Parents planning the daily breakfast
You want to decide whether chocolate sprinkles should be a regular part of the breakfast menu or an occasional treat. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends varying bread toppings for young children.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Parents who serve chocolate sprinkles occasionally
For an occasional sweet topping, you want to compare the product form, pack size and nutritional information without treating a lower sugar content as a recommendation for everyday use.
Parents packing food for school or childcare
You need to check the chosen sprinkles and rusks separately against your child’s diet and the rules at their school or childcare setting. Allergen information varies by product.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you’re looking for a topping for a regular breakfast or an occasional sweet treat. For the latter, check the rusks too: the properties of the sprinkles don’t automatically apply to the whole breakfast.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most relevant to? |
|---|---|---|
| Nutritional value and frequency of use | Compare the sugars and fats in the nutritional information, and decide how often you want to use chocolate sprinkles. | I’m looking for a topping for a regular breakfast and don’t want variety to depend on chocolate toppings; this daily choice is the main consideration for around 42% of consumers. |
| Allergens and packed food | Read the ingredients and allergen information for both the sprinkles and the rusks; check the school or childcare rules if needed. | When I pack food, it needs to suit my child’s diet and the local rules. Around 33% of consumers give this check top priority. |
| Occasional use and product form | Choose a sprinkle-on topping rather than a box of chocolates, and check the pack size and best-before date. | For a special breakfast, I want something that actually works on rusks, without buying more than I expect to use; this matters most to around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Choosing a box of chocolates as a breakfast topping
Individual chocolates from a gift box are intended for a different purpose from sprinkle-on chocolate toppings, and they’re no substitute for a varied breakfast.
Choose a suitable topping for rusks, then consider whether a sweet option is right for the occasion.
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Taking ‘dark’ or ‘less sugar’ as advice to use it every day
A product may contain less sugar than a particular alternative and still be chocolate sprinkles. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre does not include chocolate sprinkles in the Wheel of Five.
Compare the listed sugars per 100 g within the category, but choose other toppings too for a regular breakfast.
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Checking only the sprinkles’ label
A claim on the sprinkles doesn’t automatically apply to the rusks. The chocolate sprinkles described also carry declarations for milk, lactose and soya.
Read both packs and make sure any food you pack suits your child’s diet and the rules at their school or childcare setting.
Brands and product ranges compared
De Ruijter
De Ruijter makes milk and dark chocolate sprinkles for anyone comparing flavours within this product category.
- Albert Heijn lists 43 g of sugars per 100 g for De Ruijter Specials Intense Dark.
- The milk and Intense Dark varieties described have different allergen declarations; check the packaging of your chosen product separately.
Venz
Venz offers dark chocolate sprinkles, among other options, for an occasional treat chosen for its flavour and form.
- The Venz Dark pack described contains 400 g.
- According to Jumbo’s product information, this variety contains milk and soya and may contain lactose; ‘dark’ does not mean dairy-free here.
Albert Heijn
The own-brand range includes a dark chocolate sprinkles variety with a product-specific claim about reduced sugar.
- Albert Heijn states that AH Dark Chocolate Sprinkles Less Sugar contains 30% less sugar than AH Dark Chocolate Sprinkles.
- That comparison doesn’t automatically make the variety suitable as an everyday topping for toddlers; check the ingredients and the portion you choose too.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers own-brand milk and dark chocolate sprinkles in a range of pack sizes.
- The product range shown offers a choice of flavours and quantities.
- When it comes to allergens or nutritional value, base your choice on the specific product’s packaging, not the brand name.
Joybuy products for occasional chocolate toppings
These products are chocolate toppings for anyone who wants something sweet on bread or rusks from time to time. They’re no substitute for a box of chocolates or a varied everyday breakfast; always check the current packaging for the child who’ll be eating them.
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De Ruijter Intense Dark chocolate sprinkles, 200 g
For an occasional sweet topping when you’re looking for a smaller pack.
Size: 200 g. Check the current ingredients, allergens and nutritional information before serving with rusks.
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De Ruijter Chocolate Chunks, 390 g
For anyone looking for an occasional chocolate topping who wants to check first whether the pieces are suitable for their intended use on rusks.
Size: 390 g. Check the product form and the labels on both the topping and the rusks.
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g'woon milk chocolate sprinkles with smiley faces, 550 g
For an occasional topping when the design of the sprinkles is part of the appeal.
Size: 550 g. Check that the quantity suits your planned use and, if you have dietary requirements, read the information about wheat and other allergens too.
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Venz milk chocolate sprinkles, 400 g
For anyone who wants to use milk chocolate sprinkles as a bread topping from time to time.
Size: 400 g. Check the nutritional information per 100 g and the allergens on the current packaging.
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De Ruijter dark chocolate sprinkles, 390 g
For anyone who wants to choose dark chocolate sprinkles as an occasional topping.
Size: 390 g. Compare the nutritional information with that of other varieties, and check the allergens in both the topping and the rusks.
Frequently asked questions
Is a box of chocolates an alternative to rusks with chocolate sprinkles for a toddler’s breakfast?
No. A box of chocolates isn’t a sprinkle-on breakfast topping and is no substitute for a varied breakfast. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends varying toppings for young children and doesn’t include chocolate sprinkles in the Wheel of Five.
Do chocolate sprinkles always contain gluten?
No, it depends on the product. If gluten is relevant to your child’s diet, check the current labels on both the sprinkles and the rusks; information on one pack doesn’t apply to the other.
Which allergens should I check in chocolate sprinkles?
Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the pack you’ve chosen. For De Ruijter Chocolate Sprinkles, Albert Heijn lists milk lactose, milk and soya; according to Jumbo, Venz Dark contains milk and soya and may contain lactose. Other varieties may differ.
Does a lower sugar content make a variety of chocolate sprinkles suitable for every morning?
No. A comparison with another variety of chocolate sprinkles doesn’t tell you how often the product is suitable for a toddler’s breakfast. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre does not include chocolate sprinkles in the Wheel of Five; compare the nutritional information if you want to use them occasionally, and vary them with other toppings for a regular breakfast.
How can I tell if my rusks contain baker’s salt?
Check the ingredients for the specific rusks or ask the manufacturer about their composition. Don’t assume that all rusks have the same ingredients. Information about baker’s salt in the rusks also tells you nothing about the chocolate sprinkles you’ve chosen.