Who is this choice relevant to?

People who want to limit their sugar intake

You’re looking for a small, easy-to-carry biscuit to have before exercise, but don’t want to rule out carbohydrates altogether. So compare both sugars and total carbohydrates per serving.

People who are mindful of digestive comfort

You want to know how much you’re eating before you set off, and whether the biscuit contains polyols. Some products warn that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect, so it’s best to try a new option on a regular training day first.

Readers with allergies or dietary requirements

Check the ingredients and allergens in the specific variety you’ve chosen, for example if you need to avoid wheat, milk, soya or nuts. A sugar-conscious claim says nothing about whether the product is suitable for you.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start with your main priority: are you concerned about total sugars, finding a portion that suits you before exercise, the nutritional value of that portion, or checking the ingredients for something you need to avoid? Then compare the nutritional information for the specific biscuits on a like-for-like basis.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Amount of sugars Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and per portion eaten; distinguish this from a claim about added sugar. If I want to limit my sugar intake, I need to know how much sugar I’ll get in the portion I eat. For around 31% of consumers, limiting sugar is the main consideration.
Digestive comfort and timing Check the ingredients for polyols such as maltitol, and look at the serving size and any warning about excessive consumption. I don’t want to try an unfamiliar biscuit in an unknown amount just before a workout. Digestive comfort and timing are top priorities for around 25% of consumers.
Nutritional value per serving Compare the carbohydrates and energy for the number of biscuits you actually plan to eat, not just per 100 g. For a longer workout, I want to choose my snack based on what I’ll be doing, rather than a sugar claim alone. Around 25% of consumers prioritise the nutritional value of the portion.
Allergens and dietary requirements Check the current ingredients, allergen information and any dietary claims for that exact variety. If I need to avoid an ingredient, the biscuit I choose must meet my requirements, whatever its sugar content. For around 19% of consumers, suitability is the first consideration.

Common mistakes

  • Looking only at ‘sugar-free’ or ‘0% sugar’

    A claim on the front of the pack doesn’t tell you how much carbohydrate, fat or energy a biscuit contains. According to Jumbo’s product information, Céréal Kokos contains 0 g of sugars but 72 g of carbohydrates per 100 g.

    Compare the nutritional values per 100 g and work out what they mean for the portion you actually plan to eat.

  • Trying a biscuit containing polyols for the first time just before a workout

    Product information from retailers including Albert Heijn notes that some biscuits containing polyols may have a laxative effect if consumed in excess. Your own response to a portion may therefore affect when you choose to eat it.

    Read the ingredients and warnings, and try a new biscuit on a regular training day first.

  • Reading ‘0% added sugar’ as meaning zero grams of sugars

    According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Verkade San Francisco zero is labelled 0% added sugar, but also contains 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g. These figures answer different questions.

    If total sugars are your main concern, check the ‘of which sugars’ row in the nutrition table.

  • Treating an online product title as the current label

    Joybuy’s Panpan page describes the oat biscuits as sugar-free, while the nutrition table on the same page lists 11.7 g of sugars per 100 g. In this case, you can’t base your choice on the title alone.

    Check the details on the pack of the variety you’re buying, especially if sugars or allergens are deciding factors for you.

Brands to compare

Compare specific varieties: sugar claims, nutritional values and ingredients vary between biscuits, even within the same brand.

Céréal

Céréal makes a coconut biscuit which, according to Jumbo’s product information, contains 0 g of sugars per 100 g.

  • The same nutrition table lists 4.1 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • According to Jumbo, the coconut biscuit also contains 72 g of carbohydrates, 15 g of fat and 18 g of polyols per 100 g. Check the allergen information for wheat and possible cross-contamination.

Albert Heijn

AH Digestive 0% suiker is a digestive biscuit for anyone who mainly wants to check the claim about added sugar.

  • Albert Heijn’s product information lists 0 g of added sugars and 5.7 g of fibre per 100 g, and describes this variety as vegan and lactose-free.
  • The biscuit contains wheat. The product information also lists 20 g of fat and 14 g of polyols per 100 g, and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

Verkade

Verkade San Francisco zero is a biscuit labelled 0% added sugar, not a variety with zero grams of total sugars.

  • Albert Heijn’s product information makes the distinction clear, listing 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • The listed ingredients and allergens include cereals containing gluten, milk and soya. This product page also warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

Lotus Biscoff

Lotus Biscoff The Original Speculoos is a standard speculoos biscuit, not a sugar-free variety.

  • This variety gives you a useful point of comparison if you’re also considering standard speculoos biscuits.
  • Lotus Bakeries Nederland lists 38.1 g of sugars per 100 g and ingredients including sugar and sugar syrup. This variety therefore isn’t suitable if you need a biscuit with zero grams of sugars.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is a biscuit with no sugars also low in carbohydrates?

No, the two claims don’t mean the same thing. According to Jumbo, Céréal Kokos contains 0 g of sugars and 72 g of carbohydrates per 100 g; also check how much you’ll eat in a serving.

Is a sugar-free biscuit always suitable just before a workout?

Not necessarily: the portion size, timing and how you respond to the ingredients all matter. Pay particular attention to polyols and any warnings, and don’t try a new biscuit for the first time just before an important workout.

What’s the difference between ‘sugar-free’ and ‘0% added sugar’?

‘0% added sugar’ doesn’t in itself mean that the total amount of sugars is zero. According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Verkade San Francisco zero is labelled 0% added sugar but still contains 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g. Check the ‘of which sugars’ row when making your choice.

What should I check if I have an allergy or dietary requirement?

Check the ingredients and allergens for the exact variety on the current packaging. Albert Heijn describes AH Digestive 0% suiker as vegan and lactose-free, but it also contains wheat. Other biscuits may list milk, soya or possible cross-contamination risks.

How should I store an opened pack of sugar-free biscuits?

Store it in a cool, dry, dark place and keep it tightly sealed, as the Voedingscentrum advises for sugar-free biscuits. Also follow the storage instructions on the packaging.