When stocking the office, first choose a biscuit that actually contains chocolate, then compare the sugars per 100 g: ‘no added sugars’ does not mean a product contains 0 g of sugars. According to Albert Heijn, Céréal Chocolate Chip Cookie contains 0 g of sugars per 100 g, but it also contains polyols; check the allergens and serving size too. If chocolate isn’t essential, a biscuit such as Verkade San Francisco Zero could be an option, but it isn’t a substitute for a chocolate biscuit.
For meetings or the shared snack cupboard, you’re looking for a proper chocolate biscuit with a suitable sugar content. Check the product description and ingredients, as well as the nutritional information per 100 g.
You want to compare biscuits without basing your choice solely on a claim on the packaging. Look at the sugars and other nutritional values per 100 g; a biscuit without chocolate could also be an option if chocolate flavour isn’t essential.
When stocking up for several colleagues, check the current packaging for allergens, sweeteners and any warnings. A statement about sugars won’t tell you this.
First decide whether chocolate is essential. Then compare the nutritional information and check the ingredients, portions and storage instructions before sharing the biscuits.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate and sugars | Check that chocolate or cocoa is mentioned in the product description and ingredients. Compare the sugars per 100 g and check which sweeteners have been used. | I want to put chocolate biscuits out for a meeting, not end up with a plain biscuit that simply carries a sugar claim. For around 36% of consumers, chocolate and reducing sugar go hand in hand. |
| A wider range of lower-sugar snacks | Compare a claim such as ‘no added sugars’ with the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. Check that the type of product suits the snack you’re looking for. | If chocolate isn’t essential for my colleagues, I also want to consider other biscuits. Around 29% of consumers say this wider choice is their top priority. |
| Allergens and sweeteners | Check the current packaging for ingredients, allergens, ‘may contain’ statements and warnings about sweeteners. | For a shared snack cupboard, I want to be able to check whether a biscuit meets the office’s ingredient requirements. This is the main concern for around 21% of consumers. |
| Portions and storage | Check the number of biscuits, the serving size and the storage instructions for an opened pack. | Sometimes a pack is left open after a meeting; I want the biscuits to be easy to share and store properly. Around 14% of consumers prioritise this practical consideration. |
‘No added sugars’ doesn’t mean a biscuit contains no sugars. Other nutritional values are also relevant when comparing products.
Voedingscentrum recommends comparing nutritional values per 100 g. Also check separately whether the biscuit actually contains chocolate.
A biscuit with no sugars may contain sweeteners such as maltitols. Some packaging carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Read the ingredients and warnings before buying, and keep the packaging available when stocking a shared office cupboard.
Ingredients and recipes can change. This is particularly important if colleagues need to avoid certain allergens.
Check the physical packaging before offering the biscuits, including the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ statements.
Offers chocolate varieties for anyone looking to compare chocolate flavour and sugar content per 100 g.
San Francisco Zero is a biscuit to consider if you’re looking for less added sugar and don’t require chocolate.
AH Digestive 0% sugar is a supermarket own-brand biscuit to consider if chocolate isn’t essential.
Mini Zero Ontbijtkoek is an individually wrapped snack with no added sugars, but it belongs to a different product category.
No. A biscuit with no added sugars can still contain sugars: Verkade lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for San Francisco Zero. So, for every product, compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure in the nutritional information.
Yes. Check which sweeteners have been used and whether the packaging carries a warning. Albert Heijn lists 26 g of polyols per 100 g for Céréal Chocolate Chip Cookie; according to the product information, excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Check the current packaging before offering the biscuits, even if you’ve bought the same product before. Read both the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ statements; the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the mandatory labelling of 14 allergens.
Store the biscuits in a cool, dry, dark place in a well-sealed container, as recommended by Voedingscentrum. Also follow the instructions on the packaging of the product you choose.
