Anyone looking for a strictly sugar-free option
If the amount of sugars per 100 g is what matters most to you, don’t rely on claims such as ‘less sugar’ alone.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Anyone keen to keep their spritz-biscuit tradition
If a crisp biscuit is an important part of your Sunday breakfast, but you’re considering a different type of biscuit because being sugar-free matters more than choosing a classic spritz.
Anyone who checks ingredients carefully
Sweeteners, polyols or allergens may affect which biscuit is suitable for your table. Ingredients vary from product to product.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether sugar-free is a must. Then compare the type of biscuit and its ingredients: a biscuit that’s low in sugars won’t automatically have the taste or ingredients of a spritz.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Amount of sugars | Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. For a sugar-free option, compare it with the EU limit of no more than 0.5 g per 100 g for solid foods. | If sugar-free is a must for me, I don’t want to rely on claims such as ‘less sugar’ or ‘no added sugars’ alone. For around 42% of consumers, meeting that strict sugar limit comes first. |
| Type of biscuit | Check whether the product is a spritz or another type of biscuit, and whether that alternative suits your breakfast. | A crisp biscuit is part of Sunday breakfast for me; I want to know whether another type of biscuit can take the place of a spritz. Keeping that spritz-biscuit tradition matters most to around 25% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and serving size | Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information per 100 g and per serving. Look out for any warnings on the packaging about polyols. | If I’m sharing with others, I want to check first which ingredients and serving sizes are suitable for them. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this consideration. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘no added sugars’ means ‘sugar-free’
These claims don’t mean the same thing. Under European Union rules, the claim ‘sugar-free’ can only be used for solid foods containing no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. A product with no added sugars may still contain sugars from its ingredients.
Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g before choosing a biscuit as sugar-free.
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Looking only at sugars
A low sugar figure doesn’t tell you everything about a biscuit’s nutritional value.
Compare the energy, fat, fibre and salt per 100 g too, and consider how many biscuits you plan to serve.
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Overlooking polyols and allergens
Sugar-free biscuits may contain sweeteners. Albert Heijn warns that excessive consumption of AH Digestive 0% suiker may have a laxative effect.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging you choose, especially if you’re sharing the biscuits with others.
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Assuming a sugar-free biscuit is a spritz
Céréal Speculoos with almond pieces and the coconut variety are different types of biscuit from spritz biscuits. Their names don’t mean they have the same taste or ingredients.
Decide whether a sugar-free option matters more to you than a classic spritz biscuit for Sunday breakfast.
Brands to consider
Verkade
NoboSprits Original is a traditional spritz biscuit for anyone looking for a classic biscuit, not a sugar-free alternative.
- Verkade describes NoboSprits Original as a crisp biscuit.
- Verkade lists 24.2 g of sugars per 100 g. Check the ingredients too if wheat or milk is relevant to your choice.
Albert Heijn
AH Spritsen and AH Digestive 0% suiker show the difference between an ordinary spritz biscuit and a sugar-free biscuit.
- Albert Heijn’s product information makes it clear that Digestive 0% suiker is a biscuit, not a spritz.
- According to Albert Heijn, AH Spritsen contain 28 g of sugars per 100 g. AH Digestive 0% suiker carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Céréal
The speculoos and coconut biscuits are alternatives if the amount of sugars matters more to you than a spritz recipe.
- Jumbo lists 0.4 g of sugars per 100 g for Céréal Speculoos with almond pieces, and 0 g per 100 g for the coconut variety.
- Neither is a spritz biscuit. Jumbo lists 29 g and 18 g of polyols per 100 g respectively; check the ingredients and allergens for the variety you choose.
Related products on Joybuy
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Is a biscuit with no added sugars also sugar-free?
No, these claims don’t mean the same thing. Under European Union rules, the limit for using the claim ‘sugar-free’ on solid foods is no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. So check the nutritional information, even if a product contains no added sugars.
Can I choose ordinary spritz biscuits if sugar-free is a must?
Not the ordinary spritz biscuits discussed here: Verkade lists 24.2 g of sugars per 100 g for NoboSprits Original, while Albert Heijn lists 28 g per 100 g for AH Spritsen. A biscuit with a suitable sugar content is a different type of biscuit, so check the nutritional information for the product you choose.
What should I look for in the sweeteners used in a sugar-free biscuit?
Check which sweeteners the biscuit contains and follow any warnings on the packaging. Albert Heijn states that excessive consumption of AH Digestive 0% suiker may have a laxative effect.
Does a low sugar content tell you enough about a breakfast biscuit?
No, sugar content is just one part of a biscuit’s nutritional value. For the biscuit you plan to serve, also compare the energy, fat, fibre and salt per 100 g, the serving size and the allergen information.