Who is this relevant to?

Anyone looking for strictly sugar-free biscuits

The amount of sugars on the label is what matters most to you. As well as checking the claim, look at the portion size, nutritional information, ingredients and allergens in the biscuits you choose.

Anyone looking for something to top up their breakfast supplies

You’re looking for biscuits or breakfast cake with no added sugars, and want to take the product type and fibre into account. You understand that ‘no added sugars’ does not mean the same as ‘sugar-free’.

Anyone comparing portions and nutritional information

You want to choose something with less sugar, but you’re also considering energy, fat and how much you’ll actually eat. A sugar claim alone doesn’t give you enough information to make that choice.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start with the sugar claim that matches what you’re buying for. Then compare products of the same type by their nutritional information per 100 g and the portion you plan to eat.

What to look for What to check when buying Who should pay particular attention?
What the sugar claim means Read the exact claim and check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. Under EU Regulation 1924/2006, biscuits carrying the claim ‘sugar-free’ may contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. If I want genuinely sugar-free biscuits, the amount of sugars must meet the claim; ‘no added sugars’ isn’t enough for me. Around 42% of consumers prioritise this strict sugar claim.
Biscuits for breakfast Compare the product type, fibre, sugars per 100 g and portion size; Dutch breakfast cake is different from a crisp biscuit. For breakfast, I’m mainly looking for a suitable product with no added sugars and want to be able to compare the fibre content, even if it isn’t sugar-free. This is the main priority for around 33% of consumers.
Portion size and other nutritional information Check energy, fat and saturated fat per 100 g and per portion. For products containing polyols, also read the ingredients and any warning on the packaging. A sugar claim doesn’t help me choose if the portion size and other nutritional information don’t suit my plans. An estimated 25% of consumers put this consideration first.

Common mistakes

  • Reading ‘no added sugars’ as ‘sugar-free’

    A product with no added sugars can still contain naturally occurring sugars. For example, Albert Heijn lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Verkade San Francisco Zero; the Peijnenburg wholegrain breakfast cake listed by Jumbo contains 4.9 g per 100 g.

    If sugar-free is a must, check the actual claim and the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g.

  • Assuming sugar-free means low in energy

    According to Albert Heijn’s product information, AH Digestive 0% sugar contains 465 kcal and 20 g of fat per 100 g. Albert Heijn lists 404 kcal and 20 g of fat per 100 g for Céréal Speculoos almond pieces without sugars.

    As well as sugars, compare energy and fat per 100 g, then work out how those figures apply to the portion you plan to eat.

  • Skipping the ingredients when buying a larger pack

    The product information for AH Digestive 0% sugar, Céréal Speculoos almond pieces without sugars and Peijnenburg wholegrain breakfast cake warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

    Check which sweeteners or polyols the product contains, and take note of the warning on the packaging.

  • Focusing only on the sugar claim and overlooking allergens

    The biscuit varieties mentioned have different ingredients. Céréal’s product information lists wheat, almonds, eggs, milk and soya, among other ingredients; Verkade San Francisco Zero lists cereals containing gluten, milk and soya, among others.

    Before buying, check the allergen information on the packaging of the exact product you’re choosing.

Brands to compare

Albert Heijn (AH)

AH Digestive 0% sugar is a biscuit made with sweeteners. According to Albert Heijn’s product information, this variety contains 0.3 g of sugars per 100 g.

  • The listed amount of sugars is below the threshold for the EU ‘sugar-free’ claim.
  • Albert Heijn also lists 465 kcal, 20 g of fat and 14 g of polyols per 100 g, along with a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

Céréal

Céréal Speculoos almond pieces without sugars is a speculoos-style biscuit. Albert Heijn lists 0.4 g of sugars per 100 g for this variety.

  • The listed amount of sugars is below the threshold for the EU ‘sugar-free’ claim.
  • The product information lists 404 kcal, 20 g of fat, 12 g of saturated fat and 29 g of polyols per 100 g. Check the allergens too, including wheat and almonds.

Verkade

Verkade San Francisco Zero is a biscuit with no added sugars, but it isn’t a sugar-free option: Albert Heijn lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g.

  • A biscuit option if you want to avoid added sugars but don’t require a strictly sugar-free product.
  • According to the product information, it contains naturally occurring sugars. Check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging too.

Peijnenburg

Wholegrain breakfast cake with no added sugars is a different type of product from a crisp biscuit. Jumbo lists 17 g of fibre per 100 g for this variety.

  • Breakfast cake may suit you if you’re looking for something to eat in the morning.
  • Jumbo lists 4.9 g of sugars and 24 g of polyols per 100 g, and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Here, no added sugars does not mean sugar-free.

Lotus Biscoff

Lotus Biscoff The Original Speculoos is a regular speculoos biscuit for anyone looking for the classic flavour, rather than a sugar-free option.

  • A familiar point of comparison if flavour matters more to you than a sugar-free claim.
  • Lotus Bakeries Nederland lists 38.1 g of sugars per 100 g and includes sugar and candy syrup in the ingredients.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

When can a biscuit be called ‘sugar-free’?

Under EU Regulation 1924/2006, a biscuit can carry the claim ‘sugar-free’ if it contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. So, as well as checking the wording on the front, look at the ‘of which sugars’ figure in the nutritional information per 100 g.

Does ‘no added sugars’ mean the same as sugar-free?

No. Biscuits with no added sugars can still contain naturally occurring sugars. Albert Heijn lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Verkade San Francisco Zero; Jumbo lists 4.9 g per 100 g for Peijnenburg wholegrain breakfast cake with no added sugars.

Why do some packs warn about a laxative effect?

This warning appears on some biscuits containing polyols, in case of excessive consumption. Read the ingredients and the warning on the packaging of the variety you’re buying.

How should I store an opened pack of sugar-free biscuits?

Store sugar-free biscuits in a cool, dry, dark place in a tightly sealed pack, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Also follow the storage instructions and use-by date on the packaging.