Albert Heijn and Jumbo’s regular butter canoe cakes are not a sugar-free choice for St Nicholas Eve: according to their product information, they contain 39 g and 36.8 g of sugars per 100 g respectively. If you’re mainly looking for a biscuit with no added sugar, you could consider a different type of biscuit. Albert Heijn describes Verkade San Francisco Zero as having 0% added sugar, but it isn’t a canoe cake and still contains 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g.
For you, the difference between sugar-free and no added sugar is crucial. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre sets the threshold for a ‘sugar-free’ claim at no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g; Albert Heijn and Jumbo’s regular canoe cakes contain more than that.
You want to serve a sweet biscuit at St Nicholas and are mainly keeping an eye on added sugar. A biscuit could be an alternative, as long as you don’t need it to have the shape and almond paste filling of a canoe cake.
You’ll need to check the ingredients and allergen information for each product. Albert Heijn and Jumbo’s canoe cakes list, among other things, wheat or gluten, milk, soya, egg and almond.
First decide whether sugar-free is essential, or whether you mainly want to serve a familiar canoe cake. Then compare the nutritional information per 100 g and check the allergens in the product you choose.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar-free | Check the claim and the number of grams of sugars per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre sets the limit for ‘sugar-free’ at 0.5 g per 100 g. | If I want to buy strictly sugar-free products, a name such as ‘Zero’ isn’t enough on its own. This is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Added sugar | Read the exact claim, compare sugars per 100 g and check which sweeteners have been used. Albert Heijn lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Verkade San Francisco Zero. | I want to keep an eye on added sugar and am happy to choose a biscuit instead of a canoe cake. This is the most important consideration for around 29% of consumers. |
| A familiar canoe cake | Check whether the product is a canoe cake filled with almond paste. Albert Heijn and Jumbo describe the varieties mentioned as butter cakes with almond paste. | For my St Nicholas evening, I want to stick with a canoe cake filled with almond paste, even if it isn’t sugar-free. This choice comes first for around 21% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients, allergen information and any ‘may contain’ statement on the current packaging for each variety. | If I’m buying for guests with allergies, I want to be able to assess each product individually. Checking allergens is the top priority for around 14% of consumers. |
A biscuit with no added sugar can still contain sugars. Albert Heijn lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Verkade San Francisco Zero; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre sets the limit for ‘sugar-free’ at 0.5 g per 100 g.
If sugar-free is essential, check both the claim and the sugars per 100 g.
According to their product information, Albert Heijn and Jumbo’s regular butter canoe cakes contain 39 g and 36.8 g of sugars per 100 g respectively.
Decide whether the canoe cake with almond paste matters more than your sugar requirements. If not, compare other types of biscuits too.
Albert Heijn states that Verkade San Francisco Zero contains maltitols and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
If you’re considering an alternative with sweeteners, read the warnings on the packaging too.
A name or biscuit shape won’t tell you which allergens a variety contains. Albert Heijn and Jumbo’s canoe cakes list several allergens, including egg, milk, soya and almond.
Check the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ statement on the packaging you choose.
Albert Heijn lists its own butter canoe cake with almond paste.
Jumbo lists its own butter canoe cake with almond paste.
Verkade San Francisco Zero is a biscuit that Albert Heijn describes as having 0% added sugar. It isn’t a canoe cake.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre sets the maximum for a ‘sugar-free’ claim at 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. Check this figure in the nutritional information; ‘no added sugar’ is a different claim.
No, based on their stated sugar content, the varieties mentioned don’t meet the sugar-free threshold. Albert Heijn lists 39 g of sugars per 100 g for its butter canoe cakes, while Jumbo lists 36.8 g per 100 g for Jumbo Butter Canoe Cakes.
No, it’s a biscuit, not a canoe cake. Albert Heijn states that it has 0% added sugar, but it also contains 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g. If you’re considering this biscuit, read the information about maltitols too.
Check the current ingredients, allergen information and nutritional details per 100 g for every biscuit you choose. When your order arrives, check the packaging too, especially if a guest needs to avoid specific allergens.
