Choose a large pack if you use chocolate sprinkles regularly at home and can store them according to the instructions on the pack. Individual sachets are better for a gaming event where guests help themselves or you want to portion them out in advance; the De Ruijter box described by Makro Nederland contains 120 sachets of 20 g. If you’re sharing a table, also check the allergen and nutrition information on the pack you buy.
If several players are helping themselves from the same table, individual sachets make it easier to portion everything out in advance. Makro Nederland describes a De Ruijter catering box containing 120 portions of 20 g, intended for serving at the table or at a breakfast buffet.
A large pack makes sense if you’ll use its contents within the stated shelf life. Jumbo and ALDI Nederland, for example, list chocolate sprinkles in 600 g packs; if everyone is helping themselves, you’ll need a way to serve them.
Before buying, check the ingredients, allergens and nutrition information for each variety you choose. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the importance of allergen information on labels. Don’t rely on a brand name or assume another variety has the same ingredients.
First, decide how you’ll serve the chocolate sprinkles: in pre-portioned sachets or from one pack. Then consider how much you’ll use, which variety you want and what the label says.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Portions and helping yourself | Check the number of sachets and the amount in each one. According to Makro Nederland, De Ruijter’s portion pack contains 120 sachets of 20 g. | If lots of guests will be helping themselves, I want to portion things out in advance rather than have everyone scoop from the same open pack. For around 27% of consumers, getting portions sorted in advance is the priority. |
| Quantity and storage | Compare the net weight with how much you’ll actually use, and check the best-before date and storage instructions on the pack. | If I use chocolate sprinkles regularly at home, I want to have enough in stock without keeping a pack for longer than indicated. Around 33% of consumers prioritise having enough in the cupboard. |
| Variety and size of sprinkles | Check whether you’re choosing milk, dark or mixed chocolate sprinkles, and whether the size of the sprinkles matters for your table. | For a themed night, I want to choose the variety I put out rather than simply grabbing a large pack. This is the most important consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and nutrition information | Read the allergen information and any ‘may contain’ warning. Compare the nutritional values per 100 g or per portion on the current label. | If guests need to avoid certain allergens or I want to plan portions, I need the information for the pack I’ve chosen. Checking this is the priority for around 20% of consumers. |
When you’re serving a group, everyone needs to be able to help themselves from the same opened pack. Individual portions make it easier to portion things out in advance, but they’re not necessarily needed for a household that uses chocolate sprinkles regularly.
Work out how many people will be eating and how many times you’ll serve the sprinkles. Choose sachets if portioning them out in advance is important; otherwise, pick a pack that suits how you use them at home.
The De Ruijter portions described by Makro Nederland contain milk and soya and carry a ‘may contain’ warning. That doesn’t tell you which allergens are in every other variety of chocolate sprinkles.
Read the ingredients and highlighted allergens on the pack you’re actually buying. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority stresses the importance of clear allergen information on food labels.
A larger pack doesn’t change the nutritional value per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre highlights the sugar and saturated fat in chocolate sprinkles; values can vary by product.
Check the nutrition information and portion size for the variety you’ve chosen, then decide how much to put out for your gaming night.
For anyone comparing a standard pack with pre-measured portions. Jumbo lists a 390 g dark chocolate variety, while Makro Nederland describes a box of 120 dark chocolate portions of 20 g.
A brand to consider if the size of the sprinkles is important when choosing snacks for your table.
A supermarket own brand to consider if you’re looking for chocolate sprinkles in a 600 g consumer pack.
ALDI Nederland’s own brand is worth comparing in store if you’re looking for a large pack.
A Lidl own brand to look for in store if you want a 600 g pack of dark chocolate sprinkles.
Sachets are more convenient if you want to portion things out for a group in advance or let guests take individual portions. Makro Nederland describes the De Ruijter catering box as containing 120 sachets of 20 g. For regular use at home, one large pack may be more practical if you’re happy to serve the sprinkles yourself.
Consider how many people will be eating, how often you’ll serve the sprinkles and the portion size for the pack you’ve chosen. Makro Nederland describes one 20 g De Ruijter sachet as enough for one slice of bread. This gives you an idea for that catering variety, but it isn’t a standard portion for every product or occasion.
Read the ingredients, highlighted allergens and any ‘may contain’ warning on the pack you buy. The De Ruijter portions described contain milk and soya, but you’ll need to check the ingredients of any other variety separately.
Use the current label on the pack you’ve bought for information about ingredients, allergens, nutrition and storage. Product information can change, so an older description of a similar variety isn’t a substitute.
