Who is this choice relevant to?

Parents putting together a school lunch

They want to include chocolate sprinkles as a topping without letting them dictate the choice of bread or rusks. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre does not include chocolate sprinkles in the Wheel of Five.

Families checking allergens and school rules

They need to check both the base and the specific type of sprinkles, and find out what rules apply at their child’s school.

Families matching portions to their usual stock

They compare individual portions with a larger pack based on what they actually use for lunches, without assuming that a particular pack size offers a nutritional benefit.

What should you look for when buying?

For a school lunch with rusks or bread and chocolate sprinkles, first decide which base you want. Then check allergens and school rules, and only after that choose the topping and pack size.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Lunch base and regularity Choose between bread and rusks. For a regular bread-based lunch, compare wholemeal and brown bread, and decide how much chocolate sprinkles you want to pack. If I pack chocolate sprinkles regularly, I don’t want the topping to dictate my choice of lunch base. For around 29% of consumers considering this school lunch, what it consists of comes first.
Allergens and school rules Read the current label on both the base and the type of sprinkles, and check the school’s rules. If there’s an allergy or a rule about food at school, I need to know whether my child can take the whole lunch in. Around 29% of consumers give this check their highest priority.
Rusks or sliced bread Check whether ‘medium sliced’ refers to sliced bread; only then choose a type of bread or rusks. If you ask for ‘medium sliced’ but want to pack rusks, first make sure you know which product you mean. For around 24% of consumers, this product choice is the most important starting point.
Portions and pack size Compare the net weight and number of portions with how much you use at home and at school. If I only pack a lunch with chocolate sprinkles now and then, I want a pack that suits how I use them. Portions and stock are the biggest considerations for around 18% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Building the lunch around chocolate sprinkles

    The Netherlands Nutrition Centre places chocolate sprinkles outside the Wheel of Five. For 15 g of dark chocolate sprinkles, it lists 67 kcal, 1.3 g of saturated fat and 9.1 g of sugar.

    Choose the base for the lunch first, then decide how much chocolate sprinkles you want to use and how often you’ll pack them.

  • Checking only the sprinkles for allergens

    The bread or rusk base also needs checking. What’s more, allergens vary between types of sprinkles; the brand name alone won’t tell you what’s in the variety you’ve chosen.

    Read the labels for both parts of the lunch and check the school’s rules before packing it.

  • Assuming all bread is made with baker’s salt

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt in bread is not compulsory. So you can’t tell from the type of bread alone.

    If iodised baker’s salt matters to your choice, check the bread label or ask your baker.

  • Treating ‘medium sliced’ as a rusk size

    The description doesn’t make it clear whether it refers to a slice of bread or a particular type of rusk. Comparing slice thickness won’t help until you’ve settled on the base you want.

    First decide whether you’re looking for rusks or sliced bread. Then compare the features of that product type.

Brands to compare

Compare the specific type of sprinkles and the pack size, not just the brand name. Always check the label on the product you’re buying for allergen information.

De Ruijter

De Ruijter Kleintjes is a range of individually portioned toppings in different varieties.

  • The Kleintjes pack shown by Albert Heijn contains eight portions.
  • Allergens vary by variety; check each one individually, even within the same range.

Venz

The Venz Puur Chocolade Hagelslag shown is a dark chocolate sprinkle product in a 400 g pack.

  • The pack size gives you a clear comparison point when choosing how much to keep at home.
  • The variety shown by Jumbo lists milk and soya as allergens and states that it may contain lactose.

Jumbo

Jumbo Chocoladehagelslag Puur is a supermarket own-brand product in a 600 g pack.

  • Jumbo lists 30 portions for this pack, which can help you plan your household stock.
  • Check the ingredients and allergens on the pack you buy; the product information shown states that these sprinkles may contain milk.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists both its own sprinkles and product pages for other brands, making it easier to tell different packs and varieties apart.

  • The product pages provide information to help you check a specific variety in advance.
  • Albert Heijn warns that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change, so check the pack too.

Lidl / Mister Choc

Lidl lists Mister Choc Hagelslag Puur in a 600 g pack and an XXL milk variety in a 550 g pack.

  • The pack weights shown make it easier to decide how much you want to keep in stock.
  • Check the label on the variety you choose in store before deciding whether it’s right for the lunch.

Joybuy products for this lunch

Related products will appear soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are rusks with chocolate sprinkles suitable for a daily school lunch?

Don’t make chocolate sprinkles the starting point for a daily lunch. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre doesn’t include chocolate sprinkles in the Wheel of Five, but it does include wholemeal bread and most types of brown bread. Choose your base carefully, then decide how much chocolate sprinkles you want to pack and how often.

Which allergens should I check in rusks with chocolate sprinkles?

Check the current allergen information for both the rusks or bread and the sprinkles you’ve chosen. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergens must be listed on the label of prepacked foods. If you’re buying a range, don’t rely on the information for just one variety. Check the school’s rules too.

Do all types of chocolate sprinkles contain gluten?

You can’t assume that they do across all varieties. The product information shown for De Ruijter Kleintjes lists wheat starch in a fruit sprinkle variety, while the information for Venz Puur lists milk and soya. Read the label for the exact type of sprinkles and the base you want to put them on.

Is all bread made with iodised baker’s salt?

No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, baker’s salt is not compulsory when making bread. If this matters to your choice of bread, check the ingredients list or ask the baker which salt they use.