When choosing a biscuit to serve at an oliebollen stall, start by checking the sugar claim. Under the EU regulation on nutrition claims, a product can only be called ‘sugar-free’ if it contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. ‘No added sugars’ does not mean that the product contains no sugars. Then compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion, along with the ingredients and allergens. For non-prepacked sales, allergen information must be available before purchase.
To check whether a biscuit meets the ‘sugar-free’ claim, look at the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the limit for this claim is no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g; ‘no added sugars’ is a different claim.
If carbohydrates or energy are important to your choice, the sugar content alone does not tell you enough. Compare the nutritional information for the specific biscuit and consider how many you plan to eat.
For biscuits sold at a stall, ingredient and allergen information is important for customers who avoid certain substances. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, information about the 14 legally recognised allergens must be made available to customers for non-prepacked foods.
Start by deciding what ‘sugar-free’ needs to mean for your choice. Then consider whether portion size, the sweetener used or the information provided for non-prepacked sales is the deciding factor.
| What to look for | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| The correct sugar claim | Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. Under the EU regulation on nutrition claims, ‘sugar-free’ means no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g; don’t confuse this with ‘no added sugars’. | I’m looking for a biscuit that genuinely meets the ‘sugar-free’ claim, not just one made without added sugar. For around 31% of consumers, this claim is the most important factor. |
| Nutritional information and portion size | Compare energy, carbohydrates and saturated fat per 100 g, then factor in the portion you want to eat. | I want to know what the amount of biscuits I eat adds to my overall intake, even if they contain little sugar. Around 25% of consumers prioritise nutritional information and portion size. |
| Sweeteners and polyols | Check the ingredients for sweeteners such as maltitol and look for any warning about excessive consumption. | If I’m considering eating more than one biscuit, I want to know which sweetener has been used and whether there’s a warning on the packaging. This is a key consideration for around 19% of consumers. |
| Allergens at the stall | Check the label. For non-prepacked sales, make sure information about relevant allergens is available before purchase. | If a biscuit is sold loose, I want to be able to check which allergens it contains before buying. For around 25% of consumers, this information is what makes the difference. |
A biscuit can be made without added sugars and still contain naturally occurring sugars. An Allerhande recipe featuring dates shows why these claims are not interchangeable.
Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. If you want to use or select products based on the ‘sugar-free’ claim, check that the sugar content meets the EU regulation’s limit of no more than 0.5 g per 100 g.
Damhert Nutrition lists its Zonder Suikers Almond Biscuits as containing 0.4 g of sugars per 100 g, but also 466 kcal and 63 g of carbohydrates. So sugar content alone does not answer every question about nutritional value.
Compare biscuits on the same basis, such as per 100 g, then consider the portion you plan to eat.
According to diabetes.nl, sweeteners with names ending in ‘-ol’ can cause diarrhoea. Damhert Nutrition lists its almond biscuits as containing 29 g of polyols per 100 g and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Read the ingredients and any warnings on the packaging, especially if you plan to eat several biscuits.
When biscuits are served from an open tray, customers cannot automatically check the original label. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, information about the 14 legally recognised allergens must be provided to customers for non-prepacked foods.
Keep product information available at the point of sale and make sure customers can check which allergens are relevant to the biscuits before buying them.
Keeping this information up to date takes extra care when packs are opened and biscuits are sold individually.
The Zonder Suikers range includes almond biscuits, for which Damhert Nutrition provides nutritional information per 100 g. This makes the specific variant useful for comparing sugar, carbohydrates and energy side by side.
Albert Heijn lists Céréal biscuits without sugars, including varieties with chocolate chips and with speculoos and almond. If you’re considering either flavour, compare the nutritional information for that exact variant.
Under the EU regulation on nutrition claims, ‘sugar-free’ can be used if a product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. For a packaged biscuit, check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g in the nutrition table.
No. The product may still contain naturally occurring sugars. For example, Allerhande’s recipe for biscuits without added sugars uses dates. Check the sugar content if you’re specifically looking for a sugar-free biscuit.
No. The sugar claim alone does not tell you how many carbohydrates a biscuit contains. Damhert Nutrition lists its Zonder Suikers Almond Biscuits as containing 63 g of carbohydrates per 100 g, so compare the nutrition table for your chosen variant and consider the portion size.
Yes. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, customers must be given information about the 14 legally recognised allergens for non-prepacked foods. Make sure customers can get this information before buying; the relevant allergens depend on the biscuits being sold.
This warning may be linked to polyols in the biscuit. According to diabetes.nl, sweeteners with names ending in ‘-ol’ can cause diarrhoea. So check the ingredients and any warning about excessive consumption for the product you choose.
