Who is this choice for?

The careful label reader

You want a biscuit that is genuinely sugar-free, so you look beyond ‘zero’ or ‘no added sugars’. The nutritional information per 100 g will help you make the right choice.

Looking for a biscuit alternative

You want to stock up on biscuits for the week and are happy to choose a different type of biscuit instead of spritz, as long as you can check the sugar content per 100 g.

Careful ingredient checker

As well as sugars, you check for polyols and allergens such as wheat. Particularly when buying several packs, you want to make sure the ingredients are suitable for you.

What should you look for when choosing?

If you want to make a strictly sugar-free choice, start with the nutritional information per 100 g. An ordinary spritz biscuit, a sugar-free biscuit and a biscuit with no added sugars are not necessarily interchangeable. Then consider which ingredients and nutritional values matter for your weekly stock-up.

What to consider What to check when buying Most relevant for
Genuinely sugar-free Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g as well as the claim on the packaging. Under EU rules, a product labelled ‘sugar-free’ can contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. If I want to buy something that is strictly sugar-free, I don’t want to rely on ‘zero’ or ‘no added sugars’. Around 38% of consumers prioritise this strict sugar limit.
Carbohydrates and portion size Compare the carbohydrates per 100 g and the portion size; the amount of sugars alone doesn’t tell you how many carbohydrates are in a portion. When I eat biscuits throughout the week, I also want to be able to check the carbohydrates per portion. This is the main priority for around 31% of consumers.
Polyols and allergens Check the amount of polyols, any warning on the label and the allergen declaration, including ‘may contain’ statements. When stocking up for the week, I want to be able to avoid ingredients I can’t tolerate or am allergic to. This check is a priority for around 31% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘zero’ means sugar-free

    ‘No added sugars’ doesn’t mean that a product contains no sugars. Albert Heijn lists Verkade San Francisco zero as containing 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g, which is above the EU limit for a ‘sugar-free’ claim.

    If you want to make a strictly sugar-free choice, always check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g.

  • Assuming sugar-free means low in carbohydrates

    Jumbo lists Céréal Kokos zonder suikers as containing 0 g of sugars, but 72 g of carbohydrates per 100 g. These figures relate to different parts of the nutritional information.

    Compare the carbohydrates too, and check how much of the pack makes up one portion.

  • Only noticing the polyols after buying

    Jumbo lists Céréal Kokos zonder suikers as containing 18 g of polyols per 100 g. According to Voedingscentrum, large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems.

    Read the ingredients and warnings before buying several packs.

  • Expecting a biscuit to be identical to a spritz

    A sugar-free biscuit is a different type of biscuit. Verkade lists Nobo Sprits Original as containing 24.2 g of sugars per 100 g, so it isn’t suitable if you’re looking for a strictly sugar-free option.

    Decide whether the flavour and texture of a spritz matter more to you than choosing a sugar-free biscuit.

Brands to consider

Céréal

The Kokos and Speculoos varieties without sugars reviewed here are biscuits you can compare as alternatives to spritz biscuits.

  • Jumbo lists Céréal Kokos as containing 0 g of sugars and 18 g of polyols per 100 g; for the Speculoos variety, Jumbo lists 0.4 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • These biscuits are not spritz biscuits. Check the allergens and any warnings about polyols for the variety you choose.

Albert Heijn

AH Digestive 0% suiker is a digestive biscuit to consider if you’re happy to choose a different type of biscuit instead of spritz.

  • Albert Heijn lists AH Digestive 0% suiker as containing 0.3 g of sugars and 14 g of polyols per 100 g.
  • This product contains wheat and is not a spritz biscuit.

Verkade

The Verkade biscuits mentioned here show why you should assess ordinary spritz biscuits and claims about added sugars separately.

  • Verkade lists Nobo Sprits Original as containing 24.2 g of sugars per 100 g; Albert Heijn lists Verkade San Francisco zero as containing 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • Nobo Sprits Original isn’t suitable if you’re looking for a strictly sugar-free option. The ‘0% added sugar’ label on San Francisco zero doesn’t mean this biscuit is sugar-free either.

Products on Joybuy

Matching products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

When can a biscuit be labelled ‘sugar-free’?

Under EU rules, biscuits labelled with the nutrition claim ‘sugar-free’ can contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. Check the nutritional information per 100 g on the packaging to see whether a product meets this limit.

Does ‘no added sugars’ mean the same as sugar-free?

No. A biscuit with no added sugars can still contain sugars. Albert Heijn lists Verkade San Francisco zero as containing 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g, which is above the limit for a ‘sugar-free’ claim.

Does 0 g of sugars also mean low in carbohydrates?

No. Jumbo lists Céréal Kokos zonder suikers as containing 0 g of sugars and 72 g of carbohydrates per 100 g. If the amount of carbohydrates matters to your choice, compare that nutritional value and the portion size too.

Why do some sugar-free biscuits carry a warning about polyols?

According to Voedingscentrum, large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems. So check the amount of polyols and any warning on the packaging, especially if you’re stocking up on biscuits for several days.