If you’re flying in the morning, first decide what you mean by less sugar: a biscuit with no sugars or one with no added sugars. Then compare the nutritional information per 100 g and check the ingredients, allergens and any warnings about polyols. Schiphol says you can take food in your hand luggage, but spreadable food may be subject to the liquids rules. A dry biscuit is therefore a different choice from a snack with a spread.
If you want a biscuit labelled ‘sugar-free’, also check the ‘of which sugars’ figure in the nutritional information. A product name containing ‘zero’ does not, by itself, tell you the product’s sugar content.
If added sugar is your main consideration, a biscuit with no added sugars may suit you, even if the nutritional information still lists sugars. Also check which sweeteners or polyols the recipe contains.
If you have an allergy or intolerance, the current allergen information takes priority over the sugar claim. Also check for any ‘may contain’ warnings on the pack you’ll actually be taking with you.
Choose this when: you want to select by total sugar content. According to Albert Heijn, Céréal Chocolate chip cookie zonder suikers contains 0 g sugars per 100 g.
Bear in mind: the same nutritional information lists 26 g polyols per 100 g. Also check the portion size, allergens and any warning on the pack.
Choose this when: added sugar is your main criterion, rather than a sugar content of 0 g. According to Jumbo, Verkade San Francisco Zero contains 1.7 g sugars per 100 g.
Bear in mind: ‘no added sugars’ and ‘sugar-free’ don’t mean the same thing. Check the exact claim and the nutritional information.
Choose this when: a familiar flavour or individually wrapped portions matter more to you than choosing a sugar-free option.
Bear in mind: Lotus Bakeries lists 38.1 g sugars per 100 g for Lotus Biscoff Original. A smaller pack doesn’t change the sugar value per 100 g.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar claim | Read the exact claim and compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g; check the ingredients list too. | If I’m looking for a sugar-free biscuit, I don’t want to rely on a ‘zero’ name alone. For around 36% of consumers, total sugar content comes first. |
| Sweeteners and nutritional value | Compare energy, fat, fibre and polyols per 100 g, and read any warnings about consumption. | If you mainly want to avoid added sugar, you may also want to know what has been used in its place in the recipe. Around 29% of consumers give this consideration priority. |
| Taking it in hand luggage | Choose a dry biscuit in a sealed pack for your journey; check spreads separately against the liquids rules. | For a morning flight, I want a snack that’s easy to take with me, without having to check a spread separately. Around 21% of consumers prioritise this convenience when travelling. |
| Allergens and fibre | Read the current allergen information, including ‘may contain’ warnings; then compare fibre per 100 g if you wish. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, the biscuit must first meet my dietary requirements, whatever the sugar claim says. For around 14% of consumers, checking the label is decisive. |
A name containing ‘zero’ may refer to added sugars. Jumbo lists 1.7 g sugars per 100 g for Verkade San Francisco Zero.
If total sugar content is your main criterion, check both the exact claim and the ‘of which sugars’ figure.
A sugar-free biscuit still has other nutritional values to consider. Albert Heijn lists 414 kcal and 26 g polyols per 100 g for Céréal Chocolate chip cookie zonder suikers, with a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Compare similar biscuits per 100 g and also check the portion size and warnings on the label.
The Céréal and Verkade biscuits mentioned contain certain allergens or carry warnings about possible traces. A sugar claim says nothing about whether a product is suitable for someone with an allergy.
First read the allergen information on the current pack, then compare the other nutritional information.
Schiphol says you can take food in your hand luggage, but spreadable food may be subject to the liquids rules.
Check a spread or sauce separately if you want to take it with your biscuits.
AH Digestive 0% suiker shows why it’s worth checking the nutritional information as well as the name.
Chocolate chip cookie zonder suikers is an example for anyone choosing a product labelled ‘sugar-free’.
San Francisco Zero illustrates the choice of a biscuit with no added sugars, rather than one with 0 g total sugars.
Lotus Biscoff Original is a regular biscuit for anyone who values flavour or individually wrapped portions more than choosing a sugar-free option.
Yes. Schiphol says you can take food in your hand luggage. Ideally, take a dry biscuit in a sealed pack, and check any spreads or liquid accompaniments separately against the liquids rules.
No. A biscuit with no added sugars may still contain sugars. If total sugar content is what matters to you, check both the exact claim and the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g.
Start by comparing the nutritional information per 100 g, as the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises. Then consider what the portion you want to take with you means for your choice.
Sweeteners are listed in the ingredients, according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Also check the nutritional information and any warning about excessive consumption on the current pack.
No. The sugar claim says nothing about allergens. Check the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ warning on the pack you’re buying for each variety.
