Choose a packaged biscuit labelled ‘sugar-free’ if keeping sugar strictly low is your priority: under EU rules on EUR-Lex, this claim is only permitted when the product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. If you’d rather bake your own so you can choose the ingredients and spices, a recipe with no added sugar could work for you, but that doesn’t automatically make it sugar-free. In either case, compare the nutritional information and check the ingredients, allergens and any sweeteners.
You want to look beyond ‘no added sugar’ and check the amount of sugars per 100 g. Under EU rules on EUR-Lex, the ‘sugar-free’ claim is only permitted when a product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g.
You want to choose the ingredients and spices yourself. Bear in mind that a recipe with no added sugar can still contain sugars, for example when it includes dates.
As well as checking the sugar claim, you look at the ingredients list and any warnings. The biscuits discussed here differ in their allergens and use of polyols, so always check the current packaging before you choose.
Choose these if: you want a biscuit that’s ready to eat and the regulated sugar claim is your main requirement.
Bear in mind: ‘sugar-free’ on its own tells you nothing about the energy content or allergens.
Choose this if: you want to decide on the recipe and spices yourself, and no added sugar is enough for your baking plans.
Bear in mind: ingredients such as dates still contain sugars, and baking takes preparation.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar claim | Read the claim and compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g; ‘no added sugar’ is not the same as ‘sugar-free’. | If I have strict sugar requirements, I want to know how much sugar the biscuit actually contains. This is the top priority for around 37% of consumers. |
| Spiced flavour and baking | Check the stated flavour and ingredients, then decide whether you want a ready-made biscuit or a recipe to bake yourself. | For my spiced-biscuit treat, I want to choose the spices myself or pick a packaged biscuit with a speculoos flavour. This flavour and baking choice comes first for around 27% of consumers. |
| Allergens and sweeteners | Read the current ingredients and allergen information, and look out for any warnings about polyols. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients or want to keep an eye on sweeteners, the sugar claim alone won’t determine my choice. This is the main concern for around 18% of consumers. |
| Convenience and portions | Check the pack weight and stated portions, or factor in the preparation time if you’re baking your own. | If I want biscuits ready to eat alongside my baking, preparation and portion size matter more. Around 18% of consumers put these first. |
A biscuit or recipe with no added sugar can still contain sugars. Under EU rules on EUR-Lex, the ‘sugar-free’ claim has a limit of no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g.
Decide which of the two requirements matters to you, then check ‘of which sugars’ in the nutrition table per 100 g.
A sugar-free biscuit may also contain other ingredients that provide energy, as well as polyols. So the sugar information doesn’t tell you everything about its nutritional value.
Compare products on the same per-100 g basis, and also check the portion size and any warnings on the packaging.
A speculoos-style biscuit may contain wheat, almonds, eggs, milk or soya, for example. A sugar claim tells you nothing about allergens either.
Check the current ingredients list, allergen information and any ‘may contain’ statements every time you buy.
Speculoos with almond pieces, sugar-free is a packaged biscuit with a speculoos flavour to consider for a spiced-biscuit treat.
Albert Heijn provides product information for AH Digestive 0% suiker, as well as an Allerhande recipe for baking your own biscuits with no added sugar.
San Francisco zero is a biscuit for anyone specifically looking for a variety with no added sugar, without needing a speculoos flavour.
Under EU rules on EUR-Lex, the ‘sugar-free’ claim is only permitted when a product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. When choosing, also check the rest of the nutritional information and the ingredients list.
Not necessarily: the ingredients used may still contain sugars. For example, the Allerhande recipe with dates from Albert Heijn lists 6 g of sugars per portion.
The claim sets a limit on sugars, not on energy content. Albert Heijn lists 404 kcal per 100 g for Céréal Speculoos with almond pieces and 465 kcal per 100 g for AH Digestive 0% suiker, so compare the full nutrition table.
Read the current allergen information and ingredients list for the specific biscuit, or for every ingredient in your recipe. A sugar claim won’t tell you whether it contains wheat, almonds, milk, eggs or soya, for example.
This type of warning may appear on biscuits containing polyols. Albert Heijn’s product information for AH Digestive 0% suiker lists polyols and warns of a laxative effect if consumed in excess. Check the packaging if you’re considering this variety.
