Who this choice matters to

Consumers with a strict sugar-free requirement

For you, a claim such as ‘less sugar’ isn’t enough. Check the label and nutritional information on the specific pack before choosing your chocolate sprinkles.

Consumers looking to cut down on sugar

You want to keep using chocolate sprinkles, so you compare the sugars per 100 g. If a product contains maltitols, you also take its ingredients and the warning on the pack into account.

Consumers doing a quick top-up shop

You’re looking for chocolate sprinkles or rusks to add to a small shop, so you check the pack size and whether the item is available at your chosen retailer.

What should you look for?

First, decide whether sugar-free is a firm requirement. Then compare the chocolate sprinkles and the rusks as two separate products: switching the rusk base won’t change the sugars in the topping.

What to consider What to check when buying Most relevant for
Strictly sugar-free Check the label on the pack and the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. Don’t rely on ‘less sugar’ alone. If I only want sugar-free chocolate sprinkles, a lower sugar content isn’t enough. This strict requirement comes first for around 36% of consumers.
Less sugar Compare sugars per 100 g and check the ingredients and warnings for sweeteners or polyols. If you want to keep eating chocolate sprinkles but reduce your sugar intake, you also need to decide whether maltitols suit you. Sugar reduction is the top priority for around 27% of consumers.
Practical top-up shop Check the pack size and whether the item is available at your chosen retailer. When I’m doing a quick top-up shop, I want to pick up the right amount without counting on finding an unavailable item. This practical consideration matters most to around 19% of consumers.
The rusk base Compare fibre per 100 g and read the rusk’s ingredients and allergen information. If the rusk base matters to me, I assess it separately from the chocolate sprinkles. For around 18% of consumers, choosing the rusk comes first.

Common mistakes

  • Reading ‘less sugar’ as ‘sugar-free’

    Albert Heijn lists 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Céréal Dark Chocolate Sprinkles with Less Sugar and 43 g per 100 g for both AH Dark Chocolate Sprinkles and AH Milk Chocolate Sprinkles with Less Sugar. These claims don’t mean that the products contain no sugars.

    For the pack you’re buying, check both the label and the ‘of which sugars’ row in the nutritional information.

  • Overlooking polyols

    According to the product information, Céréal Dark Chocolate Sprinkles with Less Sugar contains 40 g of polyols per 100 g and includes maltitols as an ingredient. The product carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

    Read the ingredients and usage warning to decide whether this product suits your preferences.

  • Comparing the topping alone

    Your choice of chocolate sprinkles tells you nothing about the fibre content or allergens in the rusk. Albert Heijn lists 9 g of fibre per 100 g for AH Wholegrain Rusks and identifies gluten and egg as allergens.

    Check the nutritional information and allergens for the topping and the rusk separately.

Brands to consider

Céréal

The Dark Chocolate Sprinkles with Less Sugar version is worth considering if you want to compare sugars per 100 g.

  • Albert Heijn lists 7.7 g of sugars and 40 g of polyols per 100 g for this version.
  • This version isn’t sugar-free: it contains maltitols and soya, and may contain milk.

Albert Heijn

The range includes chocolate sprinkles with less sugar and wholegrain rusks, which you can assess separately.

  • According to Albert Heijn, both AH Dark Chocolate Sprinkles with Less Sugar and the milk chocolate version contain 43 g of sugars per 100 g; AH Wholegrain Rusks contain 9 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • ‘Less sugar’ isn’t the same as sugar-free. The wholegrain rusks mentioned contain gluten and egg.

De Ruijter

The dark chocolate sprinkles reviewed are a standard version, not one with a less-sugar claim.

  • Jumbo lists De Ruijter Dark Chocolate Sprinkles, 390 g, as containing 64 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • The ingredients information for this version lists milk and soya; its stated sugar content isn’t suitable if you have a strict sugar-free requirement.

Venz

Venz sells dark and milk chocolate sprinkles, among other varieties. Check the information for the version you choose.

  • Jumbo lists Venz Dark Chocolate Sprinkles in a 400 g pack.
  • According to Jumbo, this dark version contains 65 g of sugars per 100 g and the allergens milk and soya.

Kiekeboe / ALDI

Kiekeboe is an own-brand option if you’re looking for a larger pack of dark chocolate sprinkles.

  • ALDI lists Kiekeboe Dark Chocolate Sprinkles in a 600 g pack.
  • Check the sugars, ingredients and allergens on the packaging of the specific product.

Mister CHOC / Lidl

Mister CHOC dark chocolate sprinkles are a supermarket option in a 600 g pack.

  • Lidl lists this version as an in-store-only item.
  • Before comparing it with a less-sugar version, check the pack for sugars per 100 g, ingredients and allergens.

Wholegrain rusks at Joybuy

These products provide a wholegrain rusk base for the topping of your choice. Choose your chocolate sprinkles separately and check their sugar content if less sugar or sugar-free is your main requirement.

Bolletje Dark Whole Wheat Rusk, 10 pieces

Bolletje Dark Whole Wheat Rusk, 10 pieces

Wholegrain rusks to top as you like; chocolate sprinkles aren’t included in this product.

The pack contains 10 pieces. Check the ingredients and nutritional information on the pack if fibre, allergens or iodine-containing baker’s salt are relevant to your choice.

View at Joybuy
Bolletje Wholegrain Rusk, 13 pieces

Bolletje Wholegrain Rusk, 13 pieces

Wholegrain rusks for anyone comparing breakfast bases to go with their choice of topping; chocolate sprinkles aren’t included.

The pack contains 13 pieces. Don’t compare fibre per portion directly with a figure per 100 g without checking the portion size.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Are chocolate sprinkles labelled ‘less sugar’ also sugar-free?

No. Albert Heijn lists 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Céréal Dark Chocolate Sprinkles with Less Sugar, and 43 g per 100 g for both AH Dark Chocolate Sprinkles with Less Sugar and the milk chocolate version. Check the nutritional information on the pack you want to buy.

Why do some chocolate sprinkles carry a warning about polyols?

Céréal Dark Chocolate Sprinkles with Less Sugar contains maltitols and carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that large amounts of polyols may cause digestive problems for some people, so check the ingredients and warnings on the packaging.

Do wholegrain rusks change the sugar content of chocolate sprinkles?

No. Changing the rusk doesn’t alter the composition of the chocolate sprinkles. Albert Heijn lists 9 g of fibre per 100 g for AH Wholegrain Rusks; assess this nutritional information separately from the sugars per 100 g in the topping.

Does every rusk contain iodine from baker’s salt?

You can’t assume this is the case for every rusk. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the conditions under which iodine may be added to bakery products in the Netherlands via baker’s salt. If its presence matters to you, check the ingredients of the specific rusk.

How should I store rusks and chocolate sprinkles after opening?

Follow the storage instructions on the chocolate sprinkles packaging. Albert Heijn recommends storing AH Wholegrain Rusks in a cool, dark and dry place, and transferring them to a sealed tin after opening.