If you have a food allergy, start by checking the ingredients and any cross-contamination warning on the current packaging, not the sugar claim. Then check whether the biscuit is sugar-free or has no added sugars, and see which sweeteners it contains. A sugar claim says nothing about whether it is suitable for your allergy.
You assess biscuits based on the allergen that matters to you, including any cross-contamination warning. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that the specified allergens must be clearly listed in the ingredients of prepacked foods.
You want to distinguish between sugar-free and no added sugars. You also check which sweeteners have been used and whether the packaging warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
You’re looking for a biscuit that suits the occasion, but you check the packaging again each time you buy it. Ingredients and allergen information can change.
First, check that the allergen information is right for your situation. Then compare the sugar claim, nutritional information and sweeteners on the packaging.
| What to look out for | What to check when buying | Who is this most relevant to? |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens and cross-contamination | Read the current ingredients list and assess any cross-contamination warning separately. | If I need to avoid a particular allergen, I want to know whether it is an ingredient and whether there is a cross-contamination warning; around 36% of consumers put this check first. |
| What the sugar claim means | Compare the wording on the front with the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g and check the ingredients. | Anyone looking to limit sugars will want to make sure that ‘no added sugars’ isn’t mistaken for ‘sugar-free’; around 29% of consumers prioritise understanding what the claim means. |
| Sweeteners and portion size | Check which sweeteners have been used, the stated polyol content and any consumption warning. | If a biscuit contains polyols, I want to weigh up whether the portion size and warning suit how I plan to eat it. This is the first consideration for around 21% of consumers. |
| Buying again | Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging again next time you buy it. | If I buy the same biscuit regularly, I don’t want to miss a change in its ingredients; around 14% of consumers prioritise this regular check. |
A sugar-free biscuit can still contain allergens. For example, the Céréal sugar-free chocolate chip cookie described by Albert Heijn contains wheat and oats and may also contain egg, milk, nuts, soya and sesame.
First check the ingredients and any cross-contamination warning relevant to your allergen. Then assess the sugar claim.
‘Less sugar’ means there is less sugar than in a comparison product, not that the product is sugar-free. Likewise, ‘no added sugars’ does not rule out naturally occurring sugars.
Read the exact claim and compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g in the nutritional information.
Albert Heijn describes AH Digestive 0% sugar as vegan and lactose-free, but also lists wheat as an ingredient and says it may contain barley, oats and rye.
Take these descriptions to mean only what they actually say, and check the listed grains and any other relevant allergens separately.
Biscuits containing sweeteners such as maltitol may carry a warning that excessive consumption can have a laxative effect. Albert Heijn includes this warning for AH Digestive 0% sugar.
Check the sweeteners and warning on the packaging, and take your usual portion size into account when choosing.
Céréal offers biscuits including chocolate chip, coconut and speculoos almond varieties, which are sold as ‘sugar-free’.
AH Digestive 0% sugar is an own-brand biscuit that Albert Heijn describes as vegan and lactose-free.
According to the product information, San Francisco zero is a biscuit with 0% added sugar.
The Dutch Original Speculoos is a standard speculoos biscuit, not a sugar-free variety.
Sondey is Lidl’s own brand, with products including cookies and biscuits.
Not on the basis of the sugar claim alone. Check the current packaging to see whether your allergen is listed in the ingredients, and assess any cross-contamination warning in line with the guidance for your allergy.
No. A product with no added sugar may contain naturally occurring sugars. Albert Heijn notes this, for example, for Verkade San Francisco zero; so check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g too.
Some biscuits containing polyols carry a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Check which sweeteners are listed on the packaging, and take the consumption warning and your portion size into account when choosing.
Don’t ignore the warning if it relates to an allergen you need to avoid. Assess it separately from the ingredients list and follow the guidance in place for your allergy.
Use online information to compare products in advance, but check the packaging again when you buy. A previous choice won’t necessarily remain suitable if the ingredients or allergen information change.
