People who need to avoid sugar completely
You’re looking for something to enjoy with your afternoon coffee that genuinely meets the requirements for a ‘sugar-free’ claim. The nutritional value matters more than the canoe shape.
Who is this choice relevant to?
People who want to compare sugar content
You’re open to other types of biscuit too and want to choose based on the nutritional information, without assuming that ‘sugar-conscious’ automatically means ‘sugar-free’.
People who check for allergens
You’re choosing a biscuit for yourself or to share, and need to check its ingredients and allergens. The product information for the standard canoe biscuits from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS lists, among other things, wheat or cereals containing gluten, egg, milk, soya and almonds or other nuts.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide whether sugar-free is a must. If you’re considering other types of biscuit too, compare the sugars per 100 g and check the allergens for whoever will be eating them.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Strictly sugar-free | Check for a sugar-free claim and the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g. According to the annex to EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, a biscuit must contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g to carry the ‘sugar-free’ claim. | I want a biscuit with my afternoon coffee that can genuinely be called sugar-free, not just a packet that looks sugar-conscious. For around 42% of consumers, being sugar-free is the deciding factor. |
| Other types of biscuit | Compare the ‘of which sugars’ values per 100 g across different biscuits, and check exactly what a claim such as ‘no added sugar’ means. | I don’t need the canoe shape if I can compare biscuits by their sugar content. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this comparison. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the product page, then check the packaging again when you have the biscuit in hand. | If I’m sharing biscuits with someone who needs to avoid certain ingredients, I check the allergens first. For around 25% of consumers, this is the top priority. |
Common mistakes
-
Reading ‘sugar-conscious’ as ‘sugar-free’
A range of sugar-conscious biscuits may include products with different claims. The category itself tells you nothing about the sugar content of an individual biscuit.
If sugar-free is a must, check both the claim and the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g. Under EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, a biscuit carrying the ‘sugar-free’ claim must contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g.
-
Assuming a standard butter canoe biscuit is sugar-free
Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS list 39 g, 36.8 g and 38.9 g of sugars per 100 g respectively for their standard canoe biscuits. These varieties aren’t suitable if you need a strictly sugar-free option.
If you mainly want a classic canoe biscuit with your coffee, bear in mind that these varieties aren’t sugar-free. If sugar-free is essential, look beyond the canoe biscuit category too.
-
Checking allergens only after you’ve chosen
The ingredients information for the standard canoe biscuits from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS lists several allergens, including wheat or cereals containing gluten, egg, milk, soya and almonds or other nuts.
Check the allergen information for your chosen variety before buying, and read the packaging when it arrives too.
Brands worth comparing
Albert Heijn
AH Butter Cano Biscuits are standard canoe-shaped biscuits in a 270 g pack. Albert Heijn also offers a range of sugar-conscious biscuits in other varieties.
- Albert Heijn’s product information lists the ingredients, allergens and nutritional values for its AH Butter Cano Biscuits.
- At 39 g of sugars per 100 g, these biscuits aren’t a sugar-free option. A sugar-conscious biscuit range doesn’t prove that it includes sugar-free canoe biscuits.
Jumbo
Jumbo Butter Cano Biscuits are standard canoe-shaped biscuits in a 275 g pack.
- Jumbo lists ingredients, allergens and nutritional values per 100 g and per serving.
- The listed 36.8 g of sugars per 100 g isn’t suitable if you need a strictly sugar-free option.
PLUS
PLUS Butter Cano Biscuits are standard canoe-shaped biscuits in a 275 g pack.
- PLUS lists the ingredients, allergens and nutritional values, including 38.9 g of sugars and 38.5 g of added sugars per 100 g.
- These biscuits aren’t sugar-free. Check the allergen information for the person who’ll be eating them too.
Lidl / Sondey
Lidl describes its 325 g Sondey Canoe Biscuits as butter biscuits filled with almond paste.
- The product description makes it clear what type of biscuit you’re looking at.
- Don’t assume a biscuit is sugar-free based on its name or filling; check the claim and nutritional information on the packaging.
ALDI / Heerlijck Banket
ALDI describes its 330 g Heerlijck Banket Canoe Biscuits as bakery biscuits shaped like canoes, made to enjoy with coffee.
- The description is helpful if you’re specifically looking for a canoe biscuit to enjoy with your coffee.
- The canoe shape tells you nothing about the sugar content. If sugar-free is a requirement, check the nutritional information on the packaging.
Related Joybuy products
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Are the standard canoe biscuits from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS sugar-free?
No. The product information from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS lists 39 g, 36.8 g and 38.9 g of sugars per 100 g respectively for their standard canoe biscuits. That puts these varieties above the 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g limit for the ‘sugar-free’ claim under EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
When can a biscuit be called ‘sugar-free’?
According to the annex to EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, a biscuit can only carry the ‘sugar-free’ claim if it contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. So check both the claim and the nutritional information per 100 g.
Is a sugar-conscious biscuit automatically sugar-free?
No. A sugar-conscious range, such as Albert Heijn’s, may include different types of biscuit and different claims. Check the exact claim and the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g for the biscuit you want to buy.
Which allergens should you look out for in canoe biscuits?
Always check the ingredients and allergen information for the canoe biscuit you’ve chosen. The product information for the standard varieties from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS lists, among other things, wheat or cereals containing gluten, egg, milk, soya and almonds or other nuts. Check the packaging of the product you receive too.