Who is this relevant for?

If you’re looking for a genuinely sugar-free biscuit

You want a biscuit with your coffee or tea that meets the threshold for ‘sugar-free’, not simply a product labelled ‘no added sugar’.

If you compare the full nutritional profile

As well as sugars, you look at energy, saturated fat and how many biscuits you eat. A sugar claim doesn’t tell the whole story.

If you need to check the ingredients

You want to know which sweeteners and allergens a biscuit contains. That means checking the ingredients and allergen information for the specific variety.

What should you look for when choosing?

Sugar-free biscuit

Choose this if: meeting the ‘sugar-free’ threshold is essential. Céréal Kokos lists 0 g of sugars per 100 g and AH Digestive 0% suiker lists 0.3 g per 100 g, according to Jumbo and Albert Heijn respectively.

Bear in mind: both varieties list polyols; check the rest of the nutritional information and the allergens too.

No added sugar

Choose this if: avoiding added sugar is your priority, but the biscuit doesn’t necessarily need to meet the ‘sugar-free’ threshold.

Bear in mind: Jumbo lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Verkade San Francisco Naturel Zero, so this variety does not meet the threshold for the ‘sugar-free’ claim.

Regular biscuit for coffee

Choose this if: flavour is your priority with coffee and sugar-free isn’t a requirement. Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff as a caramelised biscuit to enjoy with coffee.

Bear in mind: if you still want to compare sugar content, check the nutrition table on the packaging of the variety you buy.

What to look for What should you check? Who is this most important for?
Sugar claim Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and distinguish between ‘sugar-free’ and ‘no added sugar’. If the biscuit really needs to be sugar-free, I don’t want to rely solely on the wording on the front of the pack. For around 25% of consumers, that strict sugar threshold is the main priority.
Nutritional values and portion Compare energy and saturated fat per 100 g, then check the amount per biscuit or portion. I might have more than one biscuit with my coffee, so I want to know what that means for my choice. That’s why around 25% of consumers prioritise the overall nutritional values and portion size.
Polyols Check the ingredients, the amount of polyols per 100 g if listed, and any warnings. If I’m sensitive to polyols, I want to know which sweeteners a biscuit contains before having several. For around 25% of consumers, tolerance is the first thing they consider.
Allergens Read the up-to-date allergen information, including any ‘may contain’ statement. If I need to avoid a particular ingredient, the sugar claim tells me nothing about whether the biscuit is suitable. For around 25% of consumers, checking the ingredients is the most important consideration.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘no added sugar’ means ‘sugar-free’

    These are different claims. Jumbo lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Verkade San Francisco Naturel Zero, while EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 sets a maximum of 0.5 g per 100 g for ‘sugar-free’.

    If you specifically want a sugar-free biscuit, always check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g.

  • Assuming sugar-free means low in calories

    Albert Heijn lists 465 kcal per 100 g for AH Digestive 0% suiker, while Jumbo lists 427 kcal per 100 g for Céréal Kokos. So the sugar claim doesn’t describe the overall nutritional value.

    Compare energy and saturated fat per 100 g, then consider how many biscuits make up a portion for you.

  • Overlooking polyols

    Voedingscentrum notes that large quantities of polyols can cause digestive problems. The product page for AH Digestive 0% suiker warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

    Read the ingredients and any warnings, especially if you’re planning to have several biscuits.

  • Skipping the allergen information

    A sugar claim says nothing about allergens. For Céréal Speculoos Amandel, Jumbo lists almonds, barley, egg, milk, soya and wheat, among other ingredients.

    Check the packaging of your chosen variety every time you buy it, including for any ‘may contain’ statement.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

AH Digestive 0% suiker is a sugar-free biscuit sweetened with sweeteners.

  • Albert Heijn lists 0.3 g of sugars and 5.7 g of fibre per 100 g for this variety; the product page describes it as vegan and lactose-free.
  • The same variety lists 465 kcal and 14 g of polyols per 100 g, contains wheat and carries a warning about excessive consumption.

Céréal

Céréal offers biscuits including a coconut-flavoured variety and one with a speculoos flavour and pieces of almond.

  • Jumbo lists 0 g of sugars per 100 g for the Kokos variety and 0.4 g per 100 g for Speculoos Amandel.
  • Both varieties list polyols. Allergens differ between varieties; according to Jumbo, Speculoos Amandel contains almonds, egg, milk, soya, barley and wheat, among other ingredients.

Verkade

Jumbo sells San Francisco Naturel Zero as a biscuit with no added sugar.

  • This variety suits you if ‘no added sugar’ is the claim you’re looking for.
  • Jumbo lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g, as well as maltitols, wheat, milk and soya. This means the variety does not meet the ‘sugar-free’ threshold set out in EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.

Lotus Biscoff

Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff as a crunchy, caramelised biscuit to enjoy with coffee.

  • Its described flavour is a good match for a coffee break if sugar-free isn’t a requirement.
  • If you want a sugar-free biscuit, check the sugar content and claim on the packaging of the specific variety.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

When can a biscuit be called ‘sugar-free’?

Under EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, a biscuit can only carry the ‘sugar-free’ claim if it contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure in the nutrition table.

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

No. A biscuit with no added sugar can contain more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. For example, Jumbo lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Verkade San Francisco Naturel Zero, so check which of the two claims best suits your choice.

Why do some biscuits carry a warning about a laxative effect?

The warning relates to polyols used as sweeteners. According to Voedingscentrum, large quantities of polyols can cause digestive problems, so read the ingredients and the warning on the packaging of the biscuit you choose.

How do I compare biscuits with different portion sizes?

First compare the nutritional information per 100 g, then check the amount per biscuit or portion. This lets you assess products on the same basis while keeping in mind how many you’d like with your coffee.

Should I read the packaging if I’ve already checked the nutritional information online?

Yes. Check the packaging of the variety you buy, especially for ingredients and allergens. Albert Heijn notes that product information can change when a product’s composition is updated.