If you want to serve genuinely sugar-free biscuits at your Friday afternoon get-together, check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g: under the EU rules for the ‘sugar-free’ claim, a product may contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. ‘No added sugar’ does not mean the same thing. Before putting together a plate for your guests, check the allergens, sweeteners and serving size too.
You’re looking for biscuits for yourself or a guest that meet the threshold for the ‘sugar-free’ claim. In that case, the sugar content per 100 g matters more than a ‘zero’ claim on the front of the pack.
You’re serving biscuits with coffee or tea to a group and want to take ingredients and allergens into account, as well as any preferences for vegan or lactose-free products.
You want to know which sweeteners a biscuit contains before serving it. For products containing polyols, the amount someone eats is also worth considering.
First decide whether ‘sugar-free’ is essential. Then compare the biscuits that meet your requirements for your guests and check their ingredients.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Genuinely sugar-free | Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g with the EU limit of no more than 0.5 g per 100 g for the ‘sugar-free’ claim. ‘No added sugar’ is a different claim. | If a guest specifically expects sugar-free biscuits, I don’t want to rely on the word ‘zero’ alone. For around 46% of consumers, meeting this strict sugar threshold comes first. |
| Suitable for your guests | Read the allergen information and ingredients list for the exact variety. Check any ‘vegan’ or ‘lactose-free’ claim separately. | When I’m hosting a get-together, I want to be able to check which biscuits suit my guests’ dietary needs. This is the main concern for around 36% of consumers. |
| Sweeteners and portions | Check which sweeteners are used, how many polyols are listed per 100 g, and whether the pack warns of a laxative effect if consumed in excess. | When I’m serving several biscuits, I bear in mind that some guests keep an eye on polyols. Around 18% of consumers prioritise this consideration. |
These claims mean different things. Albert Heijn lists both ‘0% added sugar’ and 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Verkade San Francisco zero. That’s above the EU limit of 0.5 g per 100 g for the ‘sugar-free’ claim.
If your guests expect strictly sugar-free biscuits, check the sugar figure in the nutritional information on the exact pack.
A biscuit that’s low in sugars can still contain ingredients that aren’t suitable for every guest. The product information for Céréal Speculoos almond pieces lists, among other ingredients, almonds, egg, milk, soya, barley and wheat.
Before buying, check both the allergen information and the full ingredients list for the variety you plan to serve.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, consuming larger amounts of polyols can cause digestive issues. Albert Heijn lists 14 g of polyols per 100 g for AH Digestive 0% sugar and 29 g per 100 g for Céréal Speculoos almond pieces.
Check the ingredients and any warnings on the pack, and leave the packaging out so guests can check what they’re eating for themselves.
A title that says ‘sugar-free’ doesn’t replace the nutritional information. Joybuy’s product information for Panpan sugar-free oat biscuits lists 11.7 g of sugars per 100 g, so the stated figure does not meet the EU threshold for the ‘sugar-free’ claim.
For every biscuit you’re considering, open the nutritional information and check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g before choosing it as strictly sugar-free.
The no-sugar Speculoos almond pieces are one option to compare if meeting the sugar threshold is your priority. Albert Heijn lists 0.4 g of sugars per 100 g for this variety.
AH Digestive 0% sugar is another variety to compare for its sugar content and ingredients. Albert Heijn lists 0.3 g of sugars per 100 g.
San Francisco zero is an option for anyone mainly looking for biscuits with no added sugar, rather than biscuits that meet a strict sugar-free requirement.
For the EU ‘sugar-free’ nutrition claim, a product must contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g or 100 ml. So, for biscuits, compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g in the nutritional information. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority stresses that nutrition claims must be accurate.
No. Biscuits with no added sugar may still contain sugars. Albert Heijn lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Verkade San Francisco zero, while the EU ‘sugar-free’ claim allows a maximum of 0.5 g per 100 g.
This warning may be linked to added polyols, which are used as sweeteners. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, consuming larger amounts of polyols can cause digestive issues. If you’re serving biscuits at a get-together, check the ingredients and warnings on the pack.
No. The ‘sugar-free’ claim refers to the amount of sugars, not the energy value or overall nutritional content. When choosing biscuits to serve, also compare the energy and other nutritional values on the pack.
