Who are these biscuits for?

If you’re looking for strictly sugar-free biscuits

You want a biscuit to serve with drinks that meets the requirements for a sugar-free claim. A label such as 0% added sugar isn’t enough for you.

If you mainly want to avoid added sugar

You’re looking for a biscuit to serve with drinks and are happy with a product that has no added sugar, even if it still contains naturally occurring sugars.

If you need to check ingredients for your guests

As well as sugars, you check for polyols and allergens, especially when several people will be sharing from the same plate.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether sugar-free is a strict requirement. Then compare the ingredients, flavour profile and availability of the specific variety you want to serve.

What to look for What to check when buying Who it matters to
Sugar-free claim Check the claim and the amount of sugars per 100 g. Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, published on EUR-Lex, biscuits may contain no more than 0.5 g per 100 g to carry a sugar-free claim. If sugar-free is a strict requirement for me, I don’t want to put a biscuit labelled only 0% added sugar on the table. Around 36% of consumers would prioritise this strict sugar claim.
Ingredients and allergens Read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging. Also compare the amount of polyols per 100 g and check for any warnings about excessive consumption. When sharing food with guests, I want to know which allergens and polyols the biscuits contain so I can let everyone know. Ingredients and tolerance would be the main concern for around 29% of consumers.
Flavour profile For example, compare a digestive biscuit with speculoos with one containing almonds. If you choose a classic speculoos variety, check the nutrition information again. I want to choose a flavour I enjoy serving with drinks, without mistaking a regular speculoos variety for a sugar-free one. Around 21% of consumers would prioritise flavour.
Availability Check the current product page and whether the exact variety is available in your shop. If I’m shopping shortly before guests arrive, I want to be sure I can actually find the variety I’ve chosen. Current availability would be the deciding factor for around 14% of consumers.

Common mistakes when choosing

  • Confusing zero with sugar-free

    A biscuit with no added sugar can still contain sugars. Albert Heijn lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Verkade San Francisco zero, putting this variety above the EU limit for a sugar-free claim.

    If sugar-free is a strict requirement, check both the claim and the nutrition table per 100 g.

  • Checking only sugars and overlooking polyols

    Albert Heijn and Jumbo list polyols for AH Digestive 0% suiker and Céréal Speculoos Stukjes Amandel respectively. Product warnings point out that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

    Read the ingredients, nutrition information and warning on the packaging before deciding how much to serve.

  • Sharing a plate without mentioning allergens

    Sugar-free doesn’t mean allergen-free. For Céréal Speculoos Stukjes Amandel, Jumbo lists wheat, almonds, soya, egg and milk, among other allergens.

    Check the packaging for the exact variety and let guests know which allergens are listed.

  • Mistaking a range for a specific variety

    A general biscuits page tells you nothing about the nutrition information or availability of the biscuit you’re looking for. On its product page, Jumbo marks its Céréal Sesam & Vanille variety as no longer available online.

    Check the current product page, nutrition table and in-store availability for the exact variety.

Brands to compare

These brands offer different biscuit varieties; a brand name alone doesn’t tell you whether a specific product is sugar-free.

Albert Heijn (AH)

AH Digestive 0% suiker is a digestive-style biscuit for anyone looking for a sugar-free variety.

  • Albert Heijn lists 0.3 g of sugars per 100 g for this variety.
  • The variety contains wheat and 14 g of polyols per 100 g. The packaging warns of a possible laxative effect if consumed in excess; check the label when buying.

Céréal via Jumbo

Céréal Speculoos Stukjes Amandel offers a speculoos flavour among the sugar-free biscuit varieties reviewed.

  • Jumbo lists 0.4 g of sugars per 100 g for this variety.
  • Jumbo also lists 29 g of polyols per 100 g and allergens including wheat, almonds, soya, egg and milk. Check the packaging before sharing these biscuits.

Verkade

San Francisco zero is a biscuit with 0% added sugar for anyone who doesn’t necessarily need a sugar-free product.

  • Albert Heijn’s product information distinguishes between no added sugar and naturally occurring sugars.
  • At 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g, this variety doesn’t meet the EU limit for a sugar-free claim. The biscuit also contains maltitols and carries a warning about excessive consumption.

Lotus Biscoff

Classic Lotus Biscoff is a speculoos biscuit to serve with drinks, but it isn’t a sugar-free variety.

  • Lotus Biscoff describes this standard variety as speculoos and lists the ingredients on its product page.
  • According to Lotus Biscoff, the standard variety contains sugar and candy syrup, and its nutrition information lists 38.1 g of sugars per 100 g.

Sondey en Biscotto via Lidl en ALDI

Sondey and Biscotto are names you may come across when looking for biscuits at these supermarkets.

  • Lidl describes a Sondey range that includes biscuits; ALDI features biscuits in its biscuit range.
  • Choose a specific variety only after checking the sugar claim, nutrition information and ingredients on the product packaging.

Biscuits on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

When can a biscuit be called sugar-free?

For the EU sugar-free nutrition claim, a biscuit may contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g, according to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 as published on EUR-Lex. When buying, check the claim and nutrition table for the exact variety.

Is 0% added sugar the same as sugar-free?

No. A biscuit with no added sugar can still contain sugars. Albert Heijn lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Verkade San Francisco zero, which is above the EU limit for a sugar-free claim on biscuits.

Why does the packaging sometimes warn of a laxative effect?

Biscuits containing polyols may carry a warning that excessive consumption can have a laxative effect. This warning appears on the products from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and Verkade that were reviewed; check the packaging for the variety you’re serving.

Can I serve a sugar-free biscuit to all my guests?

Not without checking the allergens in the specific variety. For Céréal Speculoos Stukjes Amandel, Jumbo lists wheat, almonds, soya, egg and milk, among other allergens; Albert Heijn lists wheat in AH Digestive 0% suiker. Keep the packaging handy when guests are sharing from the plate.

Is classic Lotus Biscoff sugar-free?

No, the standard variety doesn’t meet the EU limit for a sugar-free claim. Lotus Biscoff lists 38.1 g of sugars per 100 g and includes sugar and candy syrup in its ingredients.