If sugar-free is a strict requirement for your work meeting, only choose taaitaai biscuits whose nutritional information lists no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. The standard taaitaai biscuits from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS, for which nutritional information is available, do not meet this requirement. Breakfast cake with no added sugars is a different type of biscuit to consider only if the agreement allows it; check its sugar content, ingredients and allergens on the packaging too.
If sugar-free has been agreed in advance, the sugar content per 100 g should be the deciding factor. A claim such as ‘zero’ or ‘no added sugars’ does not, on its own, tell you how much sugar the biscuits contain.
For coffee or a morning meeting, spiced breakfast cake can be an alternative to taaitaai, provided a different type of biscuit is acceptable. No added sugars does not mean that the cake is sugar-free.
Ingredients and allergens may also affect your choice, as well as people’s preferences about sugar. Check the packaging of the product you choose before serving it, especially if anyone attending has mentioned an allergy or intolerance.
First, clarify whether ‘sugar-free’ is a strict requirement or whether the meeting would also accept biscuits with no added sugars. Then check the nutritional information and make sure the product is suitable for everyone attending.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is it important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Strictly sugar-free | Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g; for a strict requirement, the figure must be no more than 0.5 g. | If sugar-free has been agreed, I don’t want to serve standard taaitaai based on a catchy claim alone. This is the top priority for around 45% of consumers. |
| A different spiced biscuit | Ask whether breakfast cake with no added sugars is acceptable, and check the sugar content per 100 g. | With coffee, I’m mainly looking for spiced cake with no added sugars; it doesn’t have to be taaitaai. Around 33% of consumers say this is their top priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the current ingredients list and allergen information on the exact pack you have chosen. | I’m serving something to a group and want to take account of any reported allergies or ingredient preferences. Suitability is the most important factor for around 22% of consumers. |
A biscuit can be sold with no added sugars and still contain sugars. This means spiced breakfast cake may not be suitable if sugar-free taaitaai has been specifically requested for the meeting.
Compare the claim on the front of the pack with ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g in the nutrition table. Agree in advance whether a different type of biscuit is acceptable.
A smaller piece does not change the sugar content per 100 g. Albert Heijn lists 39 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Taai taai, while Jumbo lists 38.6 g per 100 g for Sint Taai Taai Figuurtjes.
Only serve standard taaitaai if there is no sugar-free requirement. If there is, check the nutritional information for a specific alternative.
When serving a group, the ingredients and allergens in the product you actually bought are what matter. A description you viewed earlier is no substitute for checking the pack that ends up on the table.
Before serving, check the current allergen information and ingredients list, particularly if anyone attending has mentioned an allergy or intolerance.
The products listed here help you compare standard taaitaai with biscuits that have no added sugars. A brand name alone does not tell you whether another product in its range is suitable.
AH Taai taai is a standard 350 g pack of taaitaai.
Jumbo lists both standard taaitaai and sliced breakfast cake labelled ‘zero% added sugar’.
PLUS Taai taai sint en piet is a standard 500 g bag of taaitaai.
ALDI lists 500 g taai-taai as part of its St Nicholas range.
Dirk lists 1 de Beste Mini taai taai in its search results.
Under the strict requirement used here, the biscuit must contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. Check ‘of which sugars’ in the nutrition table for the product you choose; the word ‘zero’ on the front of the pack is not enough.
No. Breakfast cake is a different type of biscuit, and ‘no added sugars’ does not mean it contains no sugars. Consider it only if the agreement for the work meeting allows an alternative, and check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g even then.
Check the allergen information on the packaging of the taaitaai you are actually serving. The standard products described here include ingredients such as gluten-containing cereals and milk; don’t assume another product has the same ingredients.
Read the ingredients list and any usage warnings on the packaging. Voedingscentrum says sweeteners are listed on the label; check the product you choose for allergens and sugar content too.
