Who might find this choice useful?

A host planning a separate sweet treat

You’re serving savoury nibbles, but would also like to offer a small biscuit later with coffee or tea. The question is which sweet treat will suit your guests, not which biscuit can replace a savoury nibble.

Someone comparing nutritional information

You want to look beyond phrases such as ‘zero’ or ‘less sugar’. So you compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g, the weight of each biscuit and the sweeteners listed.

Someone serving guests with different needs

You’re choosing for several people and want to be able to check the current ingredients and allergen information. Polyols are worth checking too: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, large amounts can cause digestive problems.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you’ll be serving something sweet separately from the savoury nibbles. Then compare biscuits using the nutritional information and whatever matters to your guests.

What to consider What should you check? Who might this matter to?
Sugars listed Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g across similar biscuits, then check the weight of each biscuit. When choosing a biscuit to have with coffee, I want to compare the sugar figures rather than judge by the front of the pack alone. For around 31% of consumers, the lowest listed sugar value takes priority.
What the claim means Read the exact wording alongside the nutrition table. If it says ‘less sugar’, check what the product is being compared with. If a pack says ‘zero’, I want to know what that means for this biscuit before serving it. For around 31% of consumers, understanding the claim correctly matters most.
Allergens and polyols Check the ingredients and allergens on the current packaging, as well as any warnings about polyols. When several guests are sharing the food, I want to take account of their allergies and the possible effects of consuming a lot of polyols. This is the main consideration for around 23% of consumers.
When you’re serving them Decide whether the biscuit is best served separately with coffee or tea, rather than alongside the savoury nibbles. I want to keep the savoury nibbles together and decide first whether to serve something sweet as well. For around 15% of consumers, how well the food suits the occasion is the deciding factor.

Common mistakes

  • Choosing a biscuit to replace a savoury nibble

    A sweet biscuit is a different kind of thing to serve from the savoury snacks usually included in a selection of party nibbles, whatever its sugar content.

    Keep the savoury nibbles together and, if you like, serve biscuits separately with coffee or tea.

  • Assuming ‘no added sugar’ means ‘no sugars’

    For Verkade San Francisco zero, Albert Heijn lists both 0% added sugar and naturally occurring sugars. The nutritional information gives 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g.

    Always read the ‘of which sugars’ line alongside the claim, and compare the amount per biscuit too.

  • Forgetting about polyols and allergens when serving several guests

    The biscuits mentioned have different ingredients and allergens. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems.

    Check the current packaging for each product individually, and ask guests with an allergy or sensitivity what’s suitable for them.

  • Assuming a low sugar figure means fewer calories

    Sugars are just one part of the nutritional information. On their own, they don’t tell you how much energy or fat a biscuit contains.

    Also check the energy value, fat content and serving size if they matter to your choice.

Brands to consider

AH

AH Digestive 0% sugar is a biscuit you can compare by its listed sugar content.

  • Albert Heijn lists 0.3 g of sugars and 5.7 g of fibre per 100 g for this product.
  • The product contains wheat and polyols. Check the warning on the packaging before serving.

Verkade

Verkade San Francisco zero is a tea biscuit for anyone specifically looking for a product with no added sugar.

  • Albert Heijn lists 0% added sugar for this variety.
  • According to the product information, the biscuit also contains naturally occurring sugars: 1.7 g per 100 g. Check the listed allergens too, including milk, soya and cereals containing gluten.

Céréal

The Céréal varieties mentioned come in different flavours and make different sugar claims, so compare them as separate products.

  • For Céréal Speculoos stukjes amandel zonder suikers, Albert Heijn lists 0.4 g of sugars per 100 g. For Céréal Choco Delight Puur, the product information lists 0.5 g per 100 g.
  • The speculoos and almond variety also lists 29 g of polyols per 100 g. Read the ingredients and allergen information for each variety separately; don’t assume it’s the same for both biscuits.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products will appear here soon.

Frequently asked questions

Do sweet biscuits belong with savoury party nibbles?

Not as a replacement for the usual savoury nibbles. If you’d still like to offer a biscuit, serve it separately as a sweet treat with coffee or tea.

Does ‘no added sugar’ mean a biscuit contains no sugars?

No. It may still contain naturally occurring sugars. For Verkade San Francisco zero, Albert Heijn lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g alongside 0% added sugar.

How should I interpret ‘less sugar’ on a pack?

Treat it as a comparison and check what the biscuit is being compared with. Céréal says Choco Delight Puur contains 96% less sugar than a standard biscuit. Also check the listed sugars per 100 g and the ingredients of the variety you choose.

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

The warning relates to polyols, which can be used as sweeteners. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems, so read the warning and ingredients on the packaging of the biscuit you’re serving.

How should I store biscuits once they’re open?

Follow the storage instructions on the packaging you’ve chosen. For AH Digestive 0% sugar, Albert Heijn says to store the biscuits in a sealed tin after opening. For Verkade San Francisco zero, the advice is to store them in a dry place, preferably somewhere cool.