It’s best to use chocolate sprinkles as a sweet treat in your child’s school lunch, rather than as a topping for every sandwich. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends choosing mostly foods from the Wheel of Five for school lunches, with no more than one sandwich topped with something sweet. When choosing chocolate sprinkles, compare the nutritional information, allergens and pack size. Even with a dark chocolate variety or one with less sugar, you should still check the full label.
You want to take the rest of the lunchbox into account and avoid using chocolate sprinkles on every sandwich. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends choosing mostly foods from the Wheel of Five for school lunches.
You check the ingredients and allergen information for each variety, including details about milk, soya and the possible presence of other allergens, as this information varies between products.
You’re looking for a pack that suits how often your household uses chocolate sprinkles and can be finished within its shelf life.
First decide how sweet toppings fit into your child’s school lunch. Then compare the nutritional information and ingredients of the variety you’re considering.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| The whole lunch | Check how many sandwiches have a sweet topping and what else is in the lunchbox. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends no more than one sandwich with a sweet topping. | If I pack chocolate sprinkles, I want the rest of the lunch to include other foods. Around 33% of consumers would put the overall balance of the lunch first. |
| Sugars and ingredients | Compare the sugars per 100 g. For varieties with less sugar, also check which sweeteners or polyols they contain. | I want to weigh up a variety with less sugar without overlooking a warning on the pack. Around 20% of consumers would put this consideration first. |
| Pack size | Check the net weight and shelf life. Only choose a larger pack if it suits how much you use at home. | We often have chocolate sprinkles at home, so I want a pack we’ll actually finish. This would be the main consideration for around 27% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Check the ingredients and the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements on the current pack of the exact variety you’re buying. | If my child needs to avoid certain ingredients, I need to know what this variety contains and what it may contain. Around 20% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
Albert Heijn’s product information for De Ruijter Chocoladehagel Puur lists milk and soya, and says it may contain lactose. The flavour name alone doesn’t tell you which allergens are listed for a particular variety.
Check the allergen information on the current pack of the product you choose.
Céréal Hagelslag Puur minder suikers also lists polyols in its product information, along with a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Before packing this variety in a lunchbox, check the ingredients and warnings as well as the sugar content.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends choosing mostly foods from the Wheel of Five for school lunches, with no more than one sandwich topped with something sweet.
So consider the sweet sandwich alongside the other sandwiches and the rest of the lunchbox.
Among the varieties reviewed are a standard dark chocolate sprinkle and Specials Intens Puur.
Venz XXL Puur is a 380 g pack of dark chocolate sprinkles included in our review.
Céréal has a dark chocolate sprinkle variety included in our review for consumers comparing sugar levels between products.
Jumbo Chocoladehagelslag Puur is a 600 g pack included in our review.
Kiekeboe Hagelslag Puur is a 600 g pack reviewed at ALDI.
Yes, as a sweet treat, but the Netherlands Nutrition Centre classifies chocolate sprinkles as outside the Wheel of Five. It recommends choosing mostly foods from the Wheel of Five for school lunches.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends packing no more than one sandwich with a sweet topping for primary school children. Bear the other sandwiches and the rest of the lunch in mind when making your choice.
No, you can’t tell from the name. Albert Heijn lists milk and soya for De Ruijter Chocoladehagel Puur. Check the allergen information on the current pack of the variety you’re buying.
Store them in a cool, dry place and seal the pack securely after use. Also follow the storage instructions and check the best-before date on the pack you’ve chosen.
Check the food and allergen policy at your child’s school or after-school care setting before packing chocolate sprinkles. This helps you make sure the lunchbox follows the rules in place.
