Who is this relevant to?

Walkers keeping an eye on sugars

You’re looking for a chocolate biscuit with little or no sugars and want to know what the nutrition information says about the exact variety, regardless of the wording on the front of the pack.

Walkers checking the ingredients

You want to check which sweeteners and allergens are in your biscuit before setting off. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that consuming large amounts of polyols can cause wind and diarrhoea; sensitivity varies from person to person.

Walkers taking a small snack with them

You’re looking for a portion that fits in your bag, alongside other food and water for the journey. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises starting a walk with a full stomach.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start with the nutrition information for the biscuit you want to buy. Then consider whether the ingredients and serving size suit the way you plan to enjoy it on the go.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Sugars and claims Compare ‘of which sugars’ and energy per 100 g and per serving; don’t treat ‘sugar-free’ and ‘reduced sugars’ as the same claim. If I want to limit sugar, I want to know how much is in my own biscuit serving. For around 42% of consumers, this check comes first.
Ingredients and tolerance Read the ingredients and allergen information, and check which polyols the product contains. I want a biscuit that suits the ingredients I need to keep an eye on, especially when I’m out and about. This is the main concern for around 33% of consumers.
Serving size and role as a snack Check the weight of each biscuit and the packaging; plan to have it alongside other food and water. I want to take something small with me without treating a biscuit as my entire supply of provisions. This practical consideration matters most to around 25% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘sugar-free’ means ‘low in energy’

    A claim about sugars doesn’t tell you the full nutritional value. Jumbo lists 0.5 g sugars per 100 g for Céréal Minder Suikers Choco Delight Puur; check the energy content and serving size of the biscuit you choose too.

    Compare the nutrition information per 100 g and per biscuit. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also advises taking other food and water with you on a walk.

  • Trying a new biscuit containing polyols for the first time on the trail

    The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that consuming large amounts of polyols can cause wind and diarrhoea. People can react differently to the same product.

    Check the ingredients and try a new variety at home in a regular serving, rather than for the first time on a long walk.

  • Overlooking allergens because of a sugar claim

    A claim about sugars tells you nothing about allergens. For example, Céréal lists wheat and the possible presence of other allergens for its Chocolate Chip Cookie.

    Check the ingredients list and allergen information on the packaging of the exact variety every time you buy it.

  • Mistaking an ordinary chocolate biscuit for a sugar-free variety

    ALDI describes Biscotto Chocoladekoekjes as butter biscuits with chocolate. The product name alone doesn’t tell you how much sugar a serving contains.

    Only include a variety in your comparison after you’ve checked the nutrition information and ingredients on the packaging.

Relevant brands and shops

Céréal

Céréal offers several biscuits with chocolate; compare the exact varieties rather than assuming the same values apply across the brand.

  • According to its own product information, the Chocolate Chip Cookie contains 0 g sugars and 2.8 g polyols per biscuit.
  • For the other variety, Minder Suikers Choco Delight Puur, Jumbo lists 0.5 g sugars and 24 g polyols per 100 g. Check the allergens for each variety too.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn has a category for sugar-conscious biscuits, which includes Céréal’s Chocolate Chip Cookie.

  • The shop also lists AH Digestive 0% suiker for anyone who wants to compare biscuits without chocolate.
  • AH Digestive 0% suiker isn’t a chocolate biscuit. The product page also warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

Jumbo

Jumbo includes Céréal Minder Suikers Choco Delight Puur in its range of sugar-conscious products.

  • The product information includes sugars and polyols per 100 g, so you can compare the variety on those measures.
  • Before buying, check the ingredients, allergens and nutrition information on the current packaging.

Biscotto

ALDI describes Biscotto Chocoladekoekjes as butter biscuits with dark, white and milk chocolate, packed in pairs.

  • The two-biscuit packs may be useful if you want to take a clearly defined portion with you.
  • Don’t assume the product contains little or no sugar based on its name; check the label for the exact variety.

Sondey

Lidl describes Sondey as a range that includes biscuits and cookies.

  • The brand is one to look out for when comparing biscuits on the supermarket shelves.
  • Check the nutrition information for any specific chocolate biscuit; a broad biscuit range tells you nothing about the sugar content of an individual variety.

Products on Joybuy

Related products will appear here soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘reduced sugars’ mean the same as ‘sugar-free’?

No. Compare the claim with the nutrition information for the exact variety. Jumbo lists 0.5 g sugars per 100 g for Céréal Minder Suikers Choco Delight Puur; Céréal lists 0 g sugars for its Chocolate Chip Cookie.

Can I take a chocolate biscuit as my only food on a walk?

It’s best to have a biscuit alongside your provisions, not as a replacement for them. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises starting with a full stomach and taking food and water with you for the journey.

Why are polyols on my checklist?

They may be a factor when choosing a biscuit to eat on the go. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that consuming large amounts of polyols can cause wind and diarrhoea, so check the ingredients and the amount per serving.

Where can I check allergens in a sugar-free biscuit?

Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the packaging of the exact variety. A claim about sugars tells you nothing about the presence of ingredients such as wheat or other potential allergens.