Looking for a biscuit with a sugar-free claim for the Sinterklaas parade? Céréal Speculoos with almond pieces is one option to check on the label: Céréal states that it contains 0.4 g of sugars per 100 g. Also check the 62 g of carbohydrates and 29 g of polyols per 100 g, and check the allergens before buying or sharing the biscuits. Lotus Biscoff does not meet a sugar-free requirement: its product information states that it contains 38.1 g of sugars per 100 g.
You’re looking for a ready-made biscuit for the Sinterklaas parade and don’t want to rely on the front of the pack alone. The distinction between ‘sugar-free’ and ‘no added sugar’ is particularly important here. The Voedingscentrum points out that the latter does not mean a product is sugar-free.
You want to know what one biscuit adds to your snack or meal. The amount of sugars doesn’t tell you the total carbohydrate content of a product, so check the rest of the nutrition information too, and look at the portion size.
Before buying or sharing the biscuits, you want to check whether they contain maltitol, other polyols or any allergens relevant to you. Check the current ingredients list on the pack.
Start with the claim and the amount of sugars per 100 g. Then decide whether the portion, sweetener and ingredients suit the occasion when you plan to eat or share the biscuits.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| The sugar-free claim | Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g, and don’t confuse ‘no added sugar’ with ‘sugar-free’. Céréal states that the speculoos reviewed contains 0.4 g of sugars per 100 g. | For the parade, I want a biscuit whose claim I can check on the label, rather than relying on prominent wording on the pack. An estimated 40% of consumers put this reassurance first. |
| Carbohydrates and portion size | Compare total carbohydrates per 100 g with the portion size. For the Céréal variety, Jumbo states that it contains 62 g of carbohydrates per 100 g; Céréal gives 44 kcal per biscuit. | If I have a biscuit with a meal or snack, I want to know the portion size and the product’s carbohydrate content in advance. For around 30% of consumers, this is their main concern. |
| Polyols and allergens | Check the current ingredients and allergen list. The Céréal variety contains maltitol and, according to Jumbo, 29 g of polyols per 100 g. The product information also lists almonds, wheat, egg, milk and soya, among other ingredients. | When I’m sharing biscuits or avoiding certain ingredients myself, I want to know what’s in them and which sweetener has been used. An estimated 30% of consumers consider this their top priority. |
According to the Voedingscentrum, a product with no added sugar may still contain sugars. The two claims therefore don’t answer the same question when you’re shopping.
If you’re specifically looking for a sugar-free biscuit, check both the claim and the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g on the pack.
A low sugar content doesn’t tell you how many carbohydrates, how much fat or how much energy a biscuit contains. For Céréal Speculoos with almond pieces, Jumbo states that each 100 g contains 62 g of carbohydrates, 20 g of fat and 404 kcal.
Compare the nutrition information per 100 g, then decide how many biscuits you want to have with that meal or snack. A sugar-free claim doesn’t automatically make a biscuit a complete breakfast.
The Céréal variety contains polyols. Albert Heijn states that excessive consumption of this product may have a laxative effect; the product information also lists several allergens.
Check the current ingredients list before buying, especially if you’re sharing the biscuits with someone who needs to avoid certain ingredients.
Jumbo’s recipe, ‘Sugar-free speculoos’, lists 500 g of maple syrup among its ingredients. So the title alone doesn’t tell you the nutritional value of a portion once it’s made.
If you want to bake your own, check all the ingredients and work out the nutritional value based on the recipe and the portions you actually make.
These names have different roles: Céréal is the brand of the biscuit discussed here, Albert Heijn and Jumbo list it as a product they sell, and Lotus Biscoff is a standard speculoos biscuit for comparison.
Céréal makes the 110 g Speculoos with almond pieces discussed here, labelled ‘no sugars’.
Albert Heijn lists Céréal Speculoos with almond pieces as a product with no sugars.
Jumbo lists the 110 g pack of Céréal and also publishes a separate recipe entitled ‘Sugar-free speculoos’.
Lotus Biscoff is a standard speculoos option for anyone who isn’t specifically looking for a sugar-free choice.
Check the nutrition claim and the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g on the current pack. Céréal states that its Speculoos with almond pieces contains 0.4 g of sugars per 100 g; according to the Voedingscentrum, ‘no added sugar’ does not mean the same as sugar-free.
The sugar-free claim doesn’t tell you that. For Céréal Speculoos with almond pieces, Jumbo states that it contains 62 g of carbohydrates per 100 g, of which 29 g are polyols. So check the portion size and the full nutrition information too.
The Céréal variety contains maltitol, a polyol, and Albert Heijn states that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Check the ingredients and portion size to decide whether this biscuit is right for your meal or snack.
The product information lists almonds, barley, wheat, egg, milk and soya, among other ingredients. If you have an allergy, always check the current ingredients and allergen information on the pack before eating or sharing the biscuit.
