When choosing biscuits for King's Day, don't rely solely on terms such as ‘zero’ or ‘less sugar’: first compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g for similar biscuits. Then check the ingredients, allergens and any sweetener warnings. If you're handing out biscuits, a clear serving size and a flavour your guests will enjoy matter too; a regular biscuit isn't automatically a sugar-conscious choice.
You want to choose biscuits for King's Day based on the stated sugar content, not just a claim on the front of the pack. For similar biscuits, compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g, as the Voedingscentrum recommends when reading nutrition information.
You want less sugar, but you also want to know which sweeteners a biscuit contains and which allergens are listed on the pack. Some products containing polyols also carry a warning about excessive consumption.
You're looking for biscuits that are easy to hand out, and want to be able to check the portions and ingredients for your guests. A familiar flavour may matter more than the lowest stated sugar figure, as long as you don't mistake a regular biscuit for a sugar-conscious alternative.
First decide how much importance to give the stated sugar content. Then read the ingredients and allergen information; only after that should you consider flavour and how easy the biscuits are to share. ‘No added sugar’, ‘sugar-free’ and ‘reduced sugar’ are not interchangeable claims.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it's most relevant to |
|---|---|---|
| Stated sugar content | Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g for similar biscuits. The Voedingscentrum points out that ‘no added sugar’ doesn't mean a product contains no sugars. | If I want to choose something with less sugar, I want to compare the amount on the label rather than rely on ‘zero’. Around 42% of consumers give the stated sugar content top priority. |
| Sweeteners and allergens | Check the ingredients, allergens and any warning about excessive consumption on the packaging of the specific product. | When I buy biscuits for guests, I want to know in advance which ingredients they contain and what warnings apply. For around 33% of consumers, sweeteners and ingredients come first. |
| Portion size and treat-worthy flavour | Check the serving size or number of biscuits per pack, and consider whether a regular biscuit fits with your aim of limiting sugar. | I want to hand out biscuits in manageable portions on King's Day, with a flavour my guests will enjoy. For around 25% of consumers, ease of sharing and flavour come first. |
‘No added sugar’ doesn't rule out sugars already present in the product. Albert Heijn lists both 0% added sugar and 1.7 g sugars per 100 g for Verkade San Francisco zero.
Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g for similar biscuits, and check the ingredients list too.
A lower sugar figure doesn't tell you how much energy, saturated fat, salt or fibre a biscuit contains. The Voedingscentrum lists these as separate parts of the nutrition table.
Read the full nutrition information if these factors matter to your choice.
Sugar-conscious biscuits may contain sweeteners such as maltitol; ingredients and allergens vary from product to product. Some biscuits carry a warning about excessive consumption.
Before handing them out, check the ingredients, allergens and warnings on the packaging of the product you're actually serving.
Céréal makes biscuits with different sugar claims, including sesame and vanilla biscuits labelled ‘sugar-free’ and Choco Delight Puur labelled ‘reduced sugar’.
Verkade San Francisco zero is a biscuit labelled ‘0% added sugar’.
Albert Heijn groups biscuits under ‘biscuits (sugar-conscious)’ and includes AH Digestive 0% suiker in its own range.
Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff as a crunchy biscuit with a caramelised flavour.
No, the product may still contain sugars. Albert Heijn lists 0% added sugar for Verkade San Francisco zero, but also 1.7 g sugars per 100 g. So check the ‘of which sugars’ figure in the nutrition table.
It's a comparative nutrition claim, not an indication that the whole biscuit is low in nutrients or energy. According to the European Commission's guidelines, a claim about reduced sugar content requires a reduction of at least 30% compared with a similar product. Check which product is used for comparison, and read the rest of the nutrition information too.
Products containing polyols, such as maltitol, may carry a warning about a possible laxative effect if consumed in excess. Albert Heijn includes such a warning for Verkade San Francisco zero. Check the ingredients and warning on the biscuit you're buying.
Follow the storage advice on the packaging of the product you've chosen. For Verkade San Francisco zero, Albert Heijn recommends storing it in a dry place, preferably somewhere cool. Before handing the biscuits out, also check the best-before date and allergen information on the pack.
