When choosing biscuits for a vegan diet, first check the vegan labelling and ingredients on the specific pack. Then compare the sugars per 100 g: a sugar claim alone tells you nothing about animal-derived ingredients or the rest of the nutritional information. According to Albert Heijn, AH Digestive 0% sugar is vegan and contains 0.3 g of sugars and 14 g of polyols per 100 g. Remember to consider the serving size and the warning about excessive consumption too.
You want to avoid ingredients of animal origin. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that a vegan certification also excludes substances of animal origin. Check the ingredients list on the specific pack when you buy.
You’re looking for a biscuit to enjoy with a cup of tea or coffee and want to compare the amount of sugars in different products on a like-for-like basis: per 100 g and, if it matters to your choice, per serving.
You’re considering biscuits sweetened with ingredients such as maltitol and want to know how many polyols they contain. The warning on the pack and the serving size are important too.
When choosing vegan biscuits with less sugar, first separate the ingredients from the nutritional information: a low sugar value doesn’t confirm that a biscuit is vegan. Then use the figures per 100 g to compare products, and consider the portion you actually eat.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Vegan ingredients | Check the vegan labelling and ingredients list on the pack, paying particular attention to ingredients such as milk and egg. | If I buy vegan, I want to avoid relying on a sugar claim when the biscuit contains animal-derived ingredients. For around 34% of shoppers, certainty about vegan ingredients matters most. |
| Amount of sugars | Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figures per 100 g for biscuits that meet your vegan requirements. | I want to see which biscuit contains less sugar, even when packs list different serving sizes. Around 33% of shoppers prioritise the actual amount of sugars. |
| Polyols | Check the ingredients, the amount of polyols per 100 g and any warnings about excessive consumption. | When choosing biscuits with sweeteners, I want to know whether the amount of polyols is suitable for the portion I eat. For around 20% of shoppers, polyols are the main consideration. |
| Other nutritional information and serving size | As well as sugars, check the energy, fat, fibre and salt per 100 g, and how many biscuits you count as a serving. | If I have a biscuit regularly, I don’t want to base my choice on the sugar value alone. Overall nutritional information and serving size come first for around 13% of shoppers. |
These labels refer to different things. For Céréal Speculoos with almond pieces, Jumbo lists both 0.4 g of sugars per 100 g and egg yolk powder and whole milk in the ingredients.
Check the vegan labelling and ingredients separately. Only then compare the sugar values of biscuits that meet your needs.
A low sugar value doesn’t tell you the whole nutritional story. For AH Digestive 0% sugar, Albert Heijn lists 465 kcal and 20 g of fat per 100 g, as well as 0.3 g of sugars.
Read the nutritional information per 100 g and consider how many biscuits you usually have in a serving.
For AH Digestive 0% sugar, Albert Heijn lists 14 g of polyols per 100 g and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Check the amount of polyols and the warning on the pack, especially if you plan to eat more than one serving.
AH Digestive 0% sugar is a specific biscuit for which Albert Heijn provides both vegan labelling and nutritional information.
The Speculoos with almond pieces listed by Jumbo shows why a biscuit with little sugar isn’t automatically suitable for a vegan diet.
Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff as a crunchy caramelised biscuit that’s ideal for enjoying with coffee, among other occasions.
No. The sugar value doesn’t tell you whether a product contains animal-derived ingredients. Check the vegan labelling and ingredients separately. For example, the Céréal Speculoos with almond pieces listed by Jumbo contains egg yolk powder and whole milk, despite its low sugar value.
Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figures per 100 g on both packs. Using the same basis makes it easier to compare products; then consider how many grams or biscuits you have in your own serving.
For biscuits containing maltitol, check the amount of polyols, the serving size and any warnings on the pack. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, consuming large amounts of polyols may cause wind and diarrhoea.
