Who is this choice relevant to?

Parents looking to reduce sugar

You compare the sugar content per 100 g and consider whether a sweetener- or polyol-based option suits what you’re looking for.

Parents who check sweeteners and polyols

You may want less sugar, but put the ingredients and the polyol warning ahead of achieving the biggest possible sugar reduction.

Parents who consider the whole lunch

You see chocolate sprinkles as just one part of the lunchbox and also choose which bread, other toppings, vegetables or fruit to include.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start by checking the sugar content per 100 g, then read the ingredients and allergen information. Next, decide how a slice of bread with chocolate sprinkles fits into the school lunch as a whole.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Sugar content Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g within the same type of chocolate sprinkles, and check exactly what any packaging claim means. If I want to limit sugar, I need to be able to compare the content rather than relying on ‘less sugar’ alone. For around 42% of consumers, a verifiable reduction in sugar comes first.
Ingredients and allergens Check the current label for sweeteners, polyols, allergens and any usage warnings. If certain ingredients aren’t suitable for a child, the ingredients take priority over the sugar claim. Around 33% of consumers give ingredients and tolerance the highest priority.
The whole lunch Decide how many slices of bread will have a sweet spread and what else will go in the lunchbox. When I put the lunch together, I don’t want the choice of chocolate sprinkles to dictate everything else in the lunchbox. For around 25% of consumers, the overall lunch matters most.

Common mistakes

  • Taking ‘less sugar’ to mean ‘sugar-free’

    Jumbo lists 43 g of sugars per 100 g for its milk chocolate sprinkles with less sugar. Céréal Dark Chocolate Sprinkles also still contains 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g according to Jumbo, and sugar appears in its ingredients list.

    Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and read the ingredients list before relying on a claim.

  • Overlooking the warning about polyols

    Jumbo lists 40 g of polyols per 100 g for Céréal Dark Chocolate Sprinkles and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

    If you’re choosing an option with maltitol, check the warning on the packaging too, rather than basing your choice on sugar content alone.

  • Judging the whole lunch by a single sugar claim

    Less sugar in chocolate sprinkles doesn’t change the rest of the school lunch. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre places chocolate sprinkles outside the Wheel of Five.

    When putting the lunchbox together, follow the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice to include no more than one slice of bread with a sweet spread, and to choose wholemeal bread, vegetables or fruit as well.

Brands to compare

Céréal

Céréal Dark Chocolate Sprinkles are worth considering if a lower sugar content per 100 g is your priority and you’re happy with maltitol as an ingredient.

  • For this 200 g dark chocolate option, Jumbo lists 7.7 g of sugars, 40 g of polyols and 10 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • According to Jumbo’s product information, this option contains sugar and soya, may contain milk, and carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists AH Milk Chocolate Sprinkles with Less Sugar and AH Dark Chocolate Sprinkles with Less Sugar in its range overview of products for people watching their sugar intake.

  • You can look at the milk and dark chocolate options separately.
  • Check the current label for each option’s sugar content, ingredients and allergens; ‘less sugar’ is not the same as ‘sugar-free’.

Jumbo

Jumbo Milk Chocolate Sprinkles with Less Sugar are a milk chocolate option for anyone who wants to compare a modest sugar reduction with the standard Jumbo milk chocolate option.

  • Jumbo’s product information states that the option contains at least 30% less sugar than Jumbo milk chocolate sprinkles, and lists 43 g of sugars per 100 g for the option reviewed.
  • Check the pack available when you buy and its nutritional information; the 380 g pack reviewed was no longer listed in the online range.

Venz

Albert Heijn has a product listing for Venz Milk Chocolate Sprinkles with 30% Less Sugar.

  • The product name makes it clear which milk chocolate option you can compare.
  • Check the current packaging and nutritional information before drawing conclusions about the sugar content or ingredients.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are Céréal Dark Chocolate Sprinkles sugar-free?

No. Jumbo lists 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Céréal Dark Chocolate Sprinkles, and sugar appears in the ingredients list. Use the nutritional information on the packaging when comparing this option with other chocolate sprinkles.

Does less sugar make chocolate sprinkles a suitable basis for a school lunch?

A lower sugar content doesn’t make chocolate sprinkles the basis of a lunch. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre places chocolate sprinkles outside the Wheel of Five and recommends including no more than one slice of bread with a sweet spread in a school lunch.

What should I look out for when choosing chocolate sprinkles with maltitol for a child?

As well as checking the sugar content, read the warning about polyols. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says children can consume sweeteners; for Céréal Dark Chocolate Sprinkles, Jumbo warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

Should I check allergens in chocolate sprinkles with less sugar too?

Yes. According to Jumbo, Céréal Dark Chocolate Sprinkles contain soya and may contain milk. Check the allergen information on the current label for every option you choose.