Parents keeping an eye on sugar
They compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure on the label and want to know which sweeteners or polyols a biscuit contains. A claim on the front of the pack isn’t enough to assess the lunchbox portion.
Who should consider this?
Parents taking allergens and school rules into account
They check the exact product variant for ingredients such as wheat, milk, egg, soya and nuts, and check what the school or class allows. A sugar claim tells you nothing about allergens.
Parents looking for a snack for a typical school day
They weigh up a biscuit against other lunchbox options. For children aged 4 to 12, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends snacks such as vegetables, fruit, unsalted nuts and wholemeal bread; the school’s policy on nuts matters too.
What should you check when choosing?
When choosing a biscuit for school, first check whether the ingredients and school policy allow it. Then compare the nutritional information for the amount you’ll actually pack.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Actual sugar content | Compare the claim with ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and work out how much sugar is in the portion you’ll pack. | If I pack a biscuit, I want to know how much sugar it contains rather than relying on the front of the pack. For around 33% of consumers, sugar content would be their first consideration. |
| Allergens and school policy | Read the allergen declaration for the exact product variant and check the school or class rules. | If a child or class needs to avoid an ingredient, the biscuit must meet that requirement above all else. Around 27% of consumers would put allergens and school rules first. |
| Nutritional value and portion size | As well as sugars, check energy, fat, fibre and salt per 100 g and for the planned portion. | On a typical school day, I want to choose a snack that fits with the rest of the lunchbox, not just one that meets a sugar target. For around 27% of consumers, this would be the most important consideration. |
| Easy portioning | Check how many biscuits are in the pack and decide how many you want to include. | If I’m dividing a pack across several school days, I want to be able to decide in advance how many biscuits to pack each time. Easy portioning would be the main consideration for around 13% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Reading ‘no added sugars’ as ‘no sugars’
A product with no added sugars may still contain naturally occurring sugars, according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. So the claim alone doesn’t tell you how much sugar the biscuit contains.
Check ‘of which sugars’ in the nutrition table and compare both the figure per 100 g and the amount in the lunchbox portion.
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Assuming a low sugar figure makes it an everyday lunchbox choice
Sugar content answers just one nutritional question. For example, Albert Heijn lists AH Digestive 0% sugar as containing 0.3 g of sugars, but also 465 kcal and 20 g of fat per 100 g.
Check the full nutritional information and the portion size. For a typical school day, consider fruit, vegetable sticks or wholemeal bread too.
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Overlooking the warning about polyols
Some biscuits low in sugars contain polyols, such as maltitol. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems.
Read the ingredients and any warning on the packaging, and take into account how much you’ll pack.
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Assuming a sugar claim tells you anything about allergens
The biscuit varieties mentioned have different allergens. For example, Jumbo lists wheat, almond, egg, milk and soya among the allergens in Céréal Speculoos with almond pieces.
Check the current packaging for the exact product you’ve bought and find out what rules apply at the school or in the class.
Brands to consider
Céréal
Céréal offers biscuit varieties sold as ‘sugar-free’, including Chocolate chip cookie and Speculoos with almond pieces.
- Albert Heijn lists Céréal Chocolate chip cookie as containing 0 g of sugars and 26 g of polyols per 100 g.
- Check the exact product variant for allergens: Jumbo lists ingredients including wheat and almond for the speculoos variety. A low sugar figure doesn’t make a biscuit allergen-free.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn offers AH Digestive 0% sugar among its range of biscuits.
- The product page lists 0.3 g of sugars and 14 g of polyols per 100 g, and describes the product as vegan and lactose-free.
- The same page lists wheat as an allergen, notes that other cereals containing gluten may be present, and gives an energy value of 465 kcal per 100 g. Check the current packaging.
Verkade
Verkade San Francisco zero is a biscuit variety labelled ‘0% added sugar’.
- Albert Heijn’s product information distinguishes between the claim and the nutritional value, listing 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g.
- According to that product information, this variety contains maltitol and lists cereals containing gluten, milk and soya as allergens.
An alternative to biscuits on Joybuy
If you’d rather pack a cracker than a biscuit in your child’s school lunchbox, you could consider this rye cracker as an alternative. Check the nutritional information and allergens on the packaging before deciding what to pack.
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Wasa Sourdough Rye Crackers, 235 g
A rye cracker to consider if you’d like to pack something other than a biscuit in the lunchbox.
235 g pack. Check the current ingredients, allergens and nutritional information, and bear in mind the school or class policy.
Frequently asked questions
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 naturally occurring sugars. To find out how much sugar a particular biscuit contains, check ‘of which sugars’ in the nutrition table.
What should I look out for in biscuits containing polyols?
Check how many polyols the product contains and look for any warnings on the packaging. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems, so also consider the portion you’ll pack.
Can I pack a sugar-free biscuit every school day?
A low sugar figure doesn’t automatically make a biscuit the right everyday choice. For children aged 4 to 12, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends snacks such as vegetables, fruit and wholemeal bread, and advises keeping sweet snacks small and offering them at set times.
What if the school has rules about allergens or nuts?
Follow the current school or class policy and read the allergen declaration on the exact product packaging. The biscuit varieties mentioned list wheat or other cereals containing gluten; other allergens vary by product. A sugar claim doesn’t tell you whether a product is suitable for someone with an allergy.