If you’d like to offer a low-sugar chocolate-flavoured biscuit alongside Dutch rusks with aniseed sprinkles, first compare the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g. Jumbo lists 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g for Céréal Choco Delight Puur and 0 g for Céréal Mini Cakes with chocolate pieces, although the mini cakes are cakes, not biscuits. Also check carbohydrates, polyols and allergens: ‘no added sugars’ does not mean a product contains no sugars.
If you’d like to offer something chocolate-flavoured alongside Dutch rusks with aniseed sprinkles, you can choose a biscuit or a small cake based on its stated sugar content. This gives guests a choice alongside the traditional treat, without suggesting the two products are equivalent.
If you’re also keeping an eye on carbohydrates and portion size, a claim on the front of the pack doesn’t tell you enough. Compare the nutritional values per 100 g and consider how much you actually want to serve.
When sweeteners or allergens are a concern, the ingredients may matter more than the sugar content. Before putting biscuits out for guests, check the ingredients, allergen information and any warnings on the packaging.
First decide whether you’re looking for a chocolate biscuit or whether a small cake or plain biscuit would also work. Then compare the nutritional information per 100 g and check the ingredients for the guests you plan to serve.
| What to check | What to look at when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars | Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and check the sugar claim on the packaging. | If I mainly want the extra biscuit to be low in sugar, I don’t choose based on a word like ‘zero’ alone. For around 40% of shoppers, the stated sugar content comes first. |
| Carbohydrates and portion size | Check total carbohydrates per 100 g and the amount per intended portion. | A low sugar figure isn’t enough for me if I also want to compare the carbohydrates in a treat. Around 30% of shoppers prioritise this combination of carbohydrates and portion size. |
| Polyols and sweeteners | Read the ingredients list and check for any warning about excessive consumption. | When I’m putting biscuits out for several guests, I want to know whether they contain polyols. For around 20% of shoppers, how well sweeteners are tolerated comes first. |
| Allergens | Check the current allergen information, including any statements about possible traces. | If a guest has a food allergy, I need to check whether a product is suitable before considering its sugar content. Around 10% of shoppers prioritise allergens or dietary requirements. |
A product with no added sugars may still contain sugars. Verkade lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for San Francisco Zero.
Check the exact claim, then compare the ‘of which sugars’ value in the nutritional information per 100 g.
According to Jumbo’s product information, Céréal Mini Cakes with chocolate pieces contain 0 g of sugars and 50 g of carbohydrates per 100 g; Céréal Choco Delight Puur lists 0.5 g and 60 g per 100 g respectively.
Compare sugars and total carbohydrates separately, including for the portion you plan to serve.
Products with added polyols may carry a warning that excessive consumption can have a laxative effect. This matters if guests have more than one biscuit.
Check the ingredients and warnings on the packaging, and let guests choose how many they have.
A sugar claim doesn’t tell you about a biscuit’s other nutritional values or allergens. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises comparing products per 100 g.
Also check the rest of the nutritional information and the ingredients, especially if you’re putting something out for a range of guests.
If you’re looking for a chocolate-flavoured option with a low stated sugar content, Mini Cakes Stukjes Chocolade and Choco Delight Puur are two different product types to compare.
San Francisco Zero is a biscuit with no added sugars, for anyone who doesn’t need a chocolate coating.
AH Digestive 0% suiker is a biscuit without a chocolate coating, making it a different kind of alternative to a chocolate biscuit.
Original Speculoos is a standard speculoos biscuit, not a sugar-conscious chocolate biscuit.
Sondey Choco Biscuits Melk is a chocolate biscuit you can compare with other biscuits of the same type.
No. A product with no added sugars may still contain sugars. For example, Verkade lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for San Francisco Zero. So compare the ‘of which sugars’ value on the label.
You can’t tell from the sugar content alone. Jumbo lists 0.5 g of sugars and 60 g of carbohydrates per 100 g for Céréal Choco Delight Puur. Compare both values separately, and consider the portion size too.
The warning relates to added polyols and excessive consumption. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that the warning applies to foods with more than 10% added polyols. Check the ingredients and packaging of the product you plan to serve.
First check whether the ingredients are suitable for the guests you’re serving. The Céréal Mini Cakes listed by Jumbo contain egg and wheat; Choco Delight Puur contains egg, milk, oats, soya and wheat, among other ingredients. For your final choice, refer to the current allergen information on the packaging.
Not if you want to keep Dutch rusks with aniseed sprinkles as the traditional treat to celebrate a birth. You can offer a chocolate-flavoured biscuit or small cake alongside them, so guests have a choice; it’s a different product with its own ingredients and nutritional values.
