When choosing chocolate sprinkles for a secondary school lunch, don’t rely solely on the words ‘less sugar’. Compare the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g and consider how much you put on each rusk. Less sugar doesn’t mean sugar-free. Also check the allergens on the packaging, the rest of the lunch and any school guidelines.
You’re looking for a familiar sweet topping for a secondary school pupil, but want to know how much sugar the chocolate sprinkles actually contain. The nutritional information and the amount used on each rusk matter more than the wording on the front of the pack.
You want to serve rusks with chocolate sprinkles alongside other lunchbox items, such as wholemeal bread, fruit or vegetables and a sugar-free drink, rather than building the entire lunch around a sweet topping.
Before packing lunch, you need to check the ingredients and allergens in both the rusks and the chocolate sprinkles, and find out whether the school has guidelines on food or allergens.
Start with the nutritional information for the chocolate sprinkles and the amount you use. Then consider how the rusks fit into the whole lunch, and check the labels on the rusks and topping separately.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar content | Compare the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g and consider the amount you use. Check what a claim such as ‘less sugar’ is being compared with. | I want to choose chocolate sprinkles with less sugar, without mistaking ‘less sugar’ for sugar-free. For around 38% of consumers, this comparison comes first. |
| The whole lunch | Consider what else is going in the lunchbox, for example wholemeal bread, fruit or vegetables and a sugar-free drink. | Alongside the sweet topping, I also want to include other lunch items. For around 37% of consumers, the overall lunch comes first. |
| Allergens and school guidelines | Read the ingredients and allergen information for both the rusks and the chocolate sprinkles; check the school’s guidelines if needed. | If a pupil needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know what the current labels and school guidelines say before packing lunch. For around 25% of consumers, these checks are the main priority. |
A reduction is measured against another product and doesn’t, by itself, tell you how much sugar the chocolate sprinkles contain. Albert Heijn says AH Hagelslag puur minder suiker contains 30% less sugar than AH Chocolade hagel puur, but also lists 43 g of sugars per 100 g.
Compare the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g and consider how much you sprinkle on each rusk.
Allergens vary between products. Albert Heijn lists its own lower-sugar dark chocolate sprinkles as gluten-free, while the Venz Hagelslag melk 30% minder suiker listed by Albert Heijn contains wheat and soya. Rusks also have their own ingredients list.
Check the current labels on both the rusks and the chocolate sprinkles every time you buy them, especially if a pupil needs to avoid certain ingredients.
Your choice of chocolate sprinkles doesn’t determine what else goes in the lunchbox.
Consider whether you’d like to include other items alongside rusks with chocolate sprinkles, such as wholemeal bread, fruit or vegetables and a sugar-free drink.
Your school’s guidelines may affect what a pupil can take in. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises parents of secondary school pupils to find out how food is managed at school.
Check the school handbook, website or app, and ask the school which guidelines apply if you’re unsure.
A useful option to compare if you’re looking for dark chocolate sprinkles with less sugar than a regular variety.
Albert Heijn lists Céréal Hagelslag melk minder suikers and Céréal Hagelslag puur minder suikers in its range.
A brand whose varieties are worth distinguishing carefully, rather than choosing on the brand name alone.
Lidl lists Mister CHOC Hagelslag puur as a regular chocolate sprinkles product in a 600 g pack.
No. ‘Less sugar’ compares one product with another; it doesn’t mean the product contains no sugar. Albert Heijn lists 43 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Hagelslag puur minder suiker, despite the claim that it contains 30% less sugar than AH Chocolade hagel puur. So make sure you check the nutrition table too.
No, it depends on the variety. Albert Heijn describes AH Hagelslag puur minder suiker as gluten-free, while the product information for Venz Hagelslag melk 30% minder suiker lists wheat. When packing lunch, check the current labels on both the chocolate sprinkles and the rusks.
Check the school handbook, website or app, and ask the school if you’re unsure. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises parents of secondary school pupils to find out how the school manages food.
No, don’t assume that based on the product category. Check the ingredients list to see what type of salt is used in the rusks you’ve chosen, and ask the manufacturer for clarification if you can’t tell from the packaging.
