Who is this choice relevant to?

Consumers who need a strictly sugar-free option

You want the chocolate sprinkles on your rusk to meet the requirements for a ‘sugar-free’ claim. A pack that only says ‘less sugar’ may not be suitable for you.

Families looking to use less chocolate sprinkles

You want to keep rusk with chocolate sprinkles on the Sunday breakfast menu, but pay attention to how much you use and vary your toppings. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre classifies chocolate sprinkles as an occasional treat.

Consumers who check ingredients and allergens

You’re considering chocolate sprinkles with less sugar and want to know which sweeteners, allergens and usage warnings are listed on the pack you choose.

What should you look for when choosing?

Before your Sunday breakfast, decide whether sugar-free is a strict requirement or whether you mainly want to cut down on sugar. Then compare how much topping you use and the other information on the packaging.

What to consider What to check Who it matters to
Genuinely sugar-free Check the claim and the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, published by EUR-Lex, the claim ‘sugar-free’ may only be used for solid foods containing no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. If I only want sugar-free chocolate sprinkles on my rusk, ‘less sugar’ isn’t enough. For around 40% of consumers, this strict requirement comes first.
Less sugar, but still chocolate sprinkles Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g and per portion, and check what a comparative claim is being compared with. I want to keep familiar chocolate sprinkles at Sunday breakfast, but use less sugar. Around 30% of consumers say this combination is their top priority.
The whole breakfast As well as sugar, check the portion size, ingredients, saturated fat and allergens in your chosen topping. If I want to vary my toppings, I won’t base my choice on sugar content alone. For around 30% of consumers, the whole breakfast matters most.

Common mistakes when choosing

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

    A comparative claim can still go hand in hand with a considerable sugar content. Jumbo lists 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Céréal Hagelslag Puur and 42.6 g per 100 g for Jumbo Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker.

    If sugar-free is a requirement, check the claim and the ‘of which sugars’ line on the specific pack.

  • Comparing sugar content alone

    Less sugar doesn’t, by itself, tell you anything about the portion you use or the rest of the nutritional value. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre classifies chocolate sprinkles as an occasional treat.

    Compare nutritional information for the same amount of topping, and consider alternating chocolate sprinkles with other toppings.

  • Overlooking polyols and allergens

    According to Jumbo’s product information, Céréal Hagelslag Puur contains maltitols and soya, may contain milk and may have a laxative effect if consumed in excess.

    Read the ingredients, allergen information and warnings on the pack before choosing a variety.

  • Relying on a product page you viewed earlier

    Jumbo’s product page for Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker 200 g says that this pack is no longer part of its online range.

    Check which variety is available just before you buy, and read the nutritional information on the pack you actually choose.

Comparing brands and supermarket own-labels

Céréal

According to Jumbo’s product information, Céréal Hagelslag Puur is dark chocolate sprinkles made with sugar and sweetener.

  • Jumbo lists 7.7 g of sugars and 10 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • This variety isn’t sugar-free. The product information also mentions maltitols, soya, possible traces of milk and a warning about excessive consumption.

Jumbo

Jumbo provides product information for its own chocolate sprinkles, including a milk chocolate variety labelled ‘less sugar’.

  • The product page for Jumbo Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker 200 g lists 42.6 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • The same page says this pack is no longer part of the online range. Check what’s available and read the label on the variety you buy.

De Ruijter

Jumbo includes De Ruijter Hagelslag Puur and Melk in its chocolate sprinkles range.

  • These varieties give you a starting point for comparing standard dark and milk chocolate sprinkles.
  • Don’t assume a product is sugar-free based on the brand name or type of chocolate; check the claim and nutritional information for the variety you choose.

Venz

Jumbo’s chocolate sprinkles range includes Venz Melk Chocolade Hagelslag and Rimboe varieties.

  • You can compare the nutritional information for a specific Venz variety with other chocolate sprinkles.
  • Check the sugar content and ingredients for each variety rather than assuming they’re the same across the brand.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn has product pages for AH Hagelslag Puur Minder Suiker and Céréal Hagelslag Puur Minder Suikers.

  • These pages can help you identify the exact product variety and claim.
  • Albert Heijn says product information can change. Use the nutritional information and ingredients on the current pack to make your choice.

Joybuy products on this topic

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is Céréal Hagelslag Puur sugar-free?

No. Jumbo lists 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Céréal Hagelslag Puur and describes it as chocolate sprinkles made with sugar and sweetener. Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, published by EUR-Lex, the ‘sugar-free’ claim for solid foods is limited to products containing no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g.

Are chocolate sprinkles with less sugar suitable as an everyday topping?

‘Less sugar’ alone doesn’t make chocolate sprinkles an everyday topping. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre places chocolate sprinkles outside its Wheel of Five and classifies them as an occasional treat. Consider how much you use and vary your toppings if you don’t want to choose chocolate sprinkles every time.

What should I check in chocolate sprinkles with sweeteners?

Check which sweeteners the variety you’ve chosen contains and read any usage warnings. Jumbo lists maltitols in Céréal Hagelslag Puur and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

What should I look for in the allergen information for chocolate sprinkles?

Read the allergen information on the pack you buy. According to Jumbo’s product information, Céréal Hagelslag Puur contains soya and may contain milk; don’t assume the same applies to other varieties without checking.

Does the regulation on baker’s salt mean that all rusks contain iodine?

No. The Dutch Commodities Act Decree on iodised baker’s salt doesn’t tell you which ingredients are in every individual rusk. Check the label of the rusk you choose if its composition matters to you.