Who are these options for?

Travellers who want to take a portion with them

A pre-measured portion is easier to pack in a bag or lunchbox. Check the sugar claim separately: convenient packaging doesn’t tell you how much sugar the biscuits contain.

Shoppers keeping an eye on total sugars

For these shoppers, ‘no added sugars’ doesn’t mean the same as ‘sugar-free’. The ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g helps you compare products carrying different claims.

Shoppers who check ingredients carefully

Polyols and allergens vary between biscuits and product variants. If you need to keep an eye on these, check the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging, as well as the nutrition table.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, decide which sugar claim you’re looking for in a biscuit to have with lunch on the go. Then compare the portion you’ll actually take with you and the ingredients in that specific variant.

What to consider What to look for Who it matters to
Total sugars and sugar claim Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the claim ‘sugar-free’ may only be used when a product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g or 100 ml. I want to limit the total amount of sugars, not just avoid added sugars. For around 42% of consumers, strict sugar control comes first.
Portion size and portability Check how many biscuits you’ll take as a portion and compare the nutrition per 100 g with that per portion. See whether the pack contains pre-portioned servings. When I’m out and about, I want to take a set portion without opening a large pack. For around 33% of consumers, portion convenience matters most.
Sweeteners and allergens Check the ingredients, allergens and any warning about polyols on the current packaging for the variant you’ve chosen. If I need to avoid certain ingredients or have previously had problems with polyols, I want to know what’s in the biscuit. For roughly 25% of consumers, this is the top priority.

Common mistakes

  • Reading ‘no added sugars’ as ‘sugar-free’

    These are different claims. Albert Heijn says Verkade San Francisco zero contains 0% added sugar, but also lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g. That’s above the threshold for the ‘sugar-free’ claim under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.

    Decide which claim matters to you, then compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g on the packaging.

  • Looking only at the sugar content

    A sugar-free claim doesn’t tell you everything about a product’s nutritional value. Jumbo lists 427 kcal and 72 g of carbohydrates per 100 g for Céréal Kokos; Albert Heijn lists 465 kcal per 100 g for AH Digestive 0% suiker.

    Compare energy, carbohydrates, fats, fibre and salt per 100 g, as well as for the portion you’ll take with you.

  • Overlooking polyols

    Biscuits with sweeteners may contain polyols such as maltitol. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, consuming large amounts of polyols can cause intestinal discomfort.

    Check the ingredients and any warning on the label. Choose a small portion if you’re not yet sure how you’ll react to a product.

  • Relying on the brand name when checking allergens

    Ingredients vary between variants. Jumbo’s product information lists almonds, barley, egg, milk, soya and wheat, among other ingredients, in Céréal Speculoos Amandel.

    Check the label of the exact variant you’re taking with you every time you buy it.

Brands compared

Céréal

The Kokos and Speculoos Amandel biscuits reviewed are sold as ‘sugar-free’. The Kokos pack contains 3 × 4 biscuits, which can make it handy for choosing a portion.

  • Jumbo lists 0.4 g of sugars per 100 g for Speculoos Amandel; for Kokos, Jumbo lists 0 g of sugars per biscuit.
  • Both variants contain maltitols and wheat. Allergens vary by variant; Speculoos Amandel also contains almonds, soya, egg and milk.

Albert Heijn

AH Digestive 0% suiker is a biscuit sold in a 400 g pack. For taking it with you, you can portion it out yourself in advance.

  • Albert Heijn lists 0.3 g of sugars and 5.7 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • The product contains wheat and 14 g of polyols per 100 g. The label warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

Verkade

San Francisco zero may suit you if you’re looking for biscuits with no added sugars, but not if you want a strictly sugar-free option.

  • Albert Heijn lists the claim ‘0% added sugar’ for this variant.
  • The same product information lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g. Check the ingredients too if maltitols, wheat, milk or soya are relevant to your choice.

Lotus Biscoff

Original Speculoos is included here as a standard biscuit for comparison, not as a sugar-free option.

  • The biscuits reviewed are individually portioned.
  • According to Albert Heijn’s product information, sugar and candy syrup are listed in the ingredients, and the product contains 38 g of sugars per 100 g.

ALDI

ALDI sells products with both a reduced-sugar claim and a no-added-sugars claim. These are different products, and neither claim on its own means ‘sugar-free’.

  • ALDI describes Goud Gebakken Koekhappers, with 30% less sugar, as six individually wrapped cakes.
  • Koek & Bakker Ontbijtkoek Zero carries the claim ‘no added sugars’, but ontbijtkoek is a different type of product from a biscuit. Check the total sugars on the label of both products.

Lidl / Sondey

Lidl describes Sondey as a range of biscuits and snacks. Choose a specific product from the range based on its label, not on the brand name alone.

  • The range described includes biscuits and cookies, among other products.
  • Check the sugar content, ingredients and allergens for the variant you choose; the range name doesn’t determine these properties.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘sugar-free’ mean a biscuit contains no sugar at all?

No. Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the claim ‘sugar-free’ may be used when a product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g or 100 ml. ‘No added sugars’ is a different claim; check the ‘of which sugars’ line for the total amount.

Can a sugar-free biscuit replace my lunch?

A sugar-free biscuit isn’t a full lunch. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that biscuits are often high in calories and low in nutrients. Check the full nutritional information for the portion you’re taking with you, rather than looking at the sugar claim alone.

Why does a pack warn about a laxative effect?

Some biscuits contain polyols such as maltitol. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, consuming large amounts of polyols can cause intestinal discomfort. Check the ingredients and the warning on the packaging, especially if you’re sensitive to these sweeteners.

How can I check the allergens in a sugar-free biscuit?

Check the allergen information on the current packaging for the exact variant. The products reviewed differ: AH Digestive 0% suiker contains wheat, while Céréal Speculoos Amandel contains almonds, barley, egg, milk, soya and wheat, among other ingredients.

How can I take biscuits with me without opening the whole pack?

Take a portion you’ve chosen in advance in an airtight container, or use an individually portioned pack if the product comes in one. For AH Digestive 0% suiker, Albert Heijn recommends storing the biscuits in a sealed tin after opening.