The standard taaitaai from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS is not a sugar-free option: their product information lists 39 g, 38.6 g and 38.594 g of sugars per 100 g respectively. Under European rules, packaged taaitaai labelled ‘sugar-free’ must contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. If you can’t find a product that meets this limit, you can bake your own and choose the ingredients. However, you’ll still need to check the nutritional values of the finished product before calling it sugar-free.
You want to enjoy taaitaai later in the morning and are looking for a product that genuinely meets the limit for a ‘sugar-free’ claim. Eating a smaller portion of standard taaitaai doesn’t change its sugar content per 100 g.
You want to make a taaitaai-style snack and choose the ingredients and portion size yourself. The nutritional values will depend on the recipe and the quantities you use.
You check ingredients and allergens before buying, or want to know which sweetener has been used. A sugar-free claim doesn’t tell you anything about these other characteristics.
Suitable when: the current packaging says ‘sugar-free’ and lists no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g.
The trade-off: according to their product information, the standard varieties mentioned from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS are all well above this limit.
Suitable when: you want to choose the ingredients for a taaitaai-style snack yourself.
The trade-off: baking takes time, and a recipe doesn’t prove that the finished product is sugar-free. The recipe from Fun and healthy food also uses almond flour and egg.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar-free claim | Check the claim and the sugars per 100 g. Under European rules, packaged taaitaai labelled ‘sugar-free’ must contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. | If I’m specifically looking for sugar-free taaitaai, a small piece of a standard variety isn’t an alternative. This requirement comes first for around 33% of consumers. |
| Carbohydrates and portion size | Compare carbohydrates and sugars per 100 g, then consider how much you actually eat. When baking at home, the values depend on the ingredients and quantities used. | For my snack, I want to know what my portion contains, even if the product isn’t sugar-free. Around 27% of consumers give this consideration the highest priority. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging. If you’re using a recipe, check every ingredient. | If I need to avoid a relevant allergen, I check the ingredients before looking at the sugar claim. This is the most important consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
| Sweetener and preparation | Check which sweetener has been used and read any warnings on the label. If baking at home, decide whether the recipe and preparation method suit your needs. | I want to be able to choose which sweetener is in my snack and whether I’m happy to spend time baking. This is the first consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
Portion size doesn’t change the product’s composition per 100 g. For the standard taaitaai mentioned, Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS list 39 g, 38.6 g and 38.594 g of sugars per 100 g respectively.
To check a ‘sugar-free’ claim, start with the value per 100 g. Then consider how much you eat at each snack time.
A claim about sugars doesn’t tell you what other ingredients or allergens the product contains, or how many carbohydrates a portion provides.
Also read the nutritional information and ingredients list on the packaging.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems. So sugar-free doesn’t mean the same choice will suit everyone.
Check the name of the sweetener in the ingredients list and follow any warnings on the label.
The taaitaai-style recipe from Fun and healthy food uses almond flour and egg. Baking at home doesn’t automatically remove allergens.
Check all the recipe ingredients for allergens that are relevant to you, even if you substitute any ingredients.
The AH Taai taai reviewed is a standard 350 g variety.
The Jumbo Sint Taai Taai Figuurtjes reviewed is a standard 500 g variety.
The PLUS Taai taai sint en piet reviewed is a standard 500 g variety.
Under European rules, the ‘sugar-free’ claim can only be used for solid foods containing no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. So check the nutritional values per 100 g on the current packaging; a small portion doesn’t change this limit.
No. Their product information lists 39 g, 38.6 g and 38.594 g of sugars per 100 g respectively for the varieties mentioned. These standard taaitaai products therefore aren’t suitable if you’re strictly avoiding sugar.
No. The ingredients you choose and the quantities you use determine the nutritional values of the finished product. A recipe title or the use of a sweetener doesn’t prove that it meets the ‘sugar-free’ limit. Also check the portion size if you want to compare carbohydrates per snack.
Check for any allergens that are relevant to you on the current packaging or among all the ingredients in a recipe. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the mandatory labelling of allergens; the homemade recipe mentioned from Fun and healthy food contains at least almond flour and egg.
Check which sweetener the product contains and read any warnings on the label. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems. A sugar-free claim doesn’t tell you how you’ll react to those ingredients.
