Who are these biscuits for?

Party-goers looking for as little sugar as possible

You want biscuits for your New Year’s Eve platter whose sugar content you can check per 100 g. Sweeteners or polyols are a separate consideration to assess on the label.

Shoppers avoiding added sugars

You’re looking for a biscuit with no added sugars, but you’re not ruling out naturally occurring sugars. So, read the claim alongside the nutrition information.

Guests and shoppers with dietary requirements

When putting together a platter, consider not only sugars but also allergens, sweeteners used, energy and any warnings on the packaging.

What should you look for in sugar-conscious biscuits?

First decide whether you want as little sugar as possible or mainly want to avoid added sugars. Then compare biscuits per 100 g and check the ingredients before serving them to guests.

Biscuits with no sugars

Best for: anyone who prioritises the lowest stated sugar content. Albert Heijn’s product pages list 0.3 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Digestive 0% suiker and 0.4 g for Céréal Speculoos stukjes amandel zonder suikers.

Trade-off: both products contain sweeteners or polyols and carry a warning about excessive consumption. A low sugar content also doesn’t tell you how much energy a biscuit provides.

Biscuits with no added sugars

Best for: anyone who wants to avoid added sugars but is happy with naturally occurring sugars. Albert Heijn lists Verkade San Francisco zero as having 0% added sugar and 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g.

Trade-off: ‘no added sugars’ doesn’t mean ‘sugar-free’. This biscuit also contains sweeteners and carries a warning about excessive consumption.

Regular speculoos

Best for: anyone mainly looking for a crunchy biscuit with a caramelised flavour, as described by Lotus Bakeries for Biscoff.

Trade-off: if lower sugar is still a requirement, check the nutrition information and ingredients for the specific pack rather than relying on the flavour profile.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Sugar content Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and read the exact sugar claim. If I want to put together a platter with as little sugar as possible, I look at the stated amount, not just the front of the pack. Around 36% of consumers prioritise this sugar content.
Added sugars Read the claim alongside ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g; no added sugars is not the same as no sugars. I want to avoid added sugars, but a biscuit with naturally occurring sugars could still be suitable. This is the main consideration for around 29% of consumers.
Ingredients and allergens Check the current packaging for allergens, sweeteners or polyols, and warnings about consumption. When I’m sharing biscuits with guests, I want to know in advance whether the ingredients are suitable for them. For around 21% of consumers, this check takes priority over the other considerations.
Portion and energy Compare energy per 100 g, then check the weight or number of biscuits per portion. For a party platter, I want to estimate how many biscuits I’m putting out without mistaking a smaller stated portion for a lower energy content per 100 g. Around 14% of consumers rank this consideration first.

Common mistakes when choosing

  • Reading ‘no added sugars’ as ‘sugar-free’

    According to Albert Heijn’s product page, Verkade San Francisco zero is listed as having both 0% added sugar and 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g. These two statements don’t contradict each other.

    Always check the ‘of which sugars’ row in the nutrition information as well as the claim.

  • Assuming less sugar means less energy

    Albert Heijn’s product pages list 465 kcal per 100 g for AH Digestive 0% suiker, 404 kcal for Céréal Speculoos stukjes amandel zonder suikers and 401 kcal for Verkade San Francisco zero.

    Compare energy and sugars separately per 100 g, then consider how much you want to serve.

  • Checking the ingredients only after buying

    The biscuits mentioned contain various allergens and sweeteners or polyols. Their product pages also carry a warning about a possible laxative effect if consumed excessively.

    Check the current packaging for ingredients, allergens and warnings before sharing the biscuits with guests.

  • Comparing portions from different packs directly

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, portion sizes can vary between products. This means a per-portion comparison doesn’t provide the same consistent basis as a comparison per 100 g.

    Start with the values per 100 g, then check the weight of one biscuit or the stated portion.

Brands and product ranges to consider

Albert Heijn

AH Digestive 0% suiker is an own-brand biscuit made with sweeteners.

  • Albert Heijn’s product page lists 0.3 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • The same page lists wheat, polyols, 465 kcal per 100 g and a warning about a possible laxative effect if consumed excessively.

Céréal

Céréal Speculoos stukjes amandel zonder suikers is a speculoos-flavoured biscuit with pieces of almond.

  • Albert Heijn’s product page lists 0.4 g of sugars per 100 g and 44 kcal per biscuit.
  • The page lists 29 g of polyols per 100 g and allergens including wheat, almonds, soya, egg and milk.

Verkade

According to Albert Heijn’s product page, Verkade San Francisco zero has 0% added sugar.

  • The page lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g and states that the sugars present occur naturally.
  • The biscuit contains maltitols, wheat, milk and soya; the page also warns against excessive consumption.

Lotus Biscoff

Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff as a crunchy biscuit with a caramelised flavour.

  • Its flavour profile offers another option if you’re mainly looking for a familiar biscuit to enjoy with coffee.
  • If reducing sugar is important, compare the nutrition information on the pack of the specific Biscoff product.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘no added sugars’ mean the same as sugar-free?

No, a biscuit with no added sugars can still contain naturally occurring sugars. Albert Heijn lists Verkade San Francisco zero as having both 0% added sugar and 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g, so check ‘of which sugars’ on the packaging too.

Does ‘0% sugar’ also mean a biscuit is low in energy?

No, the sugar claim doesn’t tell you how much energy the biscuit provides. Albert Heijn lists 465 kcal per 100 g for AH Digestive 0% suiker, so compare sugars and energy separately per 100 g.

Why do some biscuits made with sweeteners carry a warning about excessive consumption?

Albert Heijn’s product pages for AH Digestive 0% suiker, Céréal Speculoos stukjes amandel zonder suikers and Verkade San Francisco zero warn of a possible laxative effect if consumed excessively. Check the warning on the packaging of the biscuit you’re serving.

How do I compare biscuits with different portion sizes?

First compare the nutrition information per 100 g, so differences in stated portions don’t affect the comparison. Then check the weight of one biscuit or portion and, if you’re putting out a platter for guests, check the ingredients and allergens too.