Who is this choice relevant to?

Late-night snackers watching their sugar intake

Want to choose a biscuit for a late-night snack by checking its ‘of which sugars’ value, while also considering the energy per biscuit and the sweeteners used.

Shoppers avoiding added sugar

Are looking for a biscuit with no added sugar. It’s important for them to distinguish this claim from the total amount of sugars shown in the nutrition information.

Shoppers who check ingredients carefully

Check the exact variant for polyols, warnings and allergens. This is relevant for biscuits containing maltitol and for variants containing cereals with gluten or other listed allergens.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start with the exact sugar claim and the ‘of which sugars’ figure. Then decide which details about portion size, ingredients and availability matter most for your late-night snack.

What to consider What should you check? Who is this most important for?
Sugar content and claim Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and, where shown, per biscuit. Distinguish between ‘sugar-free’ and ‘no added sugar’. If I have a biscuit late at night, I want to know how much sugar my chosen biscuit contains, rather than relying only on ‘zero’ on the front of the pack. For around 31% of consumers, the sugar content comes first.
Polyols and allergens Read the ingredients, allergens and any warning about a laxative effect on the packaging of the exact variant. I want to be able to check before buying whether the sweeteners and listed allergens are a concern for me. Checking the ingredients is the top priority for around 31% of consumers.
Portion size and energy Check the energy per biscuit, or work it out for the portion you plan to have. A value per 100 g doesn’t automatically tell you the value per portion. For a measured late-night snack, I want to know in advance how many biscuits make up my portion and how much energy it contains. Around 23% of consumers put portion size first.
Availability Check whether the variant you want is available at your chosen shop, and compare the current packaging with the product information. If I want to buy the same biscuit again, I need to be able to find the exact variant. For around 15% of consumers, availability is the main concern.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘zero’ means 0 g of sugars

    ‘No added sugar’ and ‘sugar-free’ don’t mean the same thing. Albert Heijn lists naturally occurring sugars and 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Verkade San Francisco Zero, despite its ‘0% added sugar’ claim.

    Before choosing between biscuits, check the exact claim and the ‘of which sugars’ figure on the packaging.

  • Assuming sugar-free means low in energy

    The Céréal variants listed by Albert Heijn with a ‘sugar-free’ claim provide around 404–442 kcal per 100 g. So the sugar claim doesn’t tell you how much energy is in your portion.

    Think about how many biscuits you plan to have, then compare the energy per biscuit or per planned portion.

  • Overlooking polyols and allergens

    Some biscuits containing maltitol carry a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Voedingscentrum says that consuming large amounts of polyols can cause digestive discomfort. Allergens also vary between variants.

    Check the ingredients, warnings and allergen information on the exact packaging, especially if you need to avoid a particular ingredient.

  • Assuming the packaging hasn’t changed

    If you’re buying a product again, both the exact variant and the current information on the packaging matter.

    Before buying, check availability and read the nutrition information and ingredients again if the packaging has changed.

Brands to consider

Céréal

Céréal offers, among other products, speculoos and almond, chocolate chip, sesame and vanilla, and coconut biscuits with a ‘sugar-free’ claim.

  • Albert Heijn’s product information lists 0 g of sugars and 8.9 g of fibre per 100 g for the chocolate chip variant.
  • Check each variant individually: the products listed contain maltitol and cereals containing gluten, and carry a warning about excessive consumption.

Albert Heijn

AH Digestive 0% sugar is an own-brand biscuit made with sweeteners.

  • The product description calls this variant sugar-free biscuits.
  • The packaging is the best source for the current nutrition information, ingredients and allergens. The product description also warns of a laxative effect if consumed in excess.

Verkade

San Francisco Zero is a tea biscuit with a ‘0% added sugar’ claim.

  • This claim may suit those specifically looking to avoid added sugar.
  • Albert Heijn lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g and notes that they are naturally occurring. The product information also lists maltitols, wheat, milk and soya.

Lotus Biscoff

Lotus Biscoff is a useful reference if you want to compare the flavour of speculoos with other biscuits.

  • Jumbo describes the product as a crunchy speculoos biscuit.
  • Don’t assume the familiar product name means it is ‘sugar-free’. Check the nutrition information if reducing sugar is your main goal.

Sondey

Sondey is Lidl’s biscuit and snack brand, with biscuits among its range.

  • The range includes different types of cookies and biscuits to compare on a pack-by-pack basis.
  • A brand name doesn’t tell you the sugar content of an individual biscuit. Check the claim and nutrition information for the variant you choose.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

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

No, the claims don’t mean the same thing. For Céréal Speculoos, Albert Heijn lists 0.4 g of sugars per 100 g despite the ‘sugar-free’ claim. Verkade San Francisco Zero carries a ‘0% added sugar’ claim and lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g. So always check the ‘of which sugars’ figure in the nutrition information too.

Are sugar-free biscuits also low in calories?

Not necessarily. The Céréal variants listed by Albert Heijn with a ‘sugar-free’ claim provide around 404–442 kcal per 100 g. For your late-night snack, check the energy in the portion you actually plan to have.

Why do some biscuit packs carry a warning about a laxative effect?

This warning may be linked to added polyols such as maltitol. According to Voedingscentrum, large amounts of polyols can cause digestive discomfort. Check the ingredients and the warning on the packaging of the biscuit you choose.

How should I store an opened pack of sugar-free biscuits?

Store the biscuits in a cool, dry, dark place and keep the pack tightly sealed, as Voedingscentrum advises for sugar-free biscuits. If the packaging gives more specific instructions for your product, follow those.