The canoe biscuits listed by Jumbo, Albert Heijn and PLUS are not sugar-free: they contain 36.8 g, 38 g and 38.9 g of sugars per 100 g respectively, while the European Union allows a maximum of 0.5 g per 100 g for a ‘sugar-free’ claim. If you don’t need a canoe-shaped biscuit, you could consider a biscuit with no added sugars. However, Verkade San Francisco Zero is not sugar-free either, with 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g. If you’re stocking up for your holiday, also check the allergens and the sweetener warning.
You want a biscuit for the summer holidays that meets the threshold for a ‘sugar-free’ claim. A traditional canoe biscuit isn’t a suitable substitute if meeting that threshold is a firm requirement for you.
You’re looking for something to enjoy in the morning or as a snack while on holiday, and you’re open to a different type of biscuit. You look beyond the words on the front of the pack.
You’re choosing for several people or for the journey, and want to check the allergens, portions, shelf life and storage instructions on the packaging before you set off.
First, decide whether ‘sugar-free’ is a firm requirement or whether you mainly want to avoid added sugars. Then compare the nutritional information per 100 g. If you’re stocking up for a holiday, check the packaging too.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Strictly sugar-free | Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. Under European Union rules, a solid biscuit can contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g to carry a ‘sugar-free’ claim. | If I genuinely need a sugar-free biscuit, I’d rather give up the canoe shape than that requirement. Around 46% of consumers put being strictly sugar-free first. |
| No added sugars | Compare the claim with the nutritional information per 100 g. If the biscuit contains polyols, check the warning on the packaging too. | For a holiday treat, I want to avoid added sugars and don’t mind choosing a different-shaped biscuit. This is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Snacks for the journey | Check the ingredients and allergens, number of portions, best-before date and storage advice on the packaging. | When I pack biscuits for a journey or for the family, I want to know in advance what everyone can eat and how to store the pack. This practical consideration comes first for around 18% of consumers. |
These are different claims. Under European Union rules, a solid biscuit can contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g to be labelled ‘sugar-free’; Albert Heijn lists 1.7 g per 100 g for Verkade San Francisco Zero.
Before buying, decide which of the two requirements matters to you, then check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g.
A sugar claim doesn’t tell you whether the ingredients are suitable for someone with an allergy. The canoe biscuits described here and San Francisco Zero list allergens such as wheat, milk or soya; ingredients vary between products.
Check the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging every time you buy, especially if you’re packing for other people.
‘No added sugars’ doesn’t tell you everything about a biscuit’s nutritional value, and it doesn’t make it a traditional canoe biscuit.
As well as sugars, compare the energy per 100 g and consider the portion you’ll actually take with you.
For Verkade San Francisco Zero, Albert Heijn lists maltitols and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Read the warning before packing the product for a trip, and consider how much you’re taking with you.
Verkade San Francisco Zero is a biscuit with no added sugars, not a filled canoe biscuit.
Jumbo Kano's met Roomboter are filled canoe biscuits for anyone specifically looking for this style of biscuit.
The product information described here covers both AH BASIC Kano's and the different type of biscuit, Verkade San Francisco Zero.
PLUS Roomboter kano's are filled butter biscuits decorated with almonds.
Under European Union rules, a solid biscuit can contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g to make this claim. Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g in the nutrition table; words such as ‘zero’ or ‘no added sugars’ don’t answer that question.
No, it’s a biscuit, not a canoe biscuit. Verkade describes it as having no added sugars, but Albert Heijn lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g, so it doesn’t meet the ‘sugar-free’ threshold.
Read the ingredients and the warning on the packaging. Albert Heijn lists maltitols and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Check the allergens on each individual pack, as they vary between products. The information given for the canoe biscuits and Verkade San Francisco Zero mentions wheat, milk and soya, among other allergens; some canoe biscuits also list almonds and eggs.
Follow the storage advice and best-before date on the packaging you buy. Jumbo advises storing its Kano's met Roomboter in a cool, dry, dark place; check the label of any other product for its own instructions.
