Only choose taaitaai that meets both requirements if you can check that the exact product is labelled vegan and explicitly claims to be ‘sugar-free’. Also read the ingredients and the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g: ‘vegetarian’ does not prove that a biscuit is vegan, and a sugar claim alone does not tell you whether taaitaai is suitable for breakfast.
You want to avoid animal-derived ingredients, so you cannot rely on the word ‘vegetarian’ alone. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists dairy, eggs and E-numbers of animal origin among the ingredients that are not suitable for a vegan diet.
You’re looking for a ‘sugar-free’ claim, not just a pack labelled ‘less sugar’ or ‘no added sugars’. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority makes clear that ‘sugar-free’ is a claim about the sugar in the product.
You want to assess whether a sweet biscuit fits into your morning meal without assuming that a sugar claim reflects the nutritional value of the whole breakfast. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists fruit, wholegrains, unsalted nuts and pulses among the staple foods of a plant-based diet.
Looking for taaitaai that is both vegan and sugar-free? First check that the exact pack meets both product requirements. Then consider the portion size and the rest of the nutritional information if you want to eat the biscuits for breakfast.
| What to look out for | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Vegan status | Check the vegan labelling and read the current ingredients list for animal-derived ingredients such as milk, egg and honey. | If I’m buying strictly vegan, I don’t want to rely on ‘vegetarian’ labelling or a shop’s general plant-based range. For around 42% of consumers looking for both requirements, certainty about vegan status comes first. |
| ‘Sugar-free’ claim | Look for the explicit claim and check the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g. Don’t treat ‘less sugar’ and ‘no added sugars’ as the same claim. | If I want to avoid sugar, the wording on the exact product needs to support my choice. Around 33% of these consumers say the sugar-free claim is their top priority. |
| Eating it for breakfast | Compare the portion size and nutritional information, including energy, fibre and protein per portion. | I want to know how a sweet biscuit fits alongside the rest of my breakfast, rather than looking only at the sugar claim. This is the most important consideration for around 25% of these consumers. |
PLUS lists milk protein in the ingredients of its Ambachtelijke taai taai koeken. So, a vegetarian label does not rule out dairy.
If you’re choosing strictly vegan products, check the labelling and ingredients on the exact pack; don’t rely on ‘vegetarian’ alone.
ALDI presents My Vay as a plant-based range and also lists a taai-taai product. The range label does not tell you what that individual biscuit contains.
Read the taaitaai packaging itself, especially if an online listing does not show the ingredients or dietary information.
The ‘sugar-free’ claim does not describe the full nutritional value or the portion size. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises people who want to eat less sugar to also cut down on biscuits, sweets and cakes.
Check the nutritional information per portion and consider the biscuit alongside the rest of your breakfast.
PLUS provides product information for individual taaitaai varieties, so you can assess their ingredients rather than relying on the product category.
Albert Heijn has separate listings for AH Taai taai and Consenza Taai taai poppetjes gluten free.
ALDI lists a 500 g taai-taai product and presents My Vay separately as a plant-based range.
The product information given does not support that combination. PLUS lists milk protein in its 250 g Ambachtelijke taai taai koeken and around 38,6 g sugars per 100 g in its 500 g Taai taai sint en piet. If you’re considering another variety, check the exact pack again.
No. They are different terms and should not be treated as interchangeable. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority describes ‘sugar-free’ as a claim about the sugar in the product, so check the exact claim and the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g.
You can only assess this for the exact product by checking the current ingredients. Look out for milk, egg and honey, among other things. Taaitaai recipes, even those from a supermarket, do not prove what is in an individual packaged product sold in store.
The sugar claim alone is not enough to determine that. Check the portion size and the rest of the nutritional information; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists fruit, wholegrains, unsalted nuts and pulses among the staple foods of a plant-based diet.
