People keeping a close eye on sugar
You’re looking for a sugar-free chocolate biscuit, not simply a product with no added sugar. Compare the claim on the pack with the ‘of which sugars’ figure in the nutrition information per 100 g.
Who is this relevant to?
People who want a biscuit with breakfast
You’d like something sweet with breakfast and want to look beyond the sugar content. Energy, saturated fat, fibre, salt and portion size can also be important when comparing similar biscuits.
People who check ingredients carefully
If you’re sensitive to polyols or need to take allergens into account, the ingredients list and allergen information matter more than the sugar claim alone. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether ‘sugar-free’ is a strict requirement. Then compare the nutrition information and ingredients of chocolate biscuits that meet your needs.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Exact sugar claim | Look for ‘sugar-free’ and check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g; don’t confuse this with ‘no added sugar’. | If I’m looking for a sugar-free chocolate biscuit, I don’t want to end up with a variety that only has no added sugar. For around 42% of consumers, the exact sugar claim comes first. |
| Nutrition and breakfast | Compare similar biscuits per 100 g for energy, saturated fat, fibre and salt; also check the portion size. | I want to weigh up a biscuit alongside breakfast against everything else I eat. Around 33% of consumers give overall nutritional value the highest priority. |
| Polyols and allergens | Read the ingredients list, allergen information and any warnings about polyols. | If I’m sensitive to polyols or have an allergy, I need to know exactly what’s in the biscuit. For around 25% of consumers, checking the ingredients is their first concern. |
Common mistakes
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Reading ‘no added sugar’ as ‘sugar-free’
These are different claims. According to Albert Heijn, Verkade San Francisco Zero contains 0% added sugar, but has 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g. It is not a chocolate biscuit, either.
Decide which claim you’re looking for, then check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g.
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Comparing only the sugar content
A figure of 0 g sugars doesn’t tell you anything about the rest of the nutritional value. Albert Heijn lists Céréal Chocolate chip cookie zonder suikers as containing 414 kcal per 100 g.
Also compare similar biscuits for energy, saturated fat, fibre and salt. Use Nutri-Score only to compare products of the same type, as recommended by the Dutch government.
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Overlooking polyols and portion size
According to the product information, Céréal Chocolate chip cookie zonder suikers contains maltitols. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems.
Check the ingredients and any warning on the pack, especially if you know you’re sensitive to polyols.
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Treating a biscuit as a complete breakfast
A lower sugar content doesn’t make a chocolate biscuit a breakfast containing foods from the Dutch Wheel of Five, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
If you like, enjoy a biscuit as a sweet addition, and consider your breakfast as a whole.
Relevant brands to compare
Céréal
Céréal offers several biscuit varieties made with sweeteners. Check the specific variety: ‘sugar-free’ and ‘reduced sugar’ are not interchangeable.
- According to Albert Heijn, Chocolate chip cookie zonder suikers contains 0 g sugars per 100 g, so it meets the strict sugar claim.
- According to the product information, that same variety contains 414 kcal and 26 g of polyols per 100 g. Céréal Choco Delight Puur contains 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g according to Céréal, so it’s a different option.
Verkade
San Francisco Zero is a biscuit with no added sugar, not a sugar-free chocolate biscuit.
- The 0% added sugar claim may be relevant if added sugar is what you’re focusing on.
- According to Albert Heijn, San Francisco Zero still contains 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g. It therefore doesn’t meet a strict requirement for a sugar-free chocolate biscuit.
Related products on Joybuy
Related products will be available soon.
Frequently asked questions
Does ‘no added sugar’ mean a biscuit contains no sugars?
No. A product with no added sugar can still contain sugars. For example, Albert Heijn lists Verkade San Francisco Zero as containing 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g, so always check the nutrition information for the variety you choose.
Can a sugar-free chocolate biscuit replace my breakfast?
A ‘sugar-free’ claim doesn’t make a biscuit a substitute for a breakfast containing foods from the Dutch Wheel of Five, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Consider it as a possible addition to the rest of your breakfast.
Why might the pack carry a warning about a laxative effect?
This warning may be linked to added polyols, such as maltitol. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems, so check the ingredients and the warning for the specific biscuit.
How should I use Nutri-Score when comparing biscuits?
Compare Nutri-Score across products of the same type, such as chocolate biscuits, as recommended by the Dutch government. The score doesn’t tell you how the biscuit fits into your breakfast as a whole.