If you want to serve a speculoos-style biscuit at Sinterklaas but need it to be strictly sugar-free, check the claim and the sugar content per 100 g. A plain biscuit may be a better fit if the festive flavour matters less. Also compare carbohydrates, energy, polyols and allergens: a low sugar content doesn’t tell you everything about what’s in the biscuit. According to Lotus Bakeries Netherlands, Lotus Biscoff The Original Speculoos contains 38.1 g of sugars per 100 g, so it isn’t a sugar-free option.
You want to serve a familiar speculoos flavour with coffee or tea, or during the Sinterklaas gift-giving evening, but you’re looking for a biscuit that also meets the requirements for the ‘sugar-free’ nutrition claim. If you’re considering a variety with almond pieces, first check that the ingredients are suitable for your guests.
You look beyond the wording on the front of the pack and compare similar biscuits per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends using the nutrition information for this; as well as sugars, carbohydrates, energy, fats and fibre can all influence your choice.
You want to know which sweeteners a biscuit contains and whether any allergens are suitable for the people sharing it. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems, so check the ingredients and any warnings on the packaging too.
Start by deciding whether sugar-free is an absolute requirement. Then choose between a speculoos flavour, a plainer biscuit or a chocolate biscuit, and check which ingredients and nutritional values suit the occasion.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar-free speculoos flavour | Check the claim and sugars per 100 g; if you’re choosing speculoos with almond pieces, check the ingredients too. | I want to serve a familiar biscuit for the Sinterklaas gift-giving evening without compromising my strict sugar-free requirement. For around 31% of consumers, this combination is the top priority. |
| Total carbohydrates | As well as sugars, compare total carbohydrates per 100 g and consider how much you’ll serve. | If I’m keeping an eye on my carbohydrate intake, I don’t want to rely on the low sugar figure alone. For around 31% of consumers, this broader comparison is the top priority. |
| Polyols and allergens | Check which sweeteners and allergens are listed, including any warnings on the packaging. | When sharing biscuits with guests, I need to know whether they contain ingredients someone wants or needs to avoid. This is the main consideration for around 23% of consumers. |
| Portion size and other nutritional values | Compare energy, fats and fibre per 100 g, and decide how many biscuits to put out. | I want to keep the biscuit break within reason, rather than treating sugar-free as a reason to eat without limits. Around 15% of consumers put this consideration first. |
Under European Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, biscuits can carry the ‘sugar-free’ nutrition claim if they contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. A different claim doesn’t automatically mean the product meets this limit.
Read the exact claim and check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g before choosing a biscuit as sugar-free.
According to Albert Heijn’s product information, AH Digestive 0% suiker contains 465 kcal and 63 g of carbohydrates per 100 g. Céréal Speculoos stukjes amandel zonder suikers contains 404 kcal and 62 g of carbohydrates per 100 g, according to the same retailer.
Compare similar biscuits on the same basis, then think about how much you actually want to serve.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems. Albert Heijn’s product information lists wheat, almonds, egg, milk, soya and barley among the ingredients in Céréal Speculoos stukjes amandel zonder suikers.
Check the ingredients, allergens and warnings on the packaging before sharing biscuits with others.
These product ranges offer different options: a speculoos variety with no sugars, a plainer biscuit and a classic speculoos that isn’t sugar-free.
Includes speculoos biscuits with almond pieces and no sugars, as well as a chocolate variety marketed as ‘reduced sugar’.
AH Digestive 0% suiker is a plainer biscuit for anyone less concerned with a typical Sinterklaas flavour.
The Original Speculoos is a flavour benchmark for anyone looking for the classic variety, not an option for a strictly sugar-free choice.
Under European Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, a biscuit can carry the ‘sugar-free’ nutrition claim if it contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. Check the nutrition information on the packaging: ‘reduced sugar’ and ‘no added sugar’ are not the same claim.
No, the claim refers to the sugar content, not the energy. For example, Albert Heijn lists 404 kcal per 100 g for Céréal Speculoos stukjes amandel zonder suikers and 465 kcal per 100 g for AH Digestive 0% suiker. Compare the other nutritional values too, and consider how much you eat.
No, the sugar content alone isn’t enough to determine that. Check the total carbohydrates too, and discuss questions about your personal diet with your healthcare professional or dietitian. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that dietary advice for diabetes can vary from person to person.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems. If you’re choosing biscuits with sweeteners, check the ingredients and warnings on the packaging, especially if you’re serving more than one type of sweet treat during the Sinterklaas gift-giving evening.
Check the packaging for ingredients, allergens, the exact sugar claim and nutrition information per 100 g. If anyone has allergies or you have a strict sugar-free requirement, don’t rely solely on a product description you looked at earlier: Albert Heijn says that ingredients and nutritional values can change.
