If you want a chocolate biscuit that is genuinely sugar-free for Valentine’s Day, choose a product containing no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g: that’s the EU threshold for the ‘sugar-free’ claim. Céréal presents its Chocolate Chip Cookie as containing no sugars; check the current nutritional information and ingredients before making your choice. Verkade San Francisco Zero is a biscuit with no added sugars, but according to Albert Heijn’s product information it contains 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g, so it does not meet the sugar-free threshold.
You want a cookie with chocolate pieces for Valentine’s Day and will only choose a product that meets the threshold for the ‘sugar-free’ claim. According to the European Union, that means no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g.
A biscuit with no added sugars may suit what you’re looking for, even if the finished product still contains sugars. So, compare the nutritional information rather than relying on the wording on the front of the pack.
As well as the sugar content, you’ll want to know which sweeteners and allergens the biscuit contains. This is especially important if the recipient needs to avoid certain ingredients or is sensitive to polyols.
First decide whether sugar-free is an absolute requirement. A biscuit with no added sugars and a classic chocolate biscuit are different choices, even if both suit a Valentine’s Day occasion.
When to choose it: You’re looking for a cookie with chocolate pieces and want the product to meet the sugar-free threshold; Céréal presents its Chocolate Chip Cookie as containing no sugars.
What to consider: A sugar-free claim doesn’t tell you whether the sweeteners or allergens are suitable for the person eating the biscuit.
When to choose it: You mainly want to avoid added sugars and don’t have a strict sugar-free requirement; Verkade San Francisco Zero is one example.
What to consider: According to Albert Heijn’s product information, this biscuit contains 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g, so it does not qualify as ‘sugar-free’.
When to choose it: You’re looking for a traditional chocolate treat and don’t need it to be sugar-free.
What to consider: According to Lotus Bakeries, the dark chocolate version of Lotus Biscoff contains 39.6 g of sugars per 100 g, so it isn’t a sugar-free alternative.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Genuinely sugar-free | Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g with the EU threshold of no more than 0.5 g per 100 g for the ‘sugar-free’ claim. | If I’m giving someone a chocolate cookie and sugar-free is a must, I don’t want to rely on a name like ‘Zero’ alone. Around 46% of consumers put being genuinely sugar-free first. |
| No added sugars | Check both the claim and ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g; according to Albert Heijn, Verkade San Francisco Zero contains 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g. | For a biscuit to have with my coffee, avoiding added sugars matters more to me than a sugar-free claim. Around 36% of consumers give this preference top priority. |
| Ingredients and portion size | Check the sweeteners, allergens, any ‘may contain’ statements and the warning about polyols on the current packaging. | When I’m sharing biscuits, I want to know first whether the ingredients are suitable for the recipient and how many biscuits we’ll have. Ingredients and tolerance come first for around 18% of consumers. |
‘No added sugars’ is a different claim from ‘sugar-free’. According to Albert Heijn, Verkade San Francisco Zero contains 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g, while the EU threshold for ‘sugar-free’ is no more than 0.5 g per 100 g.
If you have a strict sugar-free requirement, use the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g to check.
A chocolate coating doesn’t tell you how much sugar a biscuit contains. Lotus Bakeries lists 39.6 g of sugars per 100 g for its Biscoff version with dark chocolate.
Choose this version only if you don’t need a sugar-free product; otherwise, compare the nutritional information for the products you’re considering.
Products containing sweeteners such as maltitol may carry a warning that excessive consumption can have a laxative effect. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says this warning applies to foods containing more than 10% added polyols.
Read the ingredients and warnings on the packaging and consider the portion size, especially if you’re sensitive to polyols.
The sugar claim doesn’t tell you which allergens a biscuit contains. Céréal’s hazelnut version, for example, lists wheat and hazelnuts.
Before sharing or giving biscuits as a gift, check the current ingredients list, allergens and any ‘may contain’ statements.
Céréal presents Chocolate Chip Cookie as a cookie with chocolate pieces and no sugars; there’s also a hazelnut version.
Verkade offers San Francisco Zero as a biscuit with no added sugars, not as a sugar-free chocolate cookie.
The own-brand AH Digestive 0% suiker is a biscuit, not a chocolate biscuit.
The dark chocolate version is a classic chocolate biscuit for anyone who isn’t looking for a sugar-free product.
According to the European Union, a biscuit carrying the ‘sugar-free’ nutrition claim can contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. So, compare the claim with the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g in the nutritional information.
No, a product with no added sugars can still contain sugars. Verkade San Francisco Zero is sold as having no added sugars, but according to Albert Heijn it contains 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g, so it doesn’t meet the EU threshold for ‘sugar-free’.
This warning may relate to added polyols, such as maltitol. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that foods containing more than 10% added polyols must carry the warning ‘excessive consumption may have a laxative effect’. So, read the packaging and watch your portion size.
No, a sugar-free claim doesn’t tell you which allergens a product contains. Check the current packaging for each product: Céréal’s hazelnut version, for example, lists wheat and hazelnuts.
