Students for whom sugar-free is a must
You want to choose biscuits for your new room with a clear sugar-free claim, rather than relying on words such as ‘zero’ or ‘better for you’.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Students who take a broader look at breakfast
You want to choose biscuits with less sugar, but also consider the portion size and the rest of the nutritional information before having them for breakfast or as a snack.
Students who want to take biscuits with them
You’re looking for packaging that works for moving day or lectures, and want to think about how much you’ll actually get through once it’s opened.
What should you look for when choosing?
If the sugar-free claim is your deciding factor, start there. Then compare the nutritional information and packaging to suit the occasion.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is it important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar-free claim | Check the claim on the packaging and the sugars per 100 g. Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, ‘sugar-free’ in the EU means no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. | For my new room, I only want to buy biscuits whose sugar-free claim I can verify; around 42% of consumers put this requirement first. |
| Portion and nutritional information | Compare the energy per portion and per 100 g, and check the fibre, saturated fat and salt, too. | If I have biscuits with breakfast, I want to look beyond sugars alone and know what’s in a portion; around 33% of consumers focus on this broader picture. |
| Packaging and storage | Check the number of portions, the type of packaging and the storage advice once opened. | On moving day or on the way to lectures, I want to be able to take biscuits with me without leaving an open pack for ages; convenience matters most to around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming sugar-free means a nutritious breakfast
A sugar-free claim is about the sugar content, not the overall nutritional value. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that sugar-free biscuits can still provide energy and may contain few vitamins, minerals and fibre.
Read the nutritional information per portion and per 100 g, and consider how the biscuits fit into your breakfast.
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Trusting ‘zero’ in the product name alone
A product name doesn’t tell you everything about its current ingredients or nutritional make-up. Albert Heijn says that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change.
Check the packaging when you buy, especially the sugars per 100 g, ingredients and allergens.
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Overlooking sweetener warnings
Sugar-free biscuits may contain sweeteners. The European Food Safety Authority points out that warnings about possible laxative effects from excessive consumption of polyols remain relevant.
Read the ingredients and any warnings on the packaging, especially if you plan to have more than one portion.
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Choosing a pack you won’t finish
Even biscuits with a long shelf life can lose their quality over time. This is particularly relevant if an opened pack is left in the cupboard after you’ve finished moving.
Choose a pack size that suits you, seal the biscuits well after opening and follow the storage advice on the packaging.
Brands and product ranges to compare
Céréal
Jumbo lists Céréal varieties including coconut biscuits and speculoos biscuits with almond pieces as sugar-free options.
- Jumbo describes the coconut variety as conveniently packed for taking with you.
- Check the current ingredients, nutritional information and any sweetener warnings for each variety. The description of the coconut variety doesn’t automatically apply to the speculoos variety.
Albert Heijn
AH Digestive 0% sugar is an own-brand option for anyone comparing digestive biscuits.
- The product name makes it clear which style of biscuit and sugar claim to look for on the packaging.
- Albert Heijn warns that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change, so check the current packaging.
Verkade
Albert Heijn lists Verkade San Francisco zero as a variety in the San Francisco biscuit range.
- You can look up this specific variety if you want to compare this style of biscuit with other options.
- Don’t assume the sugar content or overall nutritional value from ‘zero’ alone; check the current packaging.
Lotus Biscoff
Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff as a crunchy biscuit with a caramelised flavour. It’s an option to compare if sugar-free isn’t a must.
- The flavour description can help you decide whether you’re looking for a regular biscuit instead.
- A familiar flavour isn’t a sugar-free claim. Only include a specific Biscoff variety in a sugar-free comparison if the current packaging carries that claim.
Related Joybuy products
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
When can biscuits be called ‘sugar-free’?
Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the claim ‘sugar-free’ can be used in the EU if a food contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. Check the claim and nutritional information on the packaging; a word such as ‘zero’ in the name isn’t enough on its own to assess what the product contains.
Are sugar-free biscuits automatically a suitable breakfast choice?
No. The sugar-free claim only tells you about the sugars. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists 43 kilocalories per 10 g biscuit for a general sugar-free biscuit; this doesn’t reflect the nutritional value of every variety. Compare the portion and full nutritional information if you want to have biscuits with breakfast.
Why should I check the sweeteners on the packaging?
Sugar-free biscuits may contain sweeteners, including polyols. The European Food Safety Authority points out that warnings about possible laxative effects from excessive consumption of polyols remain relevant. So read the ingredients and any warnings, especially if you plan to have several portions.
How should I store opened sugar-free biscuits in my student room?
Seal the pack well, keep the biscuits somewhere dry and follow the storage advice on the label. For a general opened sugar-free biscuit, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre says it can be kept in a kitchen cupboard for more than two months; after that, its quality may deteriorate. Check the packaging for your product.