Travellers who need to avoid sugar completely
For you, the sugar content of the exact variety matters more than the wording on the front of the pack. Check the nutritional information per 100 g and read the ingredients.
Who is this choice important for?
Travellers looking for a snack just before departure
You want to pick up a biscuit quickly for the journey. Schiphol lists an Albert Heijn shop, but if you have a particular variety in mind, buying it in advance gives you time to check the packaging carefully.
Shoppers who check ingredients and allergens
You want to know which sweeteners and polyols a biscuit contains and which allergens are listed on the pack. Check the warnings and nutritional information for your chosen variety too.
What should you look for when choosing?
If you’re looking for a sugar-free or sugar-conscious biscuit before your departure from Schiphol, first decide whether ‘sugar-free’ is a strict requirement. Then you can weigh up whether to buy the biscuit in advance and which ingredients matter to you.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Truly sugar-free | Check the claim and the sugars per 100 g on the exact pack. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘sugar-free’ means no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g; ‘no added sugars’ means something different. | If I want to choose something strictly sugar-free, I don’t want to take a biscuit that is simply made without added sugars. For around 42% of these consumers, checking the sugar content comes first. |
| Availability before departure | Decide whether to buy in advance or check the current stock at Schiphol. A product in an online range isn’t necessarily stocked in the airport shop. | Just before departure, I want to be able to find a biscuit without relying on a particular variety being available; for around 33% of consumers, finding one quickly matters most. |
| Ingredients and nutritional information | Read the ingredients, allergen information and warnings. Compare energy, fat and sugars per 100 g and, where listed, per serving. | If I need to check sweeteners, polyols or allergens, I want to be able to assess the packaging myself. For around 25% of consumers, checking these ingredients is their main concern. |
Common mistakes
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Reading ‘no added sugars’ as ‘sugar-free’
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a product with no added sugars may still contain sugars that occur naturally. So that wording doesn’t meet a strict sugar-free requirement.
Check both the claim and the amount of sugars per 100 g on the exact pack.
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Comparing only the sugar content
A sugar-free biscuit can still contain energy and fat. Albert Heijn’s product information lists 414 kcal and 18 g of fat per 100 g for Céréal sugar-free chocolate chip cookies, and 465 kcal and 20 g of fat per 100 g for AH Digestive 0% Sugar.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and consider how much of your chosen biscuit you’ll actually want to eat.
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Leaving polyols and allergens until after you buy
The sugar-free products mentioned contain sweeteners. The Céréal biscuits and AH Digestive also carry a warning about a laxative effect if consumed in excess; the allergens present or that may be present vary by product.
Check the ingredients, allergen information and warnings on the physical packaging of the exact variety.
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Assuming an online product is stocked at the airport
Schiphol lists Albert Heijn as a place to shop, but an online product page doesn’t tell you what will be in store when you depart.
Buy in advance if the exact sugar claim or ingredients are essential to you. If you’re buying at Schiphol, check the product that’s actually on the shelf.
Brands to consider
These products show why it’s worth comparing each variety: not every chocolate biscuit is sugar-free, and not every sugar-free biscuit contains chocolate.
Céréal
Céréal sugar-free chocolate chip cookies are chocolate biscuits available from Albert Heijn online.
- Albert Heijn’s product information lists 0 g of sugars and 8.9 g of fibre per 100 g for this variety.
- The same information lists 414 kcal, 18 g of fat and 26 g of polyols per 100 g, along with allergen information and a warning about a laxative effect if consumed in excess. Check the packaging and stock if you’re buying at Schiphol.
Albert Heijn
AH Digestive 0% Sugar is a sugar-free biscuit if chocolate isn’t a must for you. Schiphol also lists an Albert Heijn shop at the airport.
- Albert Heijn lists 0.3 g of sugars per 100 g for this biscuit with sweeteners.
- It isn’t a chocolate biscuit. The product information lists 465 kcal and 20 g of fat per 100 g; check the packaging and the airport shop’s stock separately.
Lotus Biscoff
Lotus Biscoff speculoos with chocolate is an option to compare if you’re looking for chocolate without needing it to be strictly sugar-free.
- It’s a chocolate speculoos biscuit; Lotus Biscoff’s product specifications list wheat, milk and soya, among other ingredients.
- Lotus Biscoff lists 39.6 g of sugars per 100 g for this variety. This means it doesn’t meet the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s threshold for the ‘sugar-free’ claim.
Related Joybuy products
Related products will be available soon.
Frequently asked questions
When can a biscuit be labelled ‘sugar-free’?
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a product carrying the ‘sugar-free’ nutrition claim can contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. Check the nutritional information for the exact biscuit; the claim doesn’t automatically apply to other varieties from the same brand.
Does ‘no added sugars’ mean the same as ‘sugar-free’?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a product with no added sugars may still contain sugars that occur naturally. If sugar-free is a strict requirement for you, check the specific claim and the amount per 100 g.
Can I take dry biscuits in my hand luggage from Schiphol?
Schiphol generally allows dry food in hand luggage. Different rules apply to liquid or spreadable food; check any additional requirements set by your airline too.
Does sugar-free mean a biscuit contains fewer calories?
No, the ‘sugar-free’ claim says nothing on its own about the total energy content. For example, Albert Heijn lists 414 kcal and 18 g of fat per 100 g for Céréal sugar-free chocolate chip cookies. Compare the nutritional information for the variety and serving size you’re considering.
Is a sugar-free chocolate biscuit sold online also available at Albert Heijn at Schiphol?
You can’t assume so: Schiphol lists Albert Heijn as a shop, but an online product listing doesn’t confirm that a particular item is in stock at the airport. If you want a specific variety, buy it in advance or check the shelf and packaging in store.