Who is this choice relevant to?

Office buyers with a strict sugar-free requirement

They’re looking for biscuits that meet the sugar-free claim, not just biscuits with no added sugars. The sugar content per 100 g, sweeteners and allergens determine which pack is suitable.

Teams handing out biscuits individually

They want to know how much each biscuit contains and how many are in a pack, whether they’re serving them with coffee or at meetings.

People managing a shared office supply

They’re looking for a practical supply to suit different preferences, and need to factor in ingredients, allergens and storage once a pack has been opened.

What should you look for?

First, decide whether ‘sugar-free’ is a strict requirement for your office supply. Then consider how the biscuits will be handed out and what else the label tells you.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Sugar-free or no added sugars Check the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the ‘sugar-free’ claim is limited to a maximum of 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. If our office policy really is sugar-free, I don’t want to accidentally choose a biscuit that only has no added sugars; around 31% of consumers put checking this claim first.
Portions and serving Check the value per biscuit, the number of biscuits in the pack and the storage instructions after opening. For coffee breaks and meetings, I want to be able to hand out a clear portion to each person and store the rest properly. This is the main concern for around 25% of consumers.
Allergens and sweeteners Read the ingredients and allergen information, and look for any warning about polyols. When colleagues are choosing from the same supply, I want everyone to be able to check the ingredients in their biscuit; this need takes priority for around 25% of consumers.
Full nutritional information Compare similar biscuits per 100 g for energy, saturated fat, fibre and salt. I don’t want to look at sugar content alone when choosing biscuits for the office. Around 19% of consumers give the full nutrition table their highest priority.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘zero’ means ‘sugar-free’

    According to Albert Heijn, Verkade San Francisco zero contains no added sugar, but has 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g. That’s above the limit the Netherlands Nutrition Centre sets for the ‘sugar-free’ claim.

    Decide which claim your office supply needs to meet, then check the sugar content per 100 g.

  • Comparing sugar content alone

    A low sugar content doesn’t tell you how much energy, saturated fat, fibre or salt a biscuit contains. For example, Albert Heijn lists 465 kcal per 100 g for AH Digestive 0% suiker.

    Compare the full nutrition tables of similar biscuits per 100 g before looking at the portion values.

  • Overlooking ingredient information for a shared supply

    The biscuits mentioned may contain polyols and allergens. For AH Digestive 0% suiker, Albert Heijn also warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

    Keep the packaging or the ingredient and allergen information with the biscuits so colleagues can check it themselves.

  • Opening a large pack without a serving plan

    Céréal Zonder Suikers Kokos comes in a pack of three lots of four biscuits; AH Digestive 0% suiker is sold in a 400 g pack. These packs call for different approaches at meetings and when stocking a shared supply.

    Choose a pack to suit how you’ll be serving the biscuits, and follow the label’s storage instructions once it’s open.

Brands to consider

Céréal

The Zonder Suikers Kokos variety is worth considering if you’re looking for a sugar-free biscuit in smaller portions.

  • Jumbo lists 0 g of sugars per 100 g for this variety, and 47 kcal per 11 g biscuit.
  • The coconut variety contains wheat and uses polyols; check the label if these ingredients are a concern.

Albert Heijn

AH Digestive 0% suiker is a sugar-free biscuit in a 400 g pack, suitable if you’re putting together a shared supply.

  • Albert Heijn lists 0.3 g of sugars per 100 g for this biscuit.
  • The product contains wheat and polyols. Albert Heijn lists 465 kcal per 100 g and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

Verkade

San Francisco zero may suit those looking for biscuits with no added sugar, but not those with a strict sugar-free requirement.

  • Albert Heijn says this variety contains no added sugar.
  • The same product information lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g and notes that it contains gluten-containing cereals, milk, soya and maltitols.

Sondey

Lidl’s range of cookies and biscuits is worth exploring in store when putting together an office supply.

  • Lidl offers a variety of cookies and biscuits in its Sondey range.
  • Check the label of each individual variety before offering it as sugar-free.

Biscotto

ALDI’s range includes digestive biscuits, tea biscuits and oat biscuits, among other options for a regular coffee break.

  • These different types of biscuits offer alternatives when you don’t need a specific sugar claim.
  • If you need sugar-free biscuits, don’t rely on the brand name or type of biscuit: check the claim and sugar content on the pack you choose.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is a biscuit with no added sugars also sugar-free?

No, the two terms don’t mean the same thing. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a product labelled ‘sugar-free’ may contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. So check the sugar content even if no sugar has been added.

Does a sugar-free biscuit automatically contain fewer calories?

No, you can’t tell how much energy a biscuit contains from its sugar claim alone. Albert Heijn lists 465 kcal per 100 g for AH Digestive 0% suiker; compare the full nutritional information for similar biscuits before you choose.

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

This warning may appear on biscuits containing polyols. Albert Heijn says that excessive consumption of AH Digestive 0% suiker and Verkade San Francisco zero may have a laxative effect; keep this information visible when handing out biscuits at the office.

How do you compare biscuits with different portion sizes?

Start by comparing similar biscuits per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that manufacturers set their own portion sizes; then use the value per biscuit to plan how you’ll serve them with coffee or at meetings.