Hotel buyer with a strict sugar-free requirement
Wants to choose a chocolate biscuit based on the amount of sugars per 100 g, rather than relying on terms such as ‘zero’ or ‘less sugar’.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Buffet manager responsible for allergen information
Needs to ensure guests can access up-to-date allergen information, even when biscuits are served without their original packaging.
Hotelier looking to serve a chocolate biscuit
Is looking for a chocolate biscuit whose sweeteners, ingredients and allergens guests can check too.
What should you look for?
First, check that the chocolate biscuit meets the sugar limit. Then consider whether you can clearly communicate its ingredients and allergens as part of your chosen buffet presentation.
| What to look for | What should you check? | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar-free claim | Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, sugar-free means no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. | I only want to present a chocolate biscuit as sugar-free when its nutritional information supports that claim. This is the top priority for around 42% of buyers. |
| Allergens and presentation | Check the current allergen information and any ‘may contain’ statements. Decide how guests will receive this information before eating. | If biscuits are served loose on the buffet, I still want to give guests accurate allergen information. This is the main concern for around 33% of buyers. |
| Chocolate and ingredients | Check that it is a chocolate biscuit and see which sweeteners it contains; review the serving information for your planned presentation. | I’m looking for a recognisable chocolate biscuit, but I want to be able to explain the ingredients before serving it. This combination matters most to around 25% of buyers. |
Common mistakes
-
Reading ‘no added sugars’ as ‘sugar-free’
Verkade lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for San Francisco Zero. That is above the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s sugar-free limit of no more than 0.5 g per 100 g.
Use the nutrition table to check whether a product qualifies as sugar-free, and treat other claims according to what they actually mean.
-
Removing the packaging without making allergen information available
According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, food businesses must inform guests about allergens. Serving loose biscuits on a platter does not remove this responsibility.
Keep the current product information available. For unpackaged presentation, you could use a card, for example, or make it clear that guests can ask a member of staff for the information.
-
Relying only on the online product title
Joybuy’s product information for Panpan oat biscuits uses the term ‘sugar-free’, but also lists 11.7 g of sugars per 100 g. It is not a chocolate biscuit either.
Compare the product type, ingredients and nutritional information on the product page, then check the current packaging.
-
Overlooking sweeteners
Jumbo lists maltitols in both the chocolate coating and the biscuit in Céréal Minder Suikers Choco Delight Puur. So, in this case, a low sugar value does not mean the biscuit contains no sweeteners.
Include the sweeteners used in the product information available to guests.
Brands compared
Céréal
Céréal Minder Suikers Choco Delight Puur is a biscuit with a dark chocolate coating and sweetener.
- Jumbo lists 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g for this product, exactly the limit the Netherlands Nutrition Centre sets for ‘sugar-free’.
- It contains maltitols, egg, milk, oats, soya and wheat; nuts and sesame may also be present. Check the current packaging before serving it on the buffet.
Verkade
Verkade San Francisco Zero is a biscuit with no added sugars, not a chocolate biscuit.
- Verkade describes this product as an option with no added sugars.
- Verkade lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g. This means the product does not meet the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s sugar-free limit.
Lotus Biscoff
Lotus Speculoos with chocolate is an example of a regular chocolate biscuit, not a sugar-free option.
- According to Lotus Bakeries, the product combines speculoos with chocolate.
- Lotus Bakeries lists 39.6 g of sugars per 100 g, so it is not suitable for a sugar-free buffet selection.
Related products on Joybuy
Related products will be available soon.
Frequently asked questions
When can a chocolate biscuit be called sugar-free?
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a sugar-free product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. For biscuits, check the ‘of which sugars’ figure in the nutrition information. ‘Less sugar’ and ‘no added sugars’ are not synonyms.
What allergen information should you provide at a hotel breakfast buffet?
According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, hotels must inform guests about allergens present in food. For unpackaged food, you could provide this information on a card or verbally, as long as it is clearly stated that guests can ask for it.
Is Céréal Minder Suikers Choco Delight Puur suitable for every guest?
No. The sugar content alone does not determine whether the biscuit meets someone’s needs. Jumbo lists 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g, but it also contains maltitols and the allergens egg, milk, oats, soya and wheat; nuts and sesame may also be present. Make sure guests can check the current ingredients and allergen information.
Can you serve Verkade San Francisco Zero as a sugar-free chocolate biscuit on the buffet?
No. Verkade describes San Francisco Zero as a biscuit with no added sugars, not as a chocolate biscuit, and lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g. That is above the sugar-free limit set by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
Should you check the label again when placing a new order?
Yes. Check the current packaging before reusing the buffet information. Albert Heijn notes that product information, including ingredients, nutritional values and allergens, can change.