If you want to offer chocolate biscuits as sugar-free at a school fair, check that the nutritional information lists no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g; according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, this is the threshold for making this claim. Céréal Choco Delight Dark lists exactly 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g, but according to Jumbo it contains wheat, oats, milk, egg and soya, among other ingredients, and may contain nuts and sesame. Before buying, check the school’s rules on what you can offer and how, and make sure visitors can access the allergen information.
You want to be able to describe the chocolate biscuits as sugar-free. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the amount of sugars per 100 g determines whether you can make this claim; ‘no added sugars’ does not mean the same thing.
You’re selling to a mixed group of pupils and want to be able to say which allergens are present in each biscuit. This needs extra care if you take the biscuits out of their original packaging.
You want to know how many biscuits to offer per portion and whether they contain polyols. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that consuming large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems.
First, check that the biscuit meets your sugar-claim requirements and the school’s rules. Then decide how you’ll make allergen information available and manage portions when selling.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar claim | Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. For a sugar-free claim, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre specifies no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. | If I’m advertising the biscuits as sugar-free, I want the nutritional information to support that claim. Around 29% of consumers put this sugar claim first. |
| Allergens and school rules | Ask about the school’s allergy and treats policies, and check the allergens and ‘may contain’ warnings for each product. | When selling to children and parents, I want to be able to clearly explain what each biscuit contains. For around 36% of consumers, allergens and school rules are the top priority. |
| Polyols and portions | Check the amount of polyols, the packaging information and how many biscuits you plan to offer per portion. | If visitors can take several biscuits, I want to consider the amount of polyols per portion. This is the main concern for around 21% of consumers. |
| Availability and pack size | Check the current range and the number of biscuits in each pack before working out how many you need. | For the planned school fair, I want to be able to buy and hand out enough suitable biscuits. Around 14% of consumers prioritise this practical planning. |
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre distinguishes between these claims: sugar-free means a maximum of 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. A biscuit with no added sugars may still exceed this limit.
For a strict sugar-free requirement, always check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g on the packaging.
A low sugar content does not change the allergens present. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, information about relevant allergens must be available before purchase for non-prepacked foods.
Keep the original packaging and, when selling biscuits loose, make clear for each product which allergens are present and which ‘may contain’ warnings apply.
Céréal lists 24 g of polyols per 100 g for Choco Delight Dark. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that consuming large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems.
Read the information on the packaging and decide how many biscuits to offer per portion before selling them.
Céréal Choco Delight Dark is a chocolate-coated biscuit made with sweeteners.
AH Digestive 0% sugar is a biscuit worth comparing if a chocolate coating isn’t essential.
Verkade describes San Francisco Zero as a biscuit with no added sugars.
Jumbo lists Céréal Minder Suikers Choco Delight Puur 126 g with product information relevant to the school fair.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a chocolate biscuit must contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g to be labelled sugar-free. Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure in the nutritional information; ‘no added sugars’ is a different claim.
Not without first checking the school’s rules and the allergen information. According to Jumbo, the biscuit contains egg, milk, oats, soya and wheat, and may contain nuts and sesame. Check with the school before selling or handing it out.
If the sale falls under the rules for non-prepacked foods, make sure the allergen information for each product is available before purchase. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says information about 14 allergens is required, and that you must name the specific cereal when it contains gluten. Keep the packaging so you can match the information to the right biscuit.
This warning may relate to polyols: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, consuming large amounts can cause digestive problems. Céréal lists 24 g of polyols per 100 g for Choco Delight Dark. Read the warning on the packaging when deciding on portions for the school fair.
