Don’t assume a standard canoe biscuit is vegan: the Albert Heijn and Jumbo canoe biscuits reviewed contain milk ingredients and egg. If the canoe shape matters less to you, the vegan-labelled AH Digestive 0% sugar is a different type of biscuit to compare. Be sure to check its current ingredients, nutritional information and warning about polyols too.
You want a canoe biscuit, but you’ll only buy one if the exact variety contains no milk, butter, whey or egg. According to the product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo, the standard canoe biscuits reviewed do contain ingredients of animal origin.
The canoe shape matters less to you than a vegan label and clear sugar information. Albert Heijn describes its AH Digestive 0% sugar as vegan, with 0 g of added sugar per 100 g. It’s a digestive biscuit, not a canoe biscuit.
You want to know how much sugar a biscuit contains and whether its ingredients fit your vegan choice. According to the product information, Verkade San Francisco Zero contains milk ingredients, despite being labelled as having no added sugar.
First check whether the exact variety is vegan. Then compare the sugars per 100 g and decide how important the canoe shape is to you.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Vegan ingredients | Check the ingredients list for milk, butter, whey and egg on the exact variety. Also check for a vegan label on the current packaging. | If I’m looking for a vegan biscuit, I want to rule out ingredients of animal origin before considering the shape. For around 42% of consumers, checking the ingredients would be the main priority. |
| Sugars and sweeteners | Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and check which sweeteners or polyols are used and what warnings are given. | I want to compare the sugar information without treating a claim on the front of the pack as the whole story; for around 33% of consumers, this would be their first concern when buying. |
| Canoe-shaped or another biscuit | Decide whether you need the canoe shape and almond paste filling, or whether a vegan-labelled digestive biscuit would also fit the bill. | I prefer a recognisable canoe shape, but the ingredients still need to suit a vegan choice. Around 25% of consumers would make the biscuit shape their first selection criterion. |
Jumbo describes the butter canoe biscuit reviewed as vegetarian, but also lists butter concentrate and egg yolk. So this label doesn’t make it suitable for a vegan purchase.
Check the ingredients on the exact pack, even if the product page lists another dietary attribute.
Verkade San Francisco Zero is labelled as having no added sugar, but according to the product information it contains whey permeate powder and whole milk powder.
Check vegan ingredients and sugar information separately; neither check replaces the other.
Biscuits can vary in portion size, so a value per biscuit isn’t the same as comparing sugars per 100 g.
First compare the same quantity using the nutritional information, then check how many you have per portion.
AH Digestive 0% sugar contains maltitol and isomalt. Albert Heijn states that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
As well as the sugar values, read the ingredients and warning on the current packaging.
The products reviewed include a standard butter canoe biscuit and a separate vegan-labelled digestive biscuit.
The Jumbo Butter Canoes reviewed are a standard canoe biscuit variety.
San Francisco Zero is a biscuit with no added sugar, but it isn’t a canoe biscuit.
Don’t assume they are. The butter canoe biscuits reviewed from Albert Heijn and Jumbo contain milk ingredients and egg. If you’re considering another canoe biscuit, check the ingredients for that exact variety.
No. According to the product information, Verkade San Francisco Zero contains 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g, despite being labelled as having no added sugar. Check the nutritional information for the amount of sugars, rather than relying on the claim alone.
Yes. Verkade San Francisco Zero contains whey permeate powder and whole milk powder. Check the ingredients list separately from the sugar information to see whether it’s suitable for vegans.
Check the ingredients and nutritional information for the exact variety before you buy. Ondernemersplein states that the information required on labels for prepacked foods must also be available online. If you need a vegan option, look beyond category or search filters.
