For recognisable shortbread at a conference, compare sugars per 100g and per planned serving rather than treating a smaller biscuit as a reduced-sugar product. If a lower-sugar alternative matters more than traditional shortbread, consider a clearly identified different biscuit style and check its ingredients, carbohydrate information and serving format. Keep the exact product’s allergen information available whichever you serve.
Compare the stated sugars per biscuit with the figure per 100g, then decide how many biscuits each attendee will be offered. An ordinary shortbread does not become a reduced-sugar product because its serving is small.
Keep ingredient and allergen information for each biscuit available, including any alternative made with a sweetener. Check the exact packs that will be served.
Decide whether the choice must be traditional shortbread, then compare nutrition on a common weight basis and plan the portion actually served.
Consider it when: The familiar biscuit style matters and you can specify a serving size.
Bear in mind: A smaller serving does not establish a reduced-sugar claim; compare the product’s sugars per 100g too.
Consider it when: Attendees can be offered an alternative rather than shortbread.
Bear in mind: Farmhouse Biscuits lists 0.2g sugars and 67.6g carbohydrate per 100g for its sugar-free Viennese Shorties, which contain maltitol and carry a warning about excessive consumption.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars and claims | Compare sugars in g per 100g and per biscuit. If describing a product as reduced sugar, check the evidence for that claim against a similar product rather than relying on one nutrition figure. | I want attendees to understand the difference between a smaller serving of ordinary shortbread and a product making a reduced-sugar claim. |
| Portions and service | Check the stated biscuit weight, servings per pack and whether the actual format suits self-service. Confirm the supplier can provide the quantity needed. | One biscuit per attendee would make portion planning straightforward; individual wrapping may matter if guests will serve themselves. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the exact pack’s ingredients, allergen statement and any precautionary wording. Keep those details accessible if biscuits are served loose. | I need to answer questions about the biscuits actually on the refreshment table, not a similar product or an older listing. |
| Sugar and carbohydrate | For an alternative labelled sugar-free or no added sugar, check sugars and total carbohydrate separately, along with sweeteners and any consumption warning. | A different biscuit might give guests another choice, but I do not want its name to imply that it is carbohydrate-free or traditional shortbread. |
A lower figure than another selected biscuit does not, on its own, substantiate a comparative claim.
Give the stated sugars per 100g and per serving. If you plan to use a reduced-sugar claim in purchasing or service information, check its comparable-product evidence and applicable conditions.
Farmhouse Biscuits describes its Viennese Shorties as a different biscuit style and lists 67.6g carbohydrate per 100g.
Present them as an alternative, and retain the pack’s maltitol declaration and warning that excessive consumption may have laxative effects.
Guests still need accurate information about biscuits served loose. Food Standards Scotland advises providing allergen information for both prepacked and non-prepacked food.
Keep the exact product’s ingredient and allergen details available, and manage cross-contact during service.
These named products illustrate nutrition and service formats to compare; a brand reference does not establish that its range is reduced sugar or available for your event.
Walker’s Shortbread lists an eight-finger, 150g all-butter pack.
Dean’s lists shortbread fingers in a foodservice case of approximately 80 individually wrapped 17g portions.
M&S lists Mini Shortbread Fingers in a 125g pack alongside other shortbread formats.
The checked Waitrose all-butter fingers come in a 200g pack with ten stated servings.
Tesco’s checked all-butter shortbread pack is 210g and states an 18g serving.
The checked Taste the Difference Scottish shortbread fingers come in a 160g pack with eight stated servings.
Its sugar-free Viennese Shorties offer a different biscuit style, not traditional all-butter shortbread.
These options include one shortbread and two sandwich biscuits with sugar-related wording in their product names. The sandwich biscuits are alternatives to consider only if traditional shortbread is not required; check each exact pack before planning service.
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The 25g shortbread is an option when planning a defined serving of traditional-style biscuit. Check the pack’s sugars per 100g and allergen information; its portion size alone does not establish a reduced-sugar claim.
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This 97g pack contains sandwich biscuits, not shortbread. If considering it as a separate choice for attendees, check the exact pack’s nutrition, ingredients, allergens and serving information rather than relying on the ‘Zero Sugar’ name alone.
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These are sandwich biscuits in a 210g pack, so they would need to be presented as an alternative to shortbread. Check sugars, total carbohydrate, ingredients, allergens and the portions you intend to serve; ‘No Added Sugar’ does not state the amount in a serving.
No. A no-added-sugar name does not itself show how a biscuit compares with similar shortbread. Check the exact product’s sugars per 100g and per serving, and substantiate any reduced-sugar claim separately.
They can be served loose, but retain the exact product’s allergen details and manage cross-contact during service. Food Standards Scotland advises food businesses to provide allergen information for non-prepacked as well as prepacked food.
Work from the confirmed attendance, the number of biscuits planned per person and the exact pack’s stated servings. Confirm the supplier can fulfil the required quantity; Dean’s described its foodservice case as approximately 80 portions but marked that listing unavailable.
Not necessarily. Farmhouse Biscuits lists 0.2g sugars but 67.6g carbohydrate per 100g for its sugar-free Viennese Shorties. Check both figures and the intended portion when describing the alternative to attendees.
Check the received pack before service, particularly its ingredients, allergens and nutrition. Use that product’s label when preparing refreshment information, and raise any delivery or product concern with the supplier.