Is sugar-free a must for your snack at Schiphol? If so, choose a product whose label states no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g; Voedingscentrum gives this as the threshold for the ‘sugar-free’ claim. An almond-paste biscuit is also not the same as a biscuit with no added sugars: PLUS lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Verkade San Francisco Zero. When buying, check the label and availability of the specific product too.
You can’t treat ‘no added sugars’ as a substitute for ‘sugar-free’. Voedingscentrum sets the limit for sugar-free at no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g, so the nutritional information on the label is what matters.
You’re mainly looking for a product with no added sugars and don’t mind choosing a biscuit rather than an almond-paste biscuit. If so, check the sugars, ingredients and allergens too.
The biscuit with almond paste comes first, and a strict sugar limit isn’t a priority. Heel Holland Bakt describes this filling as a defining feature of these biscuits; a plain biscuit or a cracker isn’t the same type of product.
First decide whether sugar-free is a must. Only then can you weigh up whether a biscuit or cracker would work instead of an almond-paste biscuit.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Truly sugar-free | Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. Voedingscentrum gives a maximum of 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g as the threshold for sugar-free. | If I only want to take a sugar-free snack, ‘zero’ on the front isn’t enough. Around 45% of consumers make this strict sugar limit their priority. |
| No added sugars | Compare the claim on the packaging with the sugars per 100 g, and read the ingredients and allergen information. | If you want to avoid added sugars but are happy with a biscuit instead of an almond-paste biscuit, you’ll want to know what it does contain. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this preference. |
| Almond-paste biscuit and convenience for travel | Check that you’re buying an almond-paste biscuit, and check the packaging and in-store availability before you set off. | I mainly want an almond-paste biscuit that’s easy to take with me; a strict sugar claim isn’t decisive. Around 22% of consumers prioritise the biscuit and convenience for travel. |
Verkade describes San Francisco Zero as a biscuit with no added sugars, while PLUS lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g. That’s above the threshold Voedingscentrum gives for ‘sugar-free’.
If you have a strict requirement, check the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g on the packaging, rather than relying on the wording on the front.
Heel Holland Bakt describes these almond-paste biscuits as biscuits filled with almond paste. A biscuit with no added sugars doesn’t replace that filling or that type of product.
Before choosing a different type of biscuit, decide whether the almond-paste biscuit itself matters more to you than the sugar claim.
Schiphol lists Albert Heijn and AH to go at Plaza. The presence of these shops doesn’t mean your chosen biscuit will be available at that moment.
Check the shelf and the label in store. If you don’t want to rely on buying a snack at one particular shop, take a suitable one with you.
The product information for Verkade San Francisco Zero lists wheat, milk, soya and maltitol, along with a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
As well as the sugar content, read the ingredients, allergens and warnings for the product you’re actually buying.
San Francisco Zero is a biscuit for anyone happy to choose a different type of biscuit instead of an almond-paste biscuit.
The plain ontbijtkoek (Dutch spiced breakfast cake) in an eight-pack is a different type of biscuit from an almond-paste biscuit.
These matzo crackers are a plain alternative if you don’t need an almond-paste biscuit. For a strict sugar-free choice, check the nutritional information and allergens on the packaging.
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A cracker for anyone who wants to take a different type of product from an almond-paste biscuit when travelling.
The product name states that there are 16 pieces. Before buying, check the sugar content per 100 g and the full allergen information on the packaging if these affect your choice.
No, not according to the stated sugar content: PLUS lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g, while Voedingscentrum gives a maximum of 0.5 g per 100 g for ‘sugar-free’. Verkade does describe the biscuit as having no added sugars.
Yes, Schiphol says you can take food in your hand luggage. Different rules may apply to spreadable products; if you’re travelling internationally, check your destination’s import rules too.
Schiphol lists Albert Heijn and AH to go at Plaza, before security. Check in store whether the specific product is available, and read the label before choosing it.
A sugar claim doesn’t tell you which allergens or other ingredients the biscuit contains. The product information for Verkade San Francisco Zero lists maltitol and warns of a possible laxative effect if you consume too much. So check the packaging of the product you buy.
