Who are these choices relevant to?

Brunch-goers with a strict sugar-free requirement

For you, the amount of sugars per 100 g matters, not just the wording on the front of the pack. The Jumbo and PLUS dark chocolate flakes reviewed here don’t meet that requirement.

Families looking to limit added sugars

You’re looking for something to add to yoghurt or quark, for example, and understand that ‘no added sugars’ isn’t the same as sugar-free. That’s why the nutrition table remains important when making your choice.

Brunch-goers who want to serve traditional chocolate flakes

You’re looking for a topping to sprinkle over bread, crispbread or croissants, and want to serve it in the usual way. If the amount of sugars matters too, check the pack you choose.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether sugar-free is an absolute must, or whether you mainly want to avoid added sugars. Then choose between chocolate flakes as a bread topping and a breakfast cereal mix for a bowl of yoghurt or quark.

What to consider What to check when buying Who is this important to?
Strictly sugar-free Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. Under European Union Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, a solid food carrying the ‘sugar-free’ claim may contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. If I only want to serve a sugar-free product, a sugar claim without nutritional information isn’t enough. For around 46% of consumers, this strict requirement matters most.
No added sugars Compare the claim with the amount of sugars per 100 g, and check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging. For yoghurt or quark, I want to avoid added sugars, even if the product still contains sugars. Around 36% of consumers say this is their priority.
Traditional flakes Choose a product that suits the way you plan to serve it, and compare the sugars per 100 g in the variant you choose. On bread or a croissant, I want to be able to sprinkle on familiar chocolate flakes; a breakfast cereal mix doesn’t serve the same purpose for me. For around 18% of consumers, ease of serving comes first.

Common mistakes

  • Reading ‘no added sugars’ as ‘sugar-free’

    A product with no added sugars can still contain sugars. According to PLUS’s nutritional information, Quaker Cruesli Zero Sugar Added Chocolade contains 3.8 g of sugars per 100 g.

    If you have a strict sugar-free requirement, check the nutritional values per 100 g. For the EU ‘sugar-free’ claim on solid foods, the maximum is 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g.

  • Treating a breakfast cereal mix as the same kind of bread topping

    A mix for yoghurt or quark serves a different purpose from loose chocolate flakes on bread or a croissant.

    Decide what you want to serve the product with before choosing an alternative.

  • Comparing products by serving size alone

    The stated serving size may vary between packs, making comparisons per serving less useful as a first step.

    Compare the nutritional values per 100 g first, then decide how much you want to serve.

  • Overlooking warnings on products containing polyols

    The Netherlands Nutrition Centre states that foods containing more than 10% added polyols carry a warning about a possible laxative effect if consumed in excess.

    If a product contains sweeteners, read the ingredients list and any warnings on the pack you choose.

Brands and product types to consider

De Ruijter

De Ruijter offers chocolate flakes as a sweet bread topping.

  • PLUS’s product information lists bread, crispbread and croissants among the ways to serve De Ruijter Chocoladevlokken Melk.
  • If you need a sugar-free product, check the nutritional values on the exact pack you’re buying; serving suggestions don’t tell you how much sugar it contains.

Jumbo

Jumbo offers dark chocolate flakes as a bread topping, among other products.

  • Jumbo Chocolade Vlokken Puur is listed in a 300 g pack.
  • According to Jumbo, this variant contains 63.7 g of sugars per 100 g, so it doesn’t meet a strict sugar-free requirement.

PLUS

PLUS offers dark chocolate flakes, among other products.

  • PLUS Chocoladevlokken puur Fairtrade is listed in a 300 g pack.
  • According to PLUS, this variant contains 63.8 g of sugars and 63.6 g of added sugars per 100 g, so it isn’t sugar-free.

Quaker

Quaker Cruesli Zero Sugar Added Chocolade is a breakfast cereal mix, not a chocolate flake topping for bread.

  • PLUS’s product information presents this mix as a no-added-sugars option for foods such as yoghurt or quark.
  • PLUS’s nutritional information states that it contains 3.8 g of sugars per 100 g. ‘No added sugars’ doesn’t make the mix sugar-free.

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Frequently asked questions

What’s the difference between sugar-free and no added sugars?

‘Sugar-free’ and ‘no added sugars’ are different claims. Under European Union Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, a solid food carrying the ‘sugar-free’ claim may contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g; a product with no added sugars may still contain sugars. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends checking the nutrition table.

Are Jumbo and PLUS dark chocolate flakes sugar-free?

No, the dark variants mentioned aren’t sugar-free. Jumbo states that Jumbo Chocolade Vlokken Puur contains 63.7 g of sugars per 100 g; PLUS states that PLUS Chocoladevlokken puur contains 63.8 g per 100 g. If you choose a different variant, check its packaging again.

Can a breakfast cereal mix replace chocolate flakes at Easter brunch?

A breakfast cereal mix can be a different type of product for yoghurt or quark, but it isn’t the same kind of bread topping as chocolate flakes. According to PLUS’s nutritional information, Quaker Cruesli Zero Sugar Added Chocolade contains 3.8 g of sugars per 100 g, so it isn’t sugar-free either.

Where can I check for allergens in a cereal and chocolate alternative?

Check the allergen information on the packaging of the exact variant you plan to serve. Don’t assume that it does or doesn’t contain ingredients such as cereals, milk or nuts based on the product name alone.

Do I need sweeteners to avoid added sugars?

No, choosing less added sugar doesn’t automatically mean you need a product with sweeteners. Check the ingredients in the variant you choose; if it contains polyols, read the warnings on the label too. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre states that foods containing more than 10% added polyols carry a warning about a possible laxative effect if consumed in excess.