In an attempt to stay healthy while treating myself guilt-free, I tried Gullon sugar-free biscuits. Initially, I didn’t research whether these biscuits are actually good for you. Now, I’ve decided to investigate their ingredients, nutrition, and potential side effects, just to see how healthy they are. I’m sharing my findings with you in this review.
What’s in Gullon Sugar-Free Biscuits?
The ingredients in Gullon biscuits vary depending on the type. Some popular options include sugar-free digestive biscuits, milk chocolate digestives and chocolate chip cookies. You’ll also find other sugar-free biscuits and wafers in their range but they may not be easy to find in your local supermarket.
Here’s a quick look at the ingredients in some of these biscuits:
| The flavour | Ingredients |
| Gullón Zeroh! Sugar Free Digestive Biscuits | Whole Wheat Flour 65%, Sweeteners (Isomalt and Maltitol), Vegetable Oil (High Oleic Sunflower Oil) 16%, Oligofructose, Raising Agents (Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate, Ammonium Hydrogen Carbonate), Salt |
| Gullón Zero Milk Choc Digestives Slimms | Wheat Flour 40%, Milk Chocolate with Sweetener 40% (Sweetener (Maltitol), Cocoa Butter, Milk Powder, Cocoa Mass, Emulsifier (Soya Lecithin), Flavour), Sweetener (Maltitol), Vegetable Oils and Fats (Cocoa, High Oleic Sunflower 3%), Wheat Bran 3%, Vegetable Fibre, Gelling Agent (Gum Arabic), Raising Agents (Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate, Ammonium Hydrogen Carbonate), Salt, Emulsifier (Soya Lecithin), Flavour |
| Gullón Zero Zingy Dark Choc Ginger Oaties | Oats Flakes 26%, Wheat Flour, Dark Chocolate with Sweetener 18% [Cocoa Mass, Sweetener (Maltitol), Cocoa Butter, Anhydrous Milk Fat, Emulsifier (Sunflower Lecithin)], Sweetener (Maltitol), Vegetable Oil 13% (High Oleic Sunflower Oil), Vegetable Fibre, Ginger Powder 2%, Raising Agents (Potassium Hydrogen Carbonate and Ammonium Hydrogen Carbonate), Flavour Enhacer (Potassium Chloride), Emulsifier (Soya Lecithin), Salt, Natural Flavour, Antioxidant (Tocopherol-Rich Extract), Flavours |
| Zeroh Sugar Free Choc Chip Cookies | Wheat Flour, Sugar Free Chocolate Chips 25% (Cocoa Mass, Sweetener (Maltitol), Cocoa Butter, Emulsifier (Soya Lecithin), Cocoa Powder, Flavour, Natural Vanilla Flavour), Vegetable Oil (High Oleic Sunflower Oil) 17%, Sweeteners (Maltitol and Isomalt), Raising Agents (Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate, Ammonium, Hydrogen Carbonate), Salt, Flavours |
Analysing the Ingredients
Gullon sugar-free biscuits are made with wheat flour, high oleic sunflower oil, sweeteners, and raising agents, with a touch of salt. Some varieties use whole wheat flour, which is great for added nutrients and fibre, and you’ll find wheat bran and oat flakes in some biscuits too.
It’s reassuring to see natural flavours used instead of artificial ones, which are everywhere these days. I also appreciate the high oleic sunflower oil, a healthier choice compared to common vegetable oils, thanks to its heart-friendly monounsaturated fats.
Nutritional Breakdown
Gullon sugar-free biscuits come in various types, each with its own nutritional profile. Let’s break down the key nutritional facts for some of the most popular options.
Here’s a summary of the nutritional information for four popular Gullon sugar-free biscuits:
| Nutritional Information | Gullón Zeroh! Sugar Free Digestive Biscuits | Gullón Zero Milk Choc Digestives Slimms | Gullón Zero Zingy Dark Choc Ginger Oaties | Zeroh Sugar Free Choc Chip Cookies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Energy (kcal) | 430kcal | 467kcal | 433kcal | 454kcal |
| Fats (g) | 16g | 25g | 21g | 24g |
| Saturated Fats (g) | 1.5g | 14g | 5.9g | 6.0g |
| Carbohydrates (g) | 68g | 58g | 57g | 63g |
| Sugars (g) | <0.5g | 3.6g | 1.0g | <0.5g |
| Fibre (g) | 6.5g | 11g | 6.5g | 4.0g |
| Protein (g) | 6.2g | 6.8g | 7.9g | 5.9g |
| Salt (g) | 0.88g | 0.88g | 0.15g | 0.58g |
Are Gullon Biscuits Really Sugar-free?
