Who is this choice relevant to?

Commuters who want to strictly limit sugar

You’re looking for a biscuit to enjoy with coffee on the go, and want to check both the sugar claim and the amount of sugars per 100 g and per portion.

Commuters who check the ingredients

As well as sugars, you check sweeteners and allergens. Products containing polyols may carry a warning about excessive consumption, which could affect your choice.

Commuters who want to take a portion with them

You compare individually portioned packs with larger packs that you’ll need to divide up yourself. Convenient packaging is no substitute for checking the sugar content.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start by distinguishing between ‘sugar-free’ and ‘no added sugars’. Then consider which ingredients and packaging will suit your coffee break.

What to look for What to check when buying Who it matters to
Sugar claim Read the exact claim and compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and per portion. Also check that you’re looking at a biscuit, not ontbijtkoek. If I want to strictly limit sugar, both the claim and the nutritional values need to suit my goals; sugar content is the top priority for around 30% of consumers.
Portion for the journey Compare the number of biscuits and the weight per portion with the type of packaging. Alongside my travel mug, I want to be able to grab a portion without dividing up a large pack at home. This convenience is the main concern for around 30% of consumers.
Ingredients Check the sweeteners, any warnings and the allergen information for the exact variant. If I need to avoid certain ingredients, a low sugar content isn’t enough on its own; checking ingredients is a priority for around 20% of consumers.
Pack size and routine Check the pack weight, number of portions and current product information before choosing a biscuit for regular coffee breaks. For my daily commute, I want to know whether a pack is easy to divide into portions. This practical routine matters most to around 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘sugar-free’ means low in energy

    A sugar claim doesn’t tell you the full nutritional value. Albert Heijn lists AH Digestive 0% suiker as containing 465 kcal per 100 g.

    Compare energy, fat, fibre and sugars on the same basis, then check how much is in the portion you’re taking with you.

  • Overlooking sweeteners when reading the label

    Céréal biscuits without sugars contain maltitols. Albert Heijn also lists isomalt in AH Digestive 0% suiker and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

    Read the ingredients and warnings for your chosen variant, especially if you need to take polyols into account.

  • Assuming a convenient coffee biscuit is sugar-free

    According to Jumbo, Lotus Biscoff contains 38,1 g of sugars per 100 g. Jumbo lists 25 g per 100 g for LU Time Out Naturel; the two-biscuit packaging doesn’t change the sugar content.

    Use the packaging as a guide to how easy it is to take with you, but check the sugar claim and the ‘of which sugars’ line separately.

  • Guessing allergens from the flavour name

    The Céréal Speculoos with almond pieces described by Jumbo contains, among other things, almonds, wheat, soya, egg and milk. Check each flavour in the range separately.

    Read the allergen information on the pack of the exact variant before eating it.

Brands and product ranges to consider

Céréal

The Coconut and Speculoos with almond pieces variants are positioned as biscuits ‘without sugars’ for anyone who checks the sugar claim when choosing something to enjoy with coffee on the go.

  • Jumbo lists 0 g of sugars per 100 g for Coconut and 0,4 g per 100 g for Speculoos with almond.
  • Both variants contain maltitols; also check the allergen information for the Speculoos variant.

Albert Heijn

AH Digestive 0% suiker comes in a 400 g pack, so you can take portions with you as needed.

  • Albert Heijn lists 0,3 g of sugars and 5,7 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • The product contains maltitols and isomalt. The packaging warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

Koek & Bakker

According to ALDI Nederland, Gesneden Ontbijtkoek Zero is a pre-sliced ontbijtkoek with no added sugars, not a biscuit.

  • The pre-sliced format can be handy if you want to take a portion with you from home.
  • If the total amount of sugars is a deciding factor, check the nutritional information on the pack; ‘no added sugars’ doesn’t mean the same as ‘sugar-free’.

Lotus Biscoff

A regular speculoos biscuit to enjoy with coffee, worth considering if sugar-free isn’t a requirement for your purchase.

  • Jumbo describes Lotus Biscoff as a biscuit to enjoy with coffee or on the go.
  • Jumbo lists 38,1 g of sugars per 100 g, so it’s not the right choice if you’re specifically looking for a sugar-free biscuit.

LU

Time Out Naturel is a cereal biscuit for anyone who values individually portioned packaging, but it isn’t a sugar-free option.

  • Jumbo describes it as being packaged in portions of two, making it easy to take with you.
  • Jumbo lists 25 g of sugars per 100 g and 7,0 g per 29 g portion.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘no added sugars’ mean the same as ‘sugar-free’?

No. Don’t treat these terms as interchangeable when choosing a biscuit. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority describes ‘sugar-free’ as a nutrition claim under European rules. If a product says ‘no added sugars’, check the total amount of sugars separately in the nutrition table.

Are sugar-free biscuits automatically low in calories?

No, the sugar claim doesn’t determine the energy content. Albert Heijn lists AH Digestive 0% suiker as containing 465 kcal per 100 g, while Jumbo lists Céréal Kokos as containing 427 kcal per 100 g. Remember to compare the portion you’ll actually take with you, too.

What should I look for in biscuits containing maltitol or other polyols?

Read the ingredients list and any warnings for your chosen biscuit. Albert Heijn warns that excessive consumption of AH Digestive 0% suiker may have a laxative effect; a low sugar content doesn’t, by itself, tell you which sweeteners have been used.

Can I assume all sugar-free biscuits contain the same allergens?

No, check the exact variant on the pack. For Céréal Speculoos with almond pieces, Jumbo lists almonds, barley, egg, milk, soya and wheat, among other ingredients. For AH Digestive 0% suiker, Albert Heijn lists wheat and possible traces of barley, oats and rye.