Who might find this guide useful?

Office buyers comparing sugar content

When stocking biscuits for everyone to share, they want to understand what ‘zero’, ‘no added sugars’ and ‘less sugar’ mean on a specific pack.

Teams sharing biscuits individually

For coffee breaks and meetings, the number of biscuits, portion size and sugar content per serving matter.

Buyers checking ingredients for their team

When choosing biscuits for everyone to share, they check sweeteners and polyols, as well as any allergens relevant to those who will be eating them.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether a low stated sugar content or easy sharing is your priority. Then compare the nutritional information for the specific biscuit or spiced cake, and check the ingredients for your team.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Sugars and claims Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. For ‘less sugar’ claims, also look up the stated reference product. For a coffee break, I want to know how much sugar the biscuit contains rather than relying on ‘zero’ alone; around 42% of consumers would put this comparison first.
Portion and packaging Check the weight of each biscuit, the sugar content per serving and whether the biscuits are individually wrapped. If I’m handing out biscuits at a meeting, I want to know in advance what each person will get; ease of sharing would be the main consideration for around 33% of consumers.
Ingredients and allergens Read the current ingredients and allergen information. Where relevant, look out for polyols and any warning about excessive consumption. When choosing a supply for colleagues with different needs, I want to be able to check the ingredients for each option; for around 25% of consumers, this would be the most important consideration.

Common mistakes

  • Taking ‘less sugar’ to mean ‘sugar-free’

    Jumbo says Snelle Jelle Kruidkoek Minder Suiker contains 30% less sugar than the plain version, but also lists 24 g of sugars per 100 g. So the reduction claim and the final sugar content answer different questions.

    First compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g, then check the amount per planned serving.

  • Looking only at sugars

    A low sugar content doesn’t tell you how much energy a biscuit contains. Albert Heijn lists 465 kcal per 100 g for AH Digestive 0% sugar.

    Check the other nutritional values as well as sugars, and consider the size of the biscuit you plan to share.

  • Leaving polyols and allergens until after you buy

    According to the Voedingscentrum, consuming large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems. The biscuits reviewed also differ in ingredients such as wheat, milk, soya and almond.

    Before buying biscuits for everyone to share, check the ingredients, allergens and any warning on the pack of the exact product you’ve chosen.

  • Treating an old product page as the definitive label

    Albert Heijn says that product ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change.

    Check the current packaging before offering the biscuits to your team.

Brands and product ranges to consider

Albert Heijn

AH Digestive 0% sugar is an example of a biscuit with no added sugars.

  • Albert Heijn lists 0.3 g of sugars per 100 g and a 15 g serving.
  • This option contains wheat and polyols; check the current packaging for ingredients and allergens.

Céréal

Speculoos stukjes amandel zonder suikers is an example of a biscuit with a low stated sugar content.

  • The product information from Albert Heijn lists 0.4 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • The product contains polyols and allergens including wheat, almond, milk, egg and soya.

Verkade

San Francisco Zero shows the difference between a claim about added sugars and the total sugar content.

  • Albert Heijn lists this product as containing 0% added sugar and 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • This product contains maltitols and ingredients including wheat, milk and soya.

Snelle Jelle

Kruidkoek Minder Suiker is a spiced cake for anyone looking for a portion with an explicit sugar-reduction claim, rather than a virtually sugar-free biscuit.

  • Jumbo says it contains 30% less sugar than Snelle Jelle Kruidkoek naturel and 12 g of sugars per 50 g serving.
  • The product reviewed contains rye and may contain other allergens.

ALDI huismerken

ALDI offers both pre-sliced spiced cake with no added sugars and Koekhappers with a less-sugar option.

  • ALDI describes Koek & Bakker Ontbijtkoek Zero as pre-sliced, and Goud Gebakken Koekhappers as six individually wrapped biscuits.
  • Choose the specific product based on the current nutritional information and ingredients on the packaging.

Biscuits and spiced cake for the office cupboard

These Joybuy products may suit you if you’re choosing biscuit bars or spiced cake labelled ‘less sugar’. For each product, compare the current sugar content and portion size; the name alone doesn’t tell you how low the sugar content is.

Snelle Jelle less-sugar spiced cake, 250 g pack

Snelle Jelle less-sugar spiced cake, 250 g

A spiced cake option for sharing during an office break. Before choosing it for your team, check the current packaging for the sugar content per portion, as well as the ingredients and allergens.

View on Joybuy
g'woon Cookie Bars Less Sugar, six bars

g'woon Cookie Bars Less Sugar, 6 bars

A pack of biscuit bars for the office cupboard. Check what ‘Less Sugar’ is compared with, and read the current packaging for the sugar content per portion and the allergens before handing them out.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘0% added sugar’ mean a biscuit contains no sugars?

No: a claim about added sugar is different from the ‘of which sugars’ figure. Albert Heijn lists Verkade San Francisco Zero as containing 0% added sugar, but 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g. So check both figures for the product you choose.

What does a lower sugar content tell you about the rest of the nutritional information?

A lower sugar content doesn’t tell you everything about a biscuit’s nutritional value. For an office supply, compare the energy, fat, fibre and portion size on the label too.

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

The warning may be related to polyols in the product. According to the Voedingscentrum, consuming large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems. If you’re buying biscuits for everyone to share, check the ingredients and warning on the packaging of the specific product.

What should I check before ordering biscuits for the whole team?

For each product you choose, check the portion size, nutritional information, ingredients and allergens. Check the current packaging before handing the biscuits out too, as Albert Heijn says product information can change.