Don’t choose regular taaitaai from Albert Heijn, Jumbo or PLUS if you’re looking for strictly sugar-free taaitaai for a birthday: according to their product information, the varieties listed contain 39 g, 38.6 g and 38.594 g of sugars per 100 g respectively. Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, a solid biscuit can only be labelled ‘sugar-free’ if it contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. So check the nutrition information on the exact pack. If you bake taaitaai yourself, the finished product must also meet that limit before you can call it sugar-free.
If you want to offer taaitaai as sugar-free, check the number of grams of sugars per 100 g in the exact variety. A less sweet taste or a different product name doesn’t tell you whether it meets the threshold for this claim.
If guests need to avoid certain ingredients, it’s important to check the current packaging. The regular taaitaai varieties from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS described here contain wheat, rye and milk, among other ingredients. Some varieties also mention possible traces of nuts.
Baking at home gives you control over the recipe and the shape of your treat. But a recipe that uses a sugar substitute isn’t automatically proven to be sugar-free: the ingredients, allergens and nutritional values of the finished taaitaai all matter too.
First decide whether your treat needs to be both taaitaai and sugar-free. Then check the sugars per 100 g in the exact variety and make sure the ingredients are suitable for your guests. If you’re baking at home, allow time for these checks too.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar-free | Check the sugars per 100 g on the current packaging of the exact taaitaai variety. Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, a solid biscuit can contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g to carry the ‘sugar-free’ claim. | I only want to call taaitaai sugar-free if the nutrition information confirms it. For around 42% of consumers, that certainty would be their top priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list, allergen information and any sweeteners listed on the packaging you’ve chosen, or check the complete baking recipe. | I want to be able to check in advance whether the treat is suitable for guests who need to avoid certain ingredients. For around 33% of consumers, checking allergens and sweeteners would come first. |
| Preparation and type of product | Check that the product is taaitaai and that its shape and preparation suit the party. If you’re baking at home, allow time to assess the finished product too. | I want to serve a treat on time, without mistaking ontbijtkoek for taaitaai. For around 25% of consumers, practical considerations would be the main priority. |
A less sweet taste doesn’t make a biscuit sugar-free. Albert Heijn lists 39 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Taai taai, Jumbo lists 38.6 g for Sint Taai Taai Figuurtjes, and PLUS lists 38.594 g for Ambachtelijke taai taai koeken.
Compare the sugars per 100 g on the packaging of the variety you actually plan to serve with the limit of no more than 0.5 g per 100 g for the ‘sugar-free’ claim.
Lidl’s Ontbijtkoek zero is ontbijtkoek, not taaitaai. The name alone also doesn’t confirm its sugar content.
Check the type of product and its nutrition information separately. Choose a different biscuit only if taaitaai isn’t a requirement for the birthday party.
The regular varieties described here contain wheat, rye and milk. Other allergens or possible traces vary by product.
Read the current packaging before choosing a product for your guests, and keep the packaging available when you serve it.
An online taaitaai recipe may say ‘no added sugar’ without specifying the total amount of sugars per 100 g in the finished biscuit. The recipe described by Fun and healthy food also uses almond flour and egg.
Check the complete ingredients list and the nutritional values of the finished product before offering the biscuit as sugar-free.
AH Taai taai is a regular taaitaai biscuit sold in a 500 g pack.
Jumbo Sint Taai Taai Figuurtjes is a regular taaitaai biscuit sold in a 500 g pack.
PLUS Ambachtelijke taai taai koeken come in a 250 g pack.
Dirk lists 1 de Beste Mini taai taai in a 500 g pack.
Lidl lists Ontbijtkoek zero in a 485 g pack as a different type of biscuit.
Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the ‘sugar-free’ claim can only be used for solid taaitaai if the product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. Check the nutrition information for the exact variety. ‘No added sugar’ doesn’t mean the same thing.
No. Albert Heijn lists 39 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Taai taai, Jumbo lists 38.6 g for Sint Taai Taai Figuurtjes, and PLUS lists 38.594 g for Ambachtelijke taai taai koeken. These specific varieties are above the limit for the ‘sugar-free’ claim.
Read the allergen information on the current packaging or, if you’re baking at home, check the ingredients in the complete recipe. The regular taaitaai from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS described here contains wheat, rye and milk. The possible presence of other allergens varies by variety.
Check both the sweeteners listed and the total sugars per 100 g. The presence of a sugar substitute doesn’t prove that taaitaai is sugar-free. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, any sweeteners used are listed on the label. Also read any warnings on the packaging.
You can if a different type of biscuit will suit your party, but Lidl’s Ontbijtkoek zero isn’t taaitaai. Before deciding whether it fits your plans, check the ingredients, allergens and sugars per 100 g on the current packaging.
