Families with a strict sugar-free requirement
You want the product you choose to be labelled ‘sugar-free’ or ‘free from sugars’. If a kano biscuit doesn’t meet that requirement, another type of biscuit could be an option for you.
Who is this choice for?
Large families buying kano biscuits as a treat
You’re looking for biscuits with almond paste to share among several people. Pack weight, number of biscuits, ingredients and allergens all matter, even if sugar-free isn’t a strict requirement.
Parents choosing a regular snack
You’re looking for something for a regular morning or school break. For children aged 4 to 12, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre suggests snacks such as fruit and vegetables. A biscuit with less sugar isn’t automatically an equivalent choice.
What should you consider when choosing?
The key question is whether you want to stick with a kano biscuit with almond paste, find a product labelled sugar-free or choose another regular snack.
Regular kano biscuit
A good fit if: you specifically want to serve a kano biscuit with almond paste and sugar-free isn’t a requirement.
The trade-off: the kano biscuits described here contain sugars, so they’re not a substitute for a sugar-free product.
Biscuits without sugars
A good fit if: you want to keep a biscuit break but are happy with a different type of biscuit instead of a kano.
The trade-off: the Céréal biscuits described here contain maltitols. Look out for the warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Another regular snack
A good fit if: you’re mainly looking for something for a regular morning or school break.
The trade-off: fruit, vegetables or wholemeal bread are different from a sweet kano biscuit. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists them as snacks for children aged 4 to 12.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Especially relevant for |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar-free choice | Check the claim on the specific product and the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g; a search term or product category isn’t enough. | I only want to bring something labelled sugar-free on the packaging, even if it isn’t a kano biscuit. This is the top priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| Portions for the family | Compare net weight, number of items and portion size. If you’re comparing different packs, check the ingredients too. | When several family members will be eating, I want to know how many portions a pack provides. For around 25% of consumers, this practical question comes first. |
| Regular snack | Decide whether you’re looking for a treat or something for regular use, then compare the type of product and its nutritional information. | For a regular morning snack, I want to consider more options than just biscuits. Around 33% of consumers give this everyday choice top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘no added sugars’ means ‘sugar-free’
These are different claims. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority stresses that a nutrition claim on a product must be accurate; the name of a search result doesn’t tell you enough about what’s inside.
Read the claim, ingredients and nutrition table on the packaging of the product you’re actually choosing.
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Mistaking biscuits without sugars for kano biscuits
The Céréal biscuits described here aren’t kano biscuits with almond paste. Conversely, PLUS states that its butter kano biscuits contain 38,9 g of sugars per 100 g.
Before comparing products, decide whether the kano shape and filling matter more to you than a sugar-free claim.
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Overlooking sweeteners in a large pack
The Céréal biscuits described here contain maltitols. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems.
Check which sweeteners are in the product you choose, and read any warning about excessive consumption.
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Assuming another type of biscuit is automatically a daily alternative
A sugar-free claim doesn’t answer the question of what you want to give as a regular snack. For children aged 4 to 12, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre also suggests fruit, vegetables and wholemeal bread.
Choose separately for a treat and for what you want to pack for an ordinary morning.
Brands to consider
Céréal
An option if you’re looking for biscuits labelled ‘without sugars’ rather than a kano biscuit.
- Albert Heijn describes Céréal speculoos and almond biscuits, and sesame and vanilla biscuits, as having this claim.
- These biscuits aren’t kano biscuits. The product information lists maltitols and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Jumbo
A supermarket own brand to consider if you’re shopping for regular kano biscuits for the family.
- Jumbo describes its butter kano biscuits as containing 38% almond paste, in a 275 g pack.
- If you need a sugar-free product, check the claim and nutritional information for the exact product. The butter kano biscuit described here isn’t presented as a sugar-free option.
PLUS
A supermarket own brand for anyone specifically looking to compare butter kano biscuits with almond paste.
- PLUS lists its butter kano biscuits in a 275 g pack.
- PLUS says these kano biscuits contain 38,9 g of sugars per 100 g, so they don’t meet a strict sugar-free requirement.
Aviateur
A regular kano biscuit with almond paste filling for anyone looking for the classic biscuit.
- PLUS describes Aviateur Kano’s as biscuits with 46% almond paste filling.
- The nutritional information provided by PLUS lists 37,6 g of sugars per 100 g. If you have allergies, always check the latest packaging.
Products for different occasions
These products are alternatives to kano biscuits: sweets for a different sweet treat, crackers for breakfast or a snack, and a sesame snack. If you have a strict sugar-free requirement, always check the claim and nutritional information for the product you choose.
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Klene Sugar-Free Lavender, 110 g
A sweet treat that isn’t a kano biscuit: the product description identifies this as liquorice, not a biscuit with almond paste. The pack contains 110 g. Before buying for several people, check the nutritional information, sweeteners and serving size.
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Bolletje Light wholegrain crackers, 190 g
A cracker for anyone looking for something other than biscuits at breakfast or snack time. This isn’t a kano biscuit or a product labelled sugar-free. If you’re planning for the family, check the nutritional information and number of crackers on the pack.
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Bolletje Light spelt crackers, 190 g
A spelt cracker for breakfast or snack time instead of a kano biscuit. The pack contains 190 g. If you’re shopping for the family, check the number of crackers and compare the nutritional information with the other options you’re considering.
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Huang Lao Wu chia and black sesame crisp, 180 g
A sesame snack for anyone looking for an alternative to kano biscuits. The original product title uses ‘Sugar-Free’. If that’s a strict requirement for you, check the claim, ingredients and ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Are regular kano biscuits sugar-free?
The regular kano biscuits described here aren’t: Joybuy lists 39,1 g of sugars per 100 g for G’woon Kano’s, while PLUS lists 38,9 g per 100 g for its butter kano biscuits. Assess any other product separately, using the claim and nutritional information on the current packaging.
What should I look for in biscuits without sugars for the family?
As well as checking the product claim, check the ingredients, nutritional information and any warnings. The Céréal biscuits described here contain maltitols; according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems.
What can I give children instead of biscuits every day?
For children aged 4 to 12, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre suggests snacks such as vegetables, fruit and wholemeal bread. If you also want to give them biscuits now and then, assess those as a separate choice rather than relying only on a sugar-free label.
How should I compare packs for a large family?
Look at the net weight, number of items and the portion you want to serve. Compare nutritional values on the same basis, such as per 100 g, and check the ingredients and allergens for the family members who’ll be eating them.