Choose a sugar-free chocolate biscuit based on its nutritional values per 100 g: under EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, a product making a sugar-free claim must contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. Albert Heijn lists 0 g per 100 g for Céréal Chocolate Chip Cookie Zonder Suikers; Jumbo lists 0.5 g per 100 g for Céréal Choco Delight Puur, which is sold as ‘reduced sugar’. For both products, also check the sweeteners and allergens on the packaging.
You’re looking for a chocolate biscuit to enjoy with coffee or breakfast that contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. Words such as ‘zero’ or ‘no added sugars’ aren’t enough to help you make that choice.
You’re choosing between a biscuit with chocolate chips and a biscuit coated in chocolate. Then you compare the sugar content, ingredients and pack size.
You want to know which sweeteners and allergens a biscuit contains before choosing it for yourself or putting it out on a sharing platter. Check the packaging of the variant you’ve chosen.
Start with the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g. Once a biscuit meets your sugar requirement, you can consider the type of chocolate and then check the ingredients for anyone who’ll be sharing it.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars per 100 g | Check the ‘of which sugars’ value for the exact variant. Under EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, a sugar-free claim is permitted only for products containing no more than 0.5 g per 100 g. | For King's Day coffee, I want a chocolate biscuit that genuinely meets the sugar-free threshold. This is the top priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| Biscuit and chocolate type | Check that you’re choosing a biscuit rather than, for example, a mini cake, and whether it contains chocolate chips or has a chocolate coating. | For my platter, I want biscuits with the type of chocolate that suits the coffee break. This is the most important consideration for around 30% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients, allergen information and usage warnings on the current packaging, even when the sugar content is low. | When others will be sharing the biscuits, I want to check in advance whether they contain any ingredients those people avoid. This is the first priority for around 20% of consumers. |
Verkade lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for San Francisco Zero. That’s above the maximum of 0.5 g per 100 g permitted for a sugar-free claim under EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. This biscuit isn’t a chocolate biscuit either.
Compare the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g and check that your chosen product is actually a chocolate biscuit.
Jumbo lists 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g for Céréal Choco Delight Puur. This puts the biscuit right on the threshold for a sugar-free claim, even though ‘reduced sugar’ appears in the product name.
Read the nutrition table before deciding whether a product meets your sugar requirements.
The Céréal biscuits mentioned use sweeteners and list different allergens. Albert Heijn also warns that the Chocolate Chip Cookie may have a laxative effect if consumed in excess.
Keep the packaging with the biscuits so guests can check the ingredients, allergens and warnings for themselves.
Offers both a chocolate-chip cookie and a biscuit coated in dark chocolate among these options.
A shop where you can check the product information for Céréal Chocolate Chip Cookie Zonder Suikers.
A shop with product information about Céréal Choco Delight Puur.
A useful example of the difference between ‘no added sugars’ and ‘sugar-free’.
A chocolate speculoos option for anyone willing to relax the sugar-free requirement.
A range of chocolate biscuits for anyone looking for different types of chocolate.
Under EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, a food can carry a sugar-free claim if it contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. For biscuits, check the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g on the packaging.
No, these terms don’t mean the same thing. Verkade lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for San Francisco Zero, a biscuit with no added sugars. That’s above the threshold for a sugar-free claim.
Yes, check which sweeteners the variant contains and read the usage warnings. Albert Heijn lists maltitols in Céréal Chocolate Chip Cookie and warns that it may have a laxative effect if consumed in excess.
Check the current packaging for each variant. For Céréal Chocolate Chip Cookie, Albert Heijn lists wheat and oats, and says it may contain, among other things, milk, egg, nuts, soya and sesame. For Choco Delight Puur, Jumbo lists egg, milk, oats, soya and wheat, and says it may contain nuts and sesame.
Before your planned King's Day breakfast or coffee break, check the latest product information and availability at your chosen shop. The Government of the Netherlands gives 27 April as the date of King's Day; a product listing alone doesn’t guarantee availability on the day you shop.
