Biscuits and cakes are widely consumed packaged foods that can contribute significantly to dietary sugar and energy intake. This study aimed to evaluate the sugar content, energy value, and overall nutritional composition of biscuits, cookies, and cakes available in local markets in Soran city, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between October and December 2025. A total of 112 packaged products were randomly collected from major supermarkets, representing commonly visited commercial areas, and included items from 27 countries. Nutritional information, including energy, total sugars, carbohydrates, fat, protein, and selected minerals, was obtained from product labels and standardized per 100 g for comparison. The results showed variation in product distribution by country of origin. For biscuits, products from Turkey represented the highest proportion (35%), followed by Iran and Spain (16% each). In cookies, Turkey and Spain each accounted for 24%, while Iran and Germany contributed 14% each. Nearly half of the cakes came from Turkey (48%), followed by Germany (13%), with smaller contributions from a number of other nations (4–9%). These findings indicate a strong dominance of imported products, particularly from Turkey. In addition, cakes generally showed higher sugar and energy values compared to biscuits and cookies. Overall, many products were energy-dense and high in sugar, highlighting the importance of clear nutritional labelling and increased consumer awareness to support healthier food choices. Keywords: Biscuits; Cakes; Energy value; Soran city; Sugar content.
