If you fancy the taste of taaitaai during a night shift, don’t assume regular taaitaai is a sugar-free snack just because of its name. An Albert Heijn taaitaai recipe contains soft brown sugar and honey. Under European Union rules, a solid snack can only be called sugar-free if it contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. So check the nutritional information on the exact product you’re buying. If it doesn’t meet your needs, compare it with another snack or make your own recipe and work out the sugar content per 100 g.
You want to check the claim against the nutritional information for the exact snack, rather than relying on wording on the front of the pack. Under European Union Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, a solid snack can only be described as sugar-free if it contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g.
You want to choose a snack in advance to have during or after a night shift. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that many products sold as snacks are high in sugar, salt or saturated fat, so compare the nutritional information for the products you’re considering.
You’re mainly after that familiar flavour and texture, but want the option of choosing a different snack or making your own. If you’re making it yourself, bear in mind that the Albert Heijn taaitaai recipe uses both soft brown sugar and honey.
First decide whether a verifiable sugar-free claim or the taste of taaitaai matters more to you. Then compare which snack will be easiest to take with you on your night shift.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who does this matter to? |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar-free claim | Check the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g on the exact product packaging. Under European Union rules, a solid snack can only be called sugar-free if it contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. | If I want to choose a strictly sugar-free option, the value on the pack needs to confirm my choice. This check is the top priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| Taking it with you and portion size | Check the pack size and compare the nutritional information per 100 g. Also look at the values per portion, if provided. | For a night shift, I want to choose a snack in advance that’s easy to take with me. Around 33% of consumers give this practical consideration top priority. |
| Taaitaai flavour | Check the ingredients and the sugar content per 100 g. The ingredients list alone won’t tell you how much sugar the product contains. | For me, the taste of taaitaai is the deciding factor, even if that means choosing a regular biscuit or trying an alternative. This matters most to around 25% of consumers. |
The familiar product name tells you nothing about its sugar content. For example, the Albert Heijn taaitaai recipe uses soft brown sugar and honey.
If you’re looking for a strictly sugar-free option, check the nutritional information for the exact product against the limit of no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g set out in Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
A claim such as ‘no added sugar’ doesn’t give you the value you need to assess whether a product is sugar-free. Albert Heijn also notes that product information can change.
Check the current nutritional information on the packaging just before you buy, especially the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g.
Other ingredients may also contain sugars. Honey, for example, is used in the Albert Heijn taaitaai recipe.
Work out the sugar content of the complete recipe per 100 g before calling a homemade version sugar-free.
Albert Heijn lists AH Taai taai and Bolletje Taai Taai 350 g in its range.
Jumbo lists De Originele Taai Taai 500 g and Sint Taai Taai Figuurtjes 500 g.
Bolletje Taai Taai 350 g is listed by Albert Heijn.
If you’d like to take a different snack from taaitaai on your night shift, you could consider this savoury crisps mix. If sugar-free is a must for you, check the nutritional information on the current packaging.
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A savoury crisps mix for anyone who’d rather take a different snack from taaitaai on a night shift. It won’t give you the flavour or texture of taaitaai.
The pack contains 180 g. Check the current ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g before choosing this product as a sugar-free option.
Under European Union Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, a solid snack can only be called sugar-free if it contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. To check, look at the ‘of which sugars’ value in the nutritional information for the exact taaitaai product.
No. That claim alone doesn’t confirm that a snack contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. Compare the ‘of which sugars’ value on the pack with the sugar-free limit set by European regulations.
Compare the values per 100 g, including energy, carbohydrates, of which sugars, fat, fibre, protein and salt. Also consider the portion you want to take with you. The European Union generally requires prepacked foods to display nutritional information, making it easier to compare products on the same basis.
Don’t choose regular taaitaai as a sugar-free snack without checking first. An Albert Heijn taaitaai recipe contains soft brown sugar and honey. For a packaged product, the nutritional information for the exact variety will show whether it meets the sugar-free limit.
