If you want to label a chocolate biscuit on your wedding buffet as ‘sugar-free’, choose a product containing no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre makes clear that ‘reduced sugar’ and ‘no added sugar’ do not mean the same thing. Also check each product for allergens, polyols and any warnings before serving it to guests.
You want to be able to describe a chocolate biscuit on the buffet menu as ‘sugar-free’. To check whether it qualifies, look at the amount of sugars per 100 g, rather than relying on wording such as ‘reduced sugar’ on the packaging.
You want guests to be able to check the ingredients and allergens in a biscuit before choosing one. Keep the current packaging, or make sure the information is available alongside the food.
You’re looking for an extra buffet option for guests who are watching their sugar intake, without suggesting that a lower sugar content says anything about the rest of the nutritional information or whether the biscuit is suitable for every guest.
First, decide whether ‘sugar-free’ is an essential requirement for the chocolate biscuits. Then consider what allergen information and warnings guests need at the buffet.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Accurate sugar claim | Check the sugars per 100 g. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘sugar-free’ means no more than 0.5 g per 100 g; ‘reduced sugar’ is a different claim. | If I label the buffet menu ‘sugar-free’, I want to be sure the biscuit meets that threshold. Around 40% of consumers prioritise an accurate sugar claim. |
| Accessible allergen information | Check the current ingredients and allergen information, and make sure guests can consult it before taking a biscuit. | When guests have allergies, I want them to be able to decide whether a biscuit is suitable for them. For around 30% of consumers, accessible allergen information comes first. |
| Sweeteners and portions | Check the nutritional information for sugars, energy and polyols, as well as any warnings on the packaging. | I want to offer an extra choice without guests assuming that ‘sugar-free’ means they can eat as much as they like. For around 30% of consumers, portion sizes and information about sweeteners matter most. |
These claims do not mean the same thing. Céréal states that Choco Delight Milk Chocolate contains 4.6 g of sugars per 100 g, which is above the 0.5 g per 100 g threshold the Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives for ‘sugar-free’.
Use the wording on the packaging on your buffet menu, and only use ‘sugar-free’ if the nutritional information meets the threshold.
Guests cannot tell which allergens a chocolate biscuit contains just by looking at it. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergens for prepacked products are listed on the label, while information about unpackaged products must be made available in another way.
Keep the current packaging by the serving plate, or make the ingredients and allergen information accessible before guests choose. Check with your caterer how guests will be given this information.
A sugar claim does not tell you the full nutritional value. As well as 0.5 g of sugars, Céréal states that Choco Delight Dark Chocolate contains 24 g of polyols and 427 kcal per 100 g. Some biscuits with sweeteners also carry a warning about excessive consumption.
Compare the nutritional information and warnings for each product, and consider offering small portions at the buffet.
The Choco Delight range includes a dark chocolate biscuit and a milk chocolate version, with different sugar contents.
San Francisco Zero is a biscuit with no added sugar, for anyone who would also like to offer a non-chocolate option.
AH Digestive 0% sugar could be a separate biscuit option if chocolate isn’t essential.
If the biscuit contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g, its sugar content meets the threshold the Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives for ‘sugar-free’. Check the nutritional information for the version you’re actually serving.
No, not automatically. Céréal states that Choco Delight Milk Chocolate contains 4.6 g of sugars per 100 g, compared with 0.5 g per 100 g for Choco Delight Dark Chocolate. So if you want to call the biscuit ‘sugar-free’, make your choice based on its sugar content.
Make sure guests can consult the information before choosing a biscuit. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergens for prepacked products are listed on the label; for unpackaged products, the information must be made available in another way. Keep the current packaging, or agree with the caterer how the information will be provided.
No, a sugar claim does not tell you the full nutritional value. Céréal states that Choco Delight Dark Chocolate contains 24 g of polyols and 427 kcal per 100 g. So check the rest of the nutritional information and any warnings on the packaging too.
