Looking for a sugar-free biscuit to enjoy with your tea? Choose one with no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, that is the limit for the ‘sugar-free’ claim. Albert Heijn and Jumbo product pages list values within this limit for AH Digestive 0% sugar and the Céréal varieties mentioned here. Verkade San Francisco zero, however, contains 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g. Despite its ‘0% added sugar’ claim, it is not a sugar-free option. Check the polyols and allergens for each variety, too.
You want a biscuit to enjoy with your tea that meets the limit for the ‘sugar-free’ claim. Check the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the maximum for this claim is 0.5 g. ‘No added sugars’ does not mean the same thing.
You like choosing a familiar biscuit that you can serve individually. A variety with no added sugars may suit you, as long as you’re happy with the total sugar content being above the limit for ‘sugar-free’.
You want to know which sweeteners and allergens a particular variety contains before you buy. So even when choosing a sugar-free biscuit, read the ingredients and allergen information, and look out for any warning about polyols.
When choosing biscuits to enjoy with your tea, first decide whether you’re looking for a strictly sugar-free option or mainly want to avoid added sugars. Then compare the biscuit style and the information on the label of the specific variety.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar claim | Check the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘sugar-free’ means no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g; check the total sugar content even when the product claims to have ‘no added sugars’. | If I really want a sugar-free biscuit with my tea, ‘no added sugars’ isn’t enough for me. Around 36% of consumers prioritise the actual sugar claim. |
| Biscuit style and serving size | Compare the descriptions and serving sizes of digestive, coconut or speculoos varieties. Check the nutritional information per 100 g and, where listed, per biscuit. | With my tea, I’m mainly looking for a biscuit style and size I enjoy, even if the sugar claim isn’t my first priority. Around 29% of consumers put this choice first. |
| Polyols and allergens | Check the ingredients for polyols such as maltitol, and check the allergens and any ‘may contain’ statement for the specific variety. | If I need to be mindful of certain ingredients, I want to know what’s in that particular biscuit. Around 21% of consumers prioritise checking the label. |
| Availability | Check whether you can find the variety you want at your usual shop, and read the label again next time you buy it. | For my regular tea break, I want a biscuit I can pick up again during my usual shop. Availability is the first consideration for around 14% of consumers. |
The claims do not mean the same thing. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘sugar-free’ can only be used when a product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. Albert Heijn’s product page states that Verkade San Francisco zero has 0% added sugar, but also contains 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g.
Use the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g to check whether a biscuit meets the limit for ‘sugar-free’.
A low sugar content alone doesn’t tell you how many carbohydrates or how much energy a biscuit contains. Albert Heijn’s product information lists 63 g of carbohydrates per 100 g for AH Digestive 0% sugar; Jumbo lists 72 g per 100 g for Céréal Coconut.
If they matter to you, compare the total carbohydrates, energy and serving size as well.
Several of the varieties mentioned contain polyols, including maltitol. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, consuming large amounts of polyols can cause wind and diarrhoea.
Check the ingredients and any warning about laxative effects on the packaging, especially if you’re sensitive to polyols.
Allergens vary from one biscuit to another. According to the product pages, AH Digestive 0% sugar contains wheat, while Céréal Speculoos with almond contains, among other things, almonds, egg, milk, soya, wheat and barley.
Check the current ingredients, allergens and ‘may contain’ statement on the packaging for every flavour and whenever you buy it again.
The differences below apply to the biscuits mentioned, not to a brand’s entire range.
According to its product page, AH Digestive 0% sugar is a biscuit made with sweeteners. Its listed sugar content of 0.3 g per 100 g is within the limit for ‘sugar-free’.
Jumbo’s product pages list 0 g of sugars per 100 g for Céréal Coconut and 0.4 g per 100 g for Céréal Speculoos with almond. Both are within the limit for ‘sugar-free’.
Verkade San Francisco zero is a biscuit with no added sugar, but it isn’t a strictly sugar-free option: Albert Heijn’s product page lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘sugar-free’ means no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. ‘No added sugars’ means that no sugars or other foods used for their sweetening properties have been added. The product may still contain sugars that occur naturally. Albert Heijn’s product page lists 0% added sugar for Verkade San Francisco zero, as well as 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g.
The warning relates to polyols, which can be used as sweeteners. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, consuming large amounts of polyols can cause wind and diarrhoea. Foods containing more than 10% added polyols should carry a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Check the ingredients and the warning on the packaging of the biscuit you choose.
No, those descriptions don’t mean that other allergens are absent. According to its product page, AH Digestive 0% sugar is vegan and lactose-free, but contains wheat and may contain other cereals containing gluten. Always check the allergen information for the specific variety.
To check the sugar claim, compare the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g, and also look at the carbohydrates, energy and serving size. According to the European Union, prepacked foods must include information such as energy, fat, saturates, carbohydrates, sugars, protein and salt in their nutrition declaration. When buying, also check the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging.
