When comparing biscuits to have with an afternoon coffee, look beyond claims such as ‘zero’ or ‘no added sugars’. Check the sugars, carbohydrates and energy per 100 g and per biscuit, too. Also check for polyols and allergens. If you’re following a medically prescribed diet or have personal dietary guidelines, those should take priority.
If you’re keeping an eye on sugar when choosing a biscuit for an afternoon coffee, check the carbohydrates and serving size as well. For example, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists 6.4 g of carbohydrates for a 10 g sugar-free biscuit.
If you’re sensitive to polyols or have a food allergy, the ingredients list is just as important as the sugar information. The biscuits described here use different sweeteners and, depending on the product, may contain wheat, milk, egg, soya or almonds.
If a biscuit needs to fit in with existing dietary guidelines, check the amount per biscuit and the full nutritional information. A sugar claim alone doesn’t tell you how much energy or how many carbohydrates a serving contains.
Start by considering why you’re looking for a different biscuit. Then compare the nutritional information per 100 g with the amount you’ll actually serve with the coffee.
| What to look for | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars listed | Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and per biscuit. Also check whether the claim refers to total or added sugars. | If I want to serve a lower-sugar biscuit with coffee, I want to know how much sugar it contains, rather than just reading the claim on the front. For around 40% of consumers, the stated sugar content is the most important factor. |
| Polyols and allergens | Read the ingredients list, allergen information and any warnings about polyols. | If someone has a known sensitivity or allergy, the biscuit needs to be suitable for what they can tolerate. Around 30% of consumers give this check top priority. |
| Serving size and nutritional value | Check the energy and carbohydrates per biscuit; use the figures per 100 g to compare products. | When I serve biscuits, I want to know what the chosen portion adds to the coffee break. For around 30% of consumers, this is the most important consideration. |
These aren’t the same thing. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s calorie checker lists 43 kcal and 6.4 g of carbohydrates for a 10 g sugar-free biscuit.
Compare the nutritional values per 100 g, then check what a serving contains when you have it with coffee.
A product may still contain naturally occurring sugars. Albert Heijn lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Verkade San Francisco Zero, which is labelled ‘zero added sugars’.
Before choosing between biscuits, check the ‘of which sugars’ line on the packaging.
Albert Heijn lists 29 g of polyols per 100 g for Céréal Speculoos stukjes amandel zonder suikers. The product information also lists several allergens and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Before serving, check the current ingredients, allergen information and warnings on the packaging.
An old ingredients list isn’t a safe guide if someone has an allergy or dietary requirements to consider. Albert Heijn says that product information can change.
Check the packaging again before serving the biscuit, even if you’ve bought the same product before.
The Speculoos stukjes amandel zonder suikers variety is one option to consider if you’re comparing the stated sugar content.
AH Digestive 0% suiker is a digestive biscuit you can compare for sugars, fibre and other nutritional values.
San Francisco Zero is an example of a biscuit labelled ‘zero added sugars’.
The standard speculoos is a point of comparison for biscuits to have with coffee, not a sugar-free option.
No, it may contain naturally occurring sugars. Albert Heijn lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Verkade San Francisco Zero, which is labelled ‘zero added sugars’. So check the ‘of which sugars’ line on the packaging.
No, a sugar claim doesn’t tell you how many carbohydrates a biscuit contains in total. Check the nutritional information per serving and follow the personal dietary guidelines that apply to the person having the coffee.
For the products described here, the warning relates to excessive consumption of biscuits containing polyols. Céréal and Verkade’s product information includes such a warning. If you’re sensitive to these ingredients, check the current ingredients list as well.
Always check the allergen information for the specific biscuit. The products discussed here include wheat, milk, egg, soya and almonds, among other allergens. If you have an allergy, don’t rely solely on information from a previous purchase.
