People who need their food to be sugar-free
A label such as ‘gluten-free’ or ‘made without refined sugars’ isn’t enough for you. You want to be able to check the sugar-free claim against the amount of sugars per 100 g shown on the pack.
If you want to buy sugar-free taaitaai for the summer holidays, choose only a variety that explicitly claims to be sugar-free, and check the nutritional information on the exact pack. Under the EU rules for this claim, a solid food must contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. Gluten-free and made without refined sugars don’t mean the same thing. Also check availability shortly before you travel, as taaitaai is often sold as a seasonal product.
A label such as ‘gluten-free’ or ‘made without refined sugars’ isn’t enough for you. You want to be able to check the sugar-free claim against the amount of sugars per 100 g shown on the pack.
You’re looking for taaitaai labelled gluten-free, but you check the sugar content separately. A gluten-free product name doesn’t tell you anything about how much sugar it contains.
As well as checking the ingredients, you’ll want to know whether the pack you choose will be available before you travel, and what the label says about its shelf life and how to store it on the journey.
If you need a sugar-free product, start by checking the claim and nutritional information for the exact taaitaai product. Then consider any other dietary requirements, and whether you can get and store your chosen pack before you travel.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar-free claim | Look for an explicit claim and check that the nutritional information shows no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g, the limit under the EU rules for sugar-free claims. | If you only want to take sugar-free taaitaai with you, you’ll want to check the claim against the nutritional information. For around 50% of consumers, checking the claim comes first. |
| Ingredients and dietary requirements | Read the current ingredients and allergen information; check the gluten-free label and sugar content separately. | If I also avoid gluten, the taaitaai I choose must meet that requirement first. For around 30% of consumers, suitability for their dietary needs is the top priority. |
| Availability and storage | Check the exact variety shortly before you travel, and read the date and storage instructions on the pack. | If I’m buying food for a holiday, I want to know whether I can get the pack in time and store it appropriately. Around 20% of consumers put these practical considerations first. |
These labels answer different questions. Corncrake states that its taaitaai made with syrups contains 29 g of sugars per 100 g. So, made without refined sugars doesn’t mean this variety is sugar-free.
If you want a sugar-free option, check for an explicit claim and the amount of sugars per 100 g on the exact pack.
Jumbo says that Gluten Free Bakery Holland Taai Taai Glutenvrij 130 g is no longer part of its online range. A product page therefore doesn’t guarantee that you can order the pack.
Check the product’s current status before planning your holiday shop.
PLUS and ALDI also list taaitaai among their Sinterklaas products. That doesn’t mean it will be available during the summer holidays.
Check your chosen variety and retailer shortly before you travel. If sugar-free is essential, don’t assume you can simply swap it for regular taaitaai.
Albert Heijn lists regular AH Taai taai and Consenza Taai taai poppetjes gluten free.
Jumbo lists Gluten Free Bakery Holland Taai Taai Glutenvrij 130 g.
PLUS lists regular taaitaai in a 500 g pack and also includes it among its Sinterklaas products.
ALDI lists Taai-taai 500 g and includes taaitaai in its Sinterklaas range.
Dirk lists 1 de Beste Mini taai taai 500 g in its taaitaai search results.
Under the EU nutrition claim rules, Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, a solid food must contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g to be described as sugar-free. For the exact taaitaai product, check both the claim and the nutritional information on the pack.
No. A gluten-free label doesn’t tell you anything about the amount of sugars in the product. If you choose a gluten-free variety, check the sugar-free claim and the sugars per 100 g separately.
Not necessarily. Corncrake states that its taaitaai made with agave and coconut blossom syrup contains 29 g of sugars per 100 g. Both the sweetening ingredients and the total amount of sugars are therefore relevant to your choice.
That depends on the date and storage instructions on the pack you choose. Check these before stocking up, and check availability shortly before you buy: PLUS and ALDI also list taaitaai in their Sinterklaas ranges.