For chocolate sprinkles on rusks at an Easter breakfast, ‘less sugar’ is not the same as ‘sugar-free’: under EU Regulation 1924/2006, the latter claim may only be used when a product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. Céréal lists 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g for its dark chocolate sprinkles. If you want to serve something with less sugar, you could consider this variety, but you should also check the ingredients, polyols and portion size.
At Easter breakfast or after an Easter egg hunt, you may want to serve chocolate sprinkles without mistaking a product labelled ‘less sugar’ for a sugar-free one. To compare products, check the sugars per 100 g on the packaging.
If children eat several rusks or treats, you may want to know which sweeteners and polyols the chocolate sprinkles contain. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems.
If chocolate sprinkles are mainly a topping for rusks, you can compare the flavour, pack size and sugar content of the varieties you’re considering. A festive presentation doesn’t, in itself, tell you anything about the nutritional value.
First decide whether the chocolate sprinkles really need to be sugar-free, or whether less sugar is enough. Then check the ingredients and how much you plan to put on each rusk.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar-free or less sugar | Check the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g. Under EU Regulation 1924/2006, the ‘sugar-free’ claim is permitted only for products containing no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. | For Easter breakfast, I want to be sure that the chocolate sprinkles can genuinely be called sugar-free, rather than simply containing less sugar. Around 42% of consumers prioritise this strict check on sugar. |
| Polyols and portion size | Check the ingredients, the amount of polyols and any warnings on the packaging. | If children eat several treats after an Easter egg hunt, I also want to take the polyols in the chocolate sprinkles into account. This is the most important consideration for around 33% of consumers. |
| Festive topping | Choose the type of chocolate sprinkles you want, then compare the sugar content and pack size of the varieties you’re considering. | I want to decorate rusks for a special occasion, so I choose chocolate sprinkles mainly for the flavour I want and the occasion. This is the main priority for around 25% of consumers. |
A reduction in sugar doesn’t mean a product meets the threshold for ‘sugar-free’. Céréal lists 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g for its dark chocolate sprinkles.
If sugar-free is a must, check the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g on the packaging.
Chocolate sprinkles with less sugar may also contain polyols. Céréal’s dark variety lists 40 g of polyols per 100 g; according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems.
Check the ingredients and any warnings too, and bear in mind how much chocolate sprinkles you serve.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre states that bakers are not required to use baker’s salt. So don’t assume that rusks contain added iodine.
If iodine in your rusks is important to your choice, check the product information or ask the manufacturer.
Céréal offers dark and milk chocolate sprinkles which, according to the brand, contain 88% and 79% less sugar respectively.
Albert Heijn sells own-brand chocolate sprinkles called ‘dark, less sugar’ and ‘milk, less sugar’.
Jumbo sells its own-brand Milk Chocolate Sprinkles, Less Sugar 200 g, and also lists Céréal Dark Chocolate Sprinkles 200 g in its range.
No, ‘less sugar’ doesn’t automatically mean ‘sugar-free’. Under EU Regulation 1924/2006, the ‘sugar-free’ claim may only be used for products containing no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g; Céréal lists 7.7 g per 100 g for its dark chocolate sprinkles.
As well as the sugar content, check the ingredients, polyols, label warnings and portion size. Céréal lists 40 g of polyols per 100 g for its dark chocolate sprinkles, and the Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems.
No, don’t assume they do. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre states that bakers are not required to use baker’s salt. If this matters to your choice, check the information for the rusks you’ve chosen or ask the manufacturer.
