People who keep track of their carbohydrate intake
You want to know how many carbohydrates you’re actually eating, so you compare not only the figures per 100 g but also your portion size.
Who should bear these points in mind?
People who pay attention to sugar claims
You’re looking for a biscuit with a suitable sugar claim to enjoy with a coffee or as a snack, and want to understand what the label says about its ingredients.
People who are sensitive to polyols
You check for sweeteners such as maltitol and isomalt, as the amount you eat may affect how well you tolerate them.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start by comparing biscuits per 100 g, then check what the nutritional information means for the portion you plan to eat. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends using the figures per 100 g to compare products.
| What to check | What to look at before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Carbohydrates and portion size | Check the total carbohydrates per 100 g and work out the amount in the portion you eat; check how many biscuits that includes. | If I keep track of my carbohydrate intake, I want to know what my actual portion adds up to. For around 42% of consumers, carbohydrates and portion size are the top priorities. |
| Sugar claim and ingredients | Read the exact sugar claim and compare sugars, fibre, saturated fat and salt per 100 g; check the ingredients and allergens. | A claim on the front of the pack doesn’t tell me enough if I also want to take the other nutritional values into account. Around 33% of consumers prioritise comparing claims and ingredients. |
| Polyols | Look for ingredients such as maltitol and isomalt, check the stated polyol content and look out for warnings on the packaging. | If I’m sensitive to polyols, I want to know what the biscuit is sweetened with beforehand. Tolerance is the most important factor for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
-
Assuming low sugar means low carbohydrates
Albert Heijn lists AH Digestive 0% sugar as containing 0,3 g of sugars but 63 g of carbohydrates per 100 g. The sugar figure alone therefore doesn’t show how many carbohydrates the biscuit contains.
Compare the total carbohydrates per 100 g and work out the amount in the portion you plan to eat.
-
Treating different sugar claims as if they mean the same thing
A claim about no added sugars doesn’t give you the same information as the amount of sugars or total carbohydrates in the nutrition table.
Read the exact wording on the packaging, then check the nutritional information and ingredients list.
-
Overlooking polyols
Biscuits containing polyols may carry a warning that excessive consumption can have a laxative effect. How someone reacts to a product may also depend on how much they eat.
Check the ingredients and warnings on the label, especially if you’ve reacted sensitively to products containing polyols before.
Brands and retailers to consider
Céréal
Céréal offers biscuits labelled ‘sugar-free’, including a coconut variety described by Jumbo.
- For Céréal Zonder Suikers Kokos, Jumbo lists 0 g of sugars, 72 g of carbohydrates and 18 g of polyols per 100 g.
- So if you keep track of carbohydrates or are sensitive to polyols, you’ll need to look beyond the ‘sugar-free’ claim.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn’s AH Digestive 0% suiker is a biscuit whose nutritional information you can compare separately.
- Albert Heijn lists 0,3 g of sugars, 63 g of carbohydrates and 14 g of polyols per 100 g.
- Product information can change, so check the current ingredients, allergens and warnings when you buy it.
Jumbo
Jumbo features individual biscuit products from brands including Céréal and Verkade, so you can compare the values for the variety you choose.
- For Verkade San Francisco Naturel Zero, Jumbo lists 1,7 g of sugars and 75,2 g of carbohydrates per 100 g.
- A product name containing ‘Zero’ doesn’t tell you how many total carbohydrates the biscuit contains.
Verkade
Verkade San Francisco Naturel Zero is a biscuit variety with a claim about added sugar.
- Jumbo lists 1,7 g of sugars and 75,2 g of carbohydrates per 100 g for this variety.
- Check the ingredients and allergens on the pack you choose; the claim about added sugar doesn’t replace this information.
Lotus Biscoff
Lotus Bakeries Nederland describes Lotus Biscoff Original as speculoos, not as a sugar-free biscuit.
- It’s a familiar speculoos variety that you can distinguish by product type from biscuits with a sugar claim.
- If you want to compare it with a sugar-free biscuit, check the nutritional values on the label of the variety you choose.
Sondey
Lidl describes Sondey as a range of different cookies and biscuits.
- You can assess individual Sondey biscuits by checking their ingredients and nutritional information.
- The brand name alone doesn’t tell you anything about the sugars, carbohydrates or polyols in a particular variety.
Related products on Joybuy
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Does ‘sugar-free’ mean a biscuit is low in carbohydrates?
No. A biscuit may contain carbohydrates from other ingredients, even if it’s low in sugars. For example, Albert Heijn lists AH Digestive 0% suiker as containing 63 g of carbohydrates per 100 g. So compare the total carbohydrates in the portion you eat too.
What should I look for in biscuits containing maltitol?
Check the ingredients list, the stated polyol content and any warnings on the packaging. Products containing polyols can have a laxative effect if consumed in excess, so the amount you eat and your own tolerance are relevant.
Do ‘sugar-free’ and ‘no added sugars’ mean the same thing?
No. A claim that no sugars have been added doesn’t tell you how much sugar or how many total carbohydrates the biscuit contains. Check the nutritional information for the variety you choose to find these values.
How should I store sugar-free biscuits once opened?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the biscuits you buy. For AH Digestive 0% suiker, Albert Heijn recommends storing them in a cool, dark and dry place and keeping them in a sealed tin once opened.