Gullon sugar-free biscuits contain between around 57g and 68 g of carbs per 100 g, with minimal sugars. Some of the varieties, like Digestive Biscuits, have less than 0.5g of sugars per 100g, effectively making them almost sugar-free.
Milk Choc Digestives Slimms contain 3.6g of sugars per 100g due to the addition of milk powder which contains natural sugars. However, none of the Gullon biscuits contain any added sugars, such as refined white sugar, date syrup, or coconut sugar. Instead, Gullon biscuits are sweetened with maltitol and, in some cases, isomalt.
Calories
The caloric content of Gullon sugar-free biscuits ranges from 430kcal to around 467kcal per 100g. While this is slightly lower than some regular biscuits, it’s not significantly less. For comparison, standard chocolate digestives have around 496kcal per 100g, and Custard Cream biscuits have 489kcal per 100g.
Fat Content
These biscuits are generally high in fat, with content ranging from 16g to 25g per 100g. The Milk Choc Digestives Slimms come to the top when it comes to saturated fat content (they have 14g saturated fat per 100g), while the Digestive Biscuits have the least at 1.5g per 100g.
Carbohydrates and Fibre
All these biscuits contain more than 50% carbohydrates, with fibre content varying significantly. The Milk Choc Digestives Slimms are quite high in fibre, containing 11g per 100g, while other varieties range from 4g to 6.5g per 100g.
Protein
The protein content in these biscuits is moderate, ranging from 5.9g to 7.9g per 100g. This provides a decent source of protein compared to many other snack options.
Salt Content
Salt content is relatively low, with the Dark Choc Ginger Oaties having the least at 0.15g per 100g. Other varieties have slightly higher salt levels, but all are within a moderate range.
In summary, although Gullon biscuits are low in sugar, they are high in carbs and fats, with moderate protein and fibre content. These biscuits can be a part of a balanced diet when consumed in moderation, especially for those looking to reduce sugar intake. However, it’s always best to complement such treats with a diet rich in whole, unprocessed foods for optimal health.
Side effects
Consuming Gullon sugar-free biscuits can result in some undesirable side effects if you don’t tolerate some of their ingredients well.
For example, a sweetener maltitol used in Gullon biscuits can cause stomach pains and gas in some people. It may even cause diarrhoea.
The other sweetener added to some Gullon biscuits, isomalt, may also cause issues in some people such as bloating, stomach pains and flatulence.
FAQs
Due to the way Gullon biscuits are marketed, many people get confused and are not sure whether they are suitable for the diet they are following. In this section, I answer some of the questions often asked by these people.
Can diabetics eat Gullon sugar-free biscuits?
Although Gullon sugar-free biscuits contain no added sugar, they still contain carbs which turn into glucose (blood sugar) once digested.
If you are a diabetic you need enough insulin to convert this blood sugar into energy (or to store it as fat). If you take too many carbs in and don’t have enough insulin in your body to process these, then your blood sugar will increase.
Since Gullon sugar-free biscuits are quite high in carbs, they will significantly raise blood sugar levels in diabetics and therefore they are best to be avoided.
How many syns are in Gullon sugar-free biscuits?
Syns in Gullon sugar-free biscuits range from 1 syn to 3.5 syns, depending on the type of biscuit. Gullon sugar-free Maria biscuit and Gullon sugar-free cookie have only 1 syn while Gullon sugar-free vanilla and chocolate wafers have 2 syns.
The most syns is in Gullon sugar-free wholegrain breakfast biscuits (3.5 syns) and Gullon sugar-free Dark chocolate digestives which have 3 syns each.
Are Gullon sugar-free biscuits good for the diet?
To lose weight you need to focus on a healthy diet containing minimal amounts of fattening foods such as cakes, biscuits and fried foods. You should also try and be more active and increase your muscle mass to speed up your metabolism.
Eating sugar-free Gullon biscuits is not going to help you lose weight but you could include them as part of a healthy and balanced diet. Make sure you only eat one or two at a time to avoid consuming too many extra calories.
Are Gullon sugar-free biscuits vegan?
Most Gullon sugar-free biscuits are not suitable for vegans as they contain milk powder and milk proteins. Some of them may contain traces of milk and eggs so if you are following a vegan diet it’s best to avoid them.
Final thoughts: Are Gullon sugar-free biscuits good or bad for you?
Gullon sugar-free biscuits are not the worst biscuits you can have since they don’t have added sugar. However, they contain artificial sweeteners (maltitol and isomalt) which can cause digestive discomfort in some people.
They are also high in carbs and fats. For this reason, they are not that healthy.
The positive thing about Gullon sugar-free biscuits is that they are lower in calories compared to standard biscuits but the difference is not huge apart from certain varieties.
This makes them suitable to include as part of your weight loss regime but make sure you eat only a few to avoid consuming too many extra calories.