Information › Ingredients › Alcohol
Alcohol as an ingredient: where it is and how it reads on a Dutch label
Updated on 4 November 2026
At a glance
- Kind
- Ingredient, not an allergen
- Also as
- alcohol, ethylalcohol, ethanol, wijn, bier…
- Without alcohol
- 40,907 products
- Contain it
- 1,017 products
- Supermarkets
- AH, Jumbo, PLUS, Dirk and Hoogvliet
What is alcohol?
Alcohol (ethanol) is in beer, wine and spirits, and as an ingredient in desserts, chocolates, sauces and marinades. Alcohol used only to dissolve a flavouring does not have to be on the label, so a label without alcohol is no guarantee for those who avoid it entirely.
Recognise
On a Dutch label as
- alcohol
- ethylalcohol
- ethanol
- wijn
- bier
- likeur
- rum
- whisky
- whiskey
- wodka
- vodka
- brandewijn
- cognac
- brandy
- sherry
- jenever
- kirsch
- amaretto
- marsala
May also be it
- flavourings dissolved in alcohol
- chocolates and tiramisu
Not alcohol
- wine vinegar
We look for these Dutch words in the ingredient list itself, also between brackets. If in doubt, read the pack.
Shopping
Per shelf where alcohol is common (the shops’ own Dutch shelf names)
Examples without alcohol
- TokkelroomDelica · 500 mlHoogvliet € 5,99Albert Heijn € 6,19Jumbo € 6,19PLUS € 6,19No allergens listed
- AdvocaatZwarte Kip · 500 mlDirk € 5,99Hoogvliet € 5,99Albert Heijn € 6,49Jumbo € 6,49PLUS € 6,49No allergens listed
- beerenburg & colaSonnema · 250 mlHoogvliet € 2,34Albert Heijn € 2,39Jumbo € 2,39PLUS € 2,39No allergens listed
- Mocktail mojitoSir james · 250 mlHoogvliet € 2,19PLUS € 2,19No allergens listed
- Gin tonicBobby s · 250 mlHoogvliet € 2,59PLUS € 2,59No allergens listed
- Pak 10 flesjesFlügel · 10 stukHoogvliet € 9,99Jumbo € 10,49PLUS € 10,49No allergens listed
All 40,907 products without alcohol (in Dutch)
Which supermarket has the most without?
On the shelves where alcohol is common: the share of products without it.
- Jumbo79%31 of 39
- Hoogvliet56%23 of 41
Brands without alcohol
On the shelves where alcohol is common, none of their products names it.
- Jumbo's 10
What to look for in the shop
- Read the ingredient list: it is there by its Dutch name or its E number, the same in every language.
- Watch compound ingredients between brackets: it is sometimes in there.
Good to know
Recently without alcohol (2)These products named alcohol on an earlier label, and no longer do.
What is alcohol mostly in?Most often in the shelves ‘Mixdranken, aperitieven’ (44% contains it) and ‘Oosterse maaltijden’ (21% contains it).
Most often in the shelves ‘Mixdranken, aperitieven’ (44% contains it) and ‘Oosterse maaltijden’ (21% contains it). There is choice without it there too: 23 products on ‘Mixdranken, aperitieven’, for example.
How does alcohol read on a Dutch label?As alcohol, ethylalcohol, ethanol, wijn, bier, likeur, rum and whisky.
As alcohol, ethylalcohol, ethanol, wijn, bier, likeur, rum and whisky. We look for those words in the ingredient list itself, also in compound ingredients between brackets.
How many products contain alcohol?1,017 of the 41,924 products with an ingredient list, about 2%.
1,017 of the 41,924 products with an ingredient list, about 2%. The other 40,907 do not name it.
Which supermarket has the most products without alcohol?On the shelves where alcohol is common: Jumbo (79% without) and Hoogvliet (56% without).
On the shelves where alcohol is common: Jumbo (79% without) and Hoogvliet (56% without).
Is all alcohol on the label?Not always.
Not always. Alcohol used only to dissolve a flavouring does not have to be declared, so a label without alcohol is not a full guarantee.
A choice of your own, not an allergy
Alcohol is not an allergen: whether you eat or use it is up to you. We show what the ingredient list says, so you can choose. Recipes change: if in doubt, the pack in your hand decides.
More ingredients under Ingredients; allergens under Allergies.
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