Looking for a packaged biscuit to enjoy with coffee or tea that claims to be ‘sugar-free’? Check both the claim and the nutritional information and allergens on the packaging. According to Céréal Nederland, Céréal Speculoos with almond pieces contains 0.4 g of sugars, as well as 62 g of carbohydrates and 404 kcal per 100 g. So the sugar content alone won’t tell you whether this biscuit fits your other dietary needs.
You want a speculoos biscuit to enjoy with coffee or tea and are specifically looking for a pack that claims to be ‘sugar-free’. A small, regular biscuit isn’t automatically a suitable alternative for that purpose.
You look beyond the sugars and compare the total carbohydrates as well as the portion size. Diabetes Fonds also advises people with diabetes to pay attention to carbohydrates; discuss any personal dietary questions with your healthcare professional or dietitian.
For you, the current allergen information matters more than the sugar claim. Jumbo lists almonds, barley, egg, milk, soya and wheat, among other ingredients, in Céréal Speculoos with almond pieces.
When choosing a packaged biscuit that claims to be ‘sugar-free’, start with the label, then compare the carbohydrates, allergens and portion size. Baking your own gives you control over the recipe, but the nutritional value of the finished biscuits depends on what you use. Regular speculoos biscuits are not a substitute if ‘sugar-free’ is a requirement.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars | Look for ‘sugar-free’ on the packaging and check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, this EU claim applies to solid foods containing no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. | If I want a biscuit with my coffee that fits my sugar goal, I don’t want to rely on portion size alone. For around 42% of consumers, this sugar claim is the top priority. |
| Carbohydrates | Compare the total carbohydrates per 100 g and the amount you plan to eat; the sugar figure alone isn’t enough. | If you want to plan your carbohydrate intake alongside a hot drink, ‘sugar-free’ on its own doesn’t tell you enough. For around 25% of consumers, carbohydrates are the first thing they consider. |
| Allergens | Read the current allergen information, especially if you need to avoid wheat, barley, almonds, egg, milk or soya. | If I have a food allergy, I first want to know whether I can eat the biscuit, regardless of its sugar content. Ingredient suitability is the most important factor for around 17% of consumers. |
| Portion size and energy | Check the energy per biscuit as well as per 100 g, and look out for the warning about excessive consumption. | When having one biscuit with coffee or tea, I want to be able to measure my portion without confusing the nutritional information per biscuit with the figures per 100 g. Around 16% of consumers give portion size and energy top priority. |
Céréal Nederland lists 0.4 g of sugars in Speculoos with almond pieces, but also 62 g of carbohydrates and 404 kcal per 100 g. So the sugar claim doesn’t tell you the full nutritional story.
Compare the figures for sugars, total carbohydrates and energy on the same basis, then consider the portion you plan to have.
According to Albert Heijn, the Céréal version carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Check the warning on the current packaging when deciding how many biscuits to have.
The sugar claim says nothing about allergens. Jumbo lists almonds, barley, egg, milk, soya and wheat, among other ingredients, in Céréal Speculoos with almond pieces.
If you have an allergy, always check the allergen information on the pack you’re actually buying.
Lotus Biscoff lists 38.1 g of sugars per 100 g for Original; sugar and candy syrup are included in the ingredients. Having a smaller portion doesn’t change the product’s composition.
If ‘sugar-free’ is a condition of your purchase, choose based on an explicit claim and the nutritional information, rather than simply the number of biscuits you eat.
Céréal offers Speculoos with almond pieces, with a ‘sugar-free’ claim.
Albert Heijn has a product page for sugar-free Céréal Speculoos with almond pieces.
Jumbo features the 110 g Céréal pack and also publishes a recipe titled ‘Sugar-free speculoos’.
Lotus Biscoff Original is regular speculoos, not an option if you specifically want a ‘sugar-free’ product.
Lidl lists Sondey Speculoos biscuits as a product available in store.
ALDI lists 600 g of Biscotto Bakkersspeculaas as a regular speculoos product.
Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, published on EUR-Lex, this EU nutrition claim applies to solid foods containing no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. The claim says nothing about the total amount of carbohydrates, energy or sweeteners.
Not on the basis of the sugar claim alone: Céréal Nederland lists 62 g of carbohydrates per 100 g for Speculoos with almond pieces. Compare the total carbohydrates and your portion size if these are important to your choice.
According to Albert Heijn, the product information for Céréal Speculoos with almond pieces warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Read this warning alongside the portion information on the current packaging.
For the 110 g pack, Jumbo lists almonds and other nuts, barley, egg, milk, soya and wheat. Check the current packaging before eating, especially if you need to avoid any of these allergens.
