If you’re looking for a product labelled ‘sugar-free’ for your Easter lunch, check the sugar content per 100 g: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre sets the limit at 0.5 g. According to Céréal’s product information, Speculoos with almond pieces contains 0.4 g of sugars per 100 g, but also maltitol and several allergens. A recipe containing syrup isn’t suitable if you want to avoid added sugars, so don’t treat a recipe name as nutritional information.
You want to know what ‘sugar-free’ means on a packet for your Easter lunch. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre sets the limit for this claim at 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g; ‘no added sugars’ means something different.
You’re looking for biscuits that are low in sugars, but also want to know which sweeteners they contain. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems.
If any of your guests have a food allergy, a ‘sugar-free’ label isn’t enough to help you choose biscuits. Check the current allergen information for every product and keep the packet handy when serving.
First decide whether you’re looking for a product labelled ‘sugar-free’ or simply want to avoid added sugars. Then compare the sweeteners and allergens before choosing between packaged biscuits and baking your own.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who should consider this? |
|---|---|---|
| What sugar-free means | Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre sets the limit for ‘sugar-free’ at 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g; ‘no added sugars’ is a different claim. | If I want to serve something that is strictly sugar-free, a recipe name or a claim about reduced sugar isn’t enough. Around 33% of consumers put this label check first. |
| Sweeteners and polyols | Check which sweetener is used, the amount of polyols per 100 g and any warnings on the packet. | If I’m serving several biscuits, I want to know whether they contain polyols, as the Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that large amounts can cause digestive problems. This is the first consideration for around 25% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact packet you’re serving; a sugar claim tells you nothing about these. | If a guest has a food allergy, I need to establish first whether these biscuits are suitable. Around 17% of consumers put this check first. |
| Packaged or homemade | For packaged biscuits, check the serving information; for a recipe, check all the ingredients that add sweetness. For example, Jumbo’s ‘sugar-free speculaas’ recipe contains 500 g of maple syrup. | I want to serve something that suits both my preparations and my sugar preferences. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this practical consideration. |
Jumbo calls one recipe ‘sugar-free speculaas’, even though its ingredients include 500 g of maple syrup. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, maple syrup counts as added sugar.
If you’re baking your own, read the full list of ingredients. If you want a packaged product labelled ‘sugar-free’, compare its stated sugar content per 100 g with the limit set by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
According to Céréal, its Speculoos with almond pieces contains maltitol and 29 g of polyols per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems.
Check the sweeteners, nutritional information and warnings on the packet when deciding how many biscuits to serve.
Céréal lists ingredients including wheat, almonds, egg, soya, barley and milk for its Speculoos with almond pieces. The sugar content tells you nothing about whether the biscuits are suitable for guests with a food allergy.
Check the current packaging of each product individually, and leave it beside the biscuits so guests can read the allergen information for themselves.
An online category page can help you find what you’re looking for, but the information on the packet of the biscuits you actually serve is what matters.
Check the product you’ve chosen just before buying, then read the ingredients and nutritional information on the packet again when serving.
Céréal offers Speculoos with almond pieces, which the brand describes as ‘sugar-free’. It’s a Speculoos product, so don’t assume that this product name applies to every type of speculaas.
Albert Heijn lists Céréal Speculoos with almond pieces, with no sugars, in its sugar-conscious biscuits category.
Jumbo publishes a recipe for homemade biscuits called ‘sugar-free speculaas’.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre sets the maximum for the ‘sugar-free’ claim at 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. ‘No added sugars’ means something different: a product with this claim may still contain sugars that occur naturally.
According to Céréal’s product information, this variety contains 0.4 g of sugars per 100 g. The brand also lists maltitol and 29 g of polyols per 100 g; check the current packet if you’re choosing these biscuits for your Easter lunch.
No, because the Netherlands Nutrition Centre classifies maple syrup as added sugar. Jumbo’s recipe, called ‘sugar-free speculaas’, contains 500 g of maple syrup; if you’re considering another recipe, check the full list of ingredients too.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems. Check which sweeteners and warnings are listed on the packet, especially if you’re planning to serve several biscuits.
Not necessarily: a claim about sugar tells you nothing about allergens. Céréal lists ingredients including wheat, almonds, egg, soya, barley and milk for its Speculoos with almond pieces. If someone has an allergy, always check the current packet of the exact biscuits you’re serving.
