Who is this choice relevant to?

Shoppers looking for strictly sugar-free options

You want the chocolate biscuit itself to meet the ‘sugar-free’ threshold. A name containing ‘zero’ or ‘reduced sugar’ isn’t enough: the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g will give you a clear answer.

Weekly shoppers planning their supplies

You’re buying biscuits for several occasions. Net weight, portions and price per kilo all matter, but only after a product meets your requirements for chocolate and sugar.

Shoppers with allergy or intolerance requirements

Check the ingredients and allergens separately from the sugar content. A gluten- and lactose-free chocolate biscuit isn’t automatically sugar-free; equally, a biscuit that’s low in sugar may contain allergens.

What should you look for when buying?

When choosing a chocolate biscuit for your weekly supplies, first check that it meets your essential requirements for sugar and allergens. Then compare the sweeteners, portions and pack sizes of products that are genuinely suitable for you.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Total sugars Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, a food can contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g to carry the ‘sugar-free’ claim. If ‘sugar-free’ is a must for me, I don’t want to rely on a name like ‘reduced sugar’. For around 33% of consumers, this sugar threshold comes first.
Weekly supplies Compare net weight, portions and price per kilo only between products that meet your requirements for chocolate and sugar. For several occasions, I want to know how many suitable biscuits I’ll get in a pack. Around 27% of consumers give this value for money the highest priority.
Allergens Check the ingredients, allergens and any ‘may contain’ statement on the packaging; assess these separately from the sugar content. If I need to avoid certain ingredients, the biscuit must meet that requirement too before it goes in my basket. This is the most important consideration for around 20% of consumers.
Sweeteners Check which sweeteners have been used and how many polyols the nutritional information lists per 100 g or per portion. If I plan to eat several biscuits from my weekly supplies, I check which polyols they contain and follow the guidance on the packaging. For around 20% of consumers, this is their first consideration.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing ‘reduced sugar’ with ‘sugar-free’

    A product with no added sugar can still contain more total sugars than the ‘sugar-free’ threshold. For example, Albert Heijn lists Verkade San Francisco zero at 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g, despite the ‘0% added sugar’ claim.

    Use the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g to check the sugar content. Also make sure it’s actually a chocolate biscuit.

  • Overlooking sweeteners when stocking up for the week

    Jumbo lists Céréal Minder Suikers Choco Delight Puur at 24 g of polyols per 100 g. For AH Digestive 0% suiker, Albert Heijn warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

    Read the ingredients and nutritional information, and follow the guidance on the packaging when planning portions.

  • Assuming gluten-free or lactose-free means sugar-free

    According to Jumbo, Céréal’s gluten- and lactose-free chocolate biscuits contain 29 g of sugars per 100 g. These claims address different requirements from sugar content.

    Check sugars, ingredients and allergens separately against your own requirements.

  • Comparing pack sizes before checking they meet your requirements

    A larger pack of biscuits without chocolate isn’t a like-for-like alternative if sugar-free chocolate biscuits are what’s on your shopping list.

    First, select products that meet your essential requirements. Then compare the net weight, portions and price per kilo within that selection.

Brands compared

The options listed differ in chocolate content, sugar levels and ingredients. A brand name alone doesn’t tell you whether another product from the same brand meets your requirements.

Céréal

Jumbo lists 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g for Céréal Minder Suikers Choco Delight Puur, a chocolate biscuit.

  • The listed sugar content is right on the threshold for the ‘sugar-free’ claim.
  • According to Jumbo, this option also contains 24 g of polyols per 100 g, as well as wheat, oats, milk, egg and soya. Céréal’s gluten- and lactose-free chocolate biscuits are a different option and contain 29 g of sugars per 100 g.

Verkade

Verkade San Francisco zero is a biscuit without a chocolate coating, not a sugar-free chocolate biscuit.

  • The ‘0% added sugar’ claim listed by Albert Heijn may be relevant if you’re specifically looking to avoid added sugar.
  • Albert Heijn also lists 1.7 g of total sugars per 100 g. That’s above the ‘sugar-free’ threshold, and the biscuit doesn’t meet the chocolate requirement.

Albert Heijn

AH Digestive 0% suiker is a biscuit without chocolate, sold in a 400 g pack.

  • Albert Heijn lists 0.3 g of sugars per 100 g for this option.
  • It isn’t a chocolate biscuit. The product information lists maltitol and isomalt, and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

Lotus Biscoff

Lotus Biscoff Belgian chocolate is a chocolate biscuit, but it isn’t suitable if meeting the sugar threshold is essential.

  • Albert Heijn lists 40 g of sugars per 100 g for this option, which is above the threshold for the ‘sugar-free’ claim.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

When can a chocolate biscuit be called ‘sugar-free’?

Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, a food can carry the ‘sugar-free’ claim if it contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. For chocolate biscuits, check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g in the nutritional information, even if the front of the pack says ‘zero’ or ‘reduced sugar’.

Does ‘no added sugar’ mean the same as sugar-free?

No. That claim doesn’t tell you on its own how much total sugar a biscuit contains. Albert Heijn lists ‘0% added sugar’ for Verkade San Francisco zero, but also lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g. What’s more, this option isn’t a chocolate biscuit.

Why should I check for polyols?

The sweeteners used and the amount of polyols matter when you’re planning portions for the week. Jumbo lists Céréal Minder Suikers Choco Delight Puur at 24 g of polyols per 100 g. Check the ingredients and any instructions on the packaging of the product you choose.

Is a gluten-free chocolate biscuit also sugar-free?

Not automatically: gluten-free and sugar-free are separate properties. Jumbo lists Céréal Gluten-Free & Lactose-Free Chocolate Biscuits at 29 g of sugars per 100 g, so this option doesn’t meet the sugar threshold for ‘sugar-free’.

How should I store biscuits for the week?

Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the biscuits you choose. Albert Heijn recommends storing AH Digestive 0% suiker in a cool, dark and dry place and keeping the biscuits in a sealed tin after opening. For other products, check their own labels.