to you.
The trade-off: A smaller portion won’t change the amount of sugar per 100 g in the biscuits.
Biscuit with no added sugar
Choose this if: You’re happy to try a different crunchy biscuit and want to avoid added sugar.
The trade-off: Verkade San Francisco Zero isn’t a spritz biscuit and contains maltitol, according to Verkade.
Biscuit with no sugar
Choose this if: The listed sugar content is your top priority and you like speculoos and almond flavours.
The trade-off: Céréal’s speculoos biscuit isn’t a spritz biscuit; check the polyols and allergens too.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar content | Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and, where listed, per biscuit. Also check which ingredients provide the sweetness. | If I mainly want to cut down on sugar, I’m happy to choose a different type of biscuit from a spritz. For around 40% of consumers, reducing sugar is the top priority. |
| Spritz biscuits and portion size | Check the sugar and energy per biscuit, and decide in advance how many spritz biscuits you want to have. | The familiar flavour and crispness of a spritz biscuit matter more to me than the lowest sugar content. Around 30% of consumers prioritise this spritz-biscuit moment. |
| Overall nutritional value | Compare energy, saturated fat, sugars, fibre and salt per 100 g; also check the nutritional information per portion. | A low sugar content alone isn’t enough for me to compare biscuits. For around 20% of consumers, overall nutritional value comes first. |
| Ingredients and tolerance | Check the current packaging for allergens and sweeteners used, including polyols. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients or take my tolerance of polyols into account, that determines what I choose. This is the top priority for around 10% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘no sugar’ means ‘low in calories’
According to Jumbo’s product information, Céréal’s speculoos biscuit contains 0.4 g of sugars, but also 404 kcal and 12 g of saturated fat per 100 g. One nutritional value doesn’t tell you the whole story.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and consider how much you eat at a time.
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Expecting a different biscuit to taste like a spritz
A biscuit or speculoos biscuit is a different product from a spritz biscuit. Choosing based on sugar content alone may leave you disappointed if the classic spritz flavour is what you’re after.
First decide whether you want to stick with spritz biscuits or are open to trying something else with your tea.
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Overlooking polyols on the label
According to Jumbo, Céréal’s speculoos biscuit contains 29 g of polyols per 100 g. Joybuy’s product information warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Check which sweeteners your chosen product contains and consider your own tolerance when deciding on a portion.
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Overlooking allergens
A biscuit with little sugar may still contain ingredients that someone needs to avoid. Céréal’s speculoos biscuit, for example, lists wheat, almond, egg, milk and soya.
Check the allergen information on the current packaging before buying or eating the biscuit.
Brands compared
Verkade
Within this brand, you can compare NoboSprits Original with San Francisco Zero. The latter is a biscuit, not a spritz biscuit.
- According to Verkade, NoboSprits Original contains 24.2 g of sugars per 100 g, while San Francisco Zero contains 1.7 g per 100 g.
- San Francisco Zero contains maltitol; check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging for both products.
Céréal
The biscuit discussed here has a speculoos and almond flavour. It’s an alternative if you’re not specifically looking for a spritz biscuit.
- Jumbo’s product information lists 0.4 g of sugars per 100 g for this biscuit.
- The same product information also lists 29 g of polyols, 404 kcal and 12 g of saturated fat per 100 g, as well as several allergens.
Albert Heijn
The ‘Sugar-conscious biscuits’ category lets you browse different biscuits without being tied to one brand.
- Albert Heijn describes Nutri-Score as a tool for comparing products within a product group.
- Before choosing, also check the nutritional information, ingredients and portion size for the individual product.
Products for a different tea break
These Joybuy products are options if you’re also open to having an oat biscuit, crispbread or muesli bar with your tea instead of a spritz biscuit. They’re different types of products, so compare the current packaging and your usual portion size before choosing.
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Wasa Sourdough Rye, 235 g
An option if you’d also like a crunchy base for toppings with your tea. This is rye crispbread, not a spritz biscuit or a sweet biscuit; compare the nutritional information per cracker on the packaging with the portion you plan to have.
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Panpan oat biscuits, 216 g
If you’d rather have a biscuit than a spritz with your tea and want to compare the ingredients, this could be an option. The product information lists maltitol; check the packaging for the sugar content, the basis for the nutritional values and the allergens before relying on a sugar claim.
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Wasa Lightweight Crackers, 300 g
If you’re happy to swap a sweet biscuit for a plain, crunchy cracker, this could be a good option. It isn’t a spritz biscuit; check the nutritional information per cracker and the ingredients on the current packaging.
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Hero B'Tween Zero White Chocolate, 120 g
If you’d prefer an individually wrapped muesli bar with your tea instead of a biscuit, this could be an option. The product information lists maltitol and polyols and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Check the sugar content per bar and the current ingredients.
Frequently asked questions
Can I have standard spritz biscuits if I want to eat less sugar?
Yes, if you mainly want to keep enjoying spritz biscuits and adjust the amount you have accordingly. According to Verkade, NoboSprits Original contains 24.2 g of sugars per 100 g and 4.0 g per biscuit; having a smaller portion doesn’t make the spritz biscuits themselves low in sugar.
Is a biscuit with no sugar also low in calories?
No, you can’t tell that from the sugar claim alone. According to Jumbo, the Céréal speculoos biscuit discussed here contains 404 kcal and 12 g of saturated fat per 100 g, so compare the rest of the nutritional information and your portion size too.
What does ‘no added sugar’ mean on a biscuit?
That claim doesn’t tell you everything about its nutritional value. Verkade lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for San Francisco Zero and includes maltitol in the ingredients; also check energy, saturated fat, salt and portion size.
Should I check allergens in biscuits with less sugar?
Yes, check the current packaging of the product you choose. The Céréal speculoos biscuit discussed here lists wheat, almond, egg, milk and soya, among other ingredients; the sugar content doesn’t tell you whether it’s suitable for someone with an allergy.