Who is this choice relevant to?

A coffee drinker keeping an eye on sugar

You want to enjoy chocolate sprinkles with your afternoon coffee, but also compare the amount of sugar per portion. The flavour name alone won’t help you do that.

An older person considering the whole eating occasion

You look beyond sugar alone, especially if your appetite has decreased. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that older adults can be affected by both overweight and undernutrition.

An older person with personalised dietary advice

You want to know whether chocolate sprinkles fit your dietary advice, for example if you have type 2 diabetes. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends the Dutch Wheel of Five as a guide, while noting that recommended amounts can vary.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide what matters most for this coffee break: demonstrably less sugar in the sprinkles, the overall eating occasion or how well they fit your personalised dietary advice. Then you can check the packaging and portion size with that in mind.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it’s for
Demonstrably less sugar Compare the sugar per 100 g and per portion you use. If the product claims to have reduced sugar, check which comparable sprinkles it’s being compared with. I want sprinkles with my coffee, but I’ll only choose them for having less sugar if I can compare products on the same basis. For around 50% of consumers, demonstrably less sugar would be the main priority.
The whole eating occasion Consider whether sprinkles are a small addition or a regular part of your eating occasion, and also think about a topping or snack from the Dutch Wheel of Five. If coffee is part of my daily routine, I don’t want to focus only on sugar, especially if I have a reduced appetite. For roughly 30% of consumers, broader dietary choices would be the priority.
Personal dietary needs Read the carbohydrate and sugar information on the packaging alongside your portion size, and follow your personalised dietary advice. If I follow personalised dietary advice because of diabetes, I want to know how my portion fits into it. Personalised guidance would be the main concern for around 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘dark’ means ‘less sugar’

    Dark describes the type of chocolate; on its own, it doesn’t tell you how much sugar the sprinkles contain.

    Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion. Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the claim ‘reduced sugar’ means that the sugar content must be at least 30% lower than that of a comparable product.

  • Underestimating how many sprinkles you use

    The Netherlands Nutrition Centre states that 15 g of milk chocolate sprinkles contains 10.5 g of sugar. So the amount you use affects the sugar in this eating occasion.

    Check the portion you actually use, and factor in any other sweet food or drink you have with your coffee when comparing options.

  • Choosing based on sugar alone for every older person

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, undernutrition can also be a concern for older adults. So less sugar isn’t the only thing to consider at every eating occasion.

    If you have a reduced appetite, unintended weight loss or a personalised meal plan, discuss suitable choices with a dietitian or healthcare professional.

  • Relying on an old product description

    Ingredients and allergens can be deciding factors for some consumers when choosing chocolate sprinkles.

    Check the current packaging every time you buy, especially if you have an allergy or follow a specific diet.

Brands and shops to consider

These brands and shops offer a starting point for comparing different types of chocolate sprinkles. A flavour variety or pack size doesn’t tell you whether the sprinkles have reduced sugar.

De Ruijter

A chocolate sprinkles brand with dark, milk, white and extra-generous varieties, among others.

  • The different varieties give you a choice of chocolate types.
  • If you’re keeping an eye on sugar, compare the nutritional information for the specific variety; the flavour name isn’t a sugar claim.

Albert Heijn

A supermarket with 300 g packs of AH milk and dark chocolate sprinkles in its online range.

  • The AH varieties mentioned are easy to identify when comparing products.
  • Check the sugar content on each pack; milk and dark varieties aren’t, by themselves, a comparison of sugar content.

Jumbo

A supermarket with its own-brand 300 g packs of dark and milk chocolate sprinkles.

  • The product names and pack sizes make it clear which varieties you’re comparing.
  • If you’re looking for less sugar, check the nutritional information rather than relying on the variety name.

Kiekeboe

ALDI’s brand of 300 g packs of milk or dark chocolate sprinkles.

  • The product type and pack size are clearly stated.
  • Read the nutritional information on the packaging before comparing the sugar in these sprinkles.

Lidl

A supermarket selling 300 g packs of milk chocolate sprinkles.

  • The product type and pack size are listed.
  • Check the packaging for the sugar per 100 g and per portion you use.

Joybuy chocolate sprinkles options

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Frequently asked questions

Are dark chocolate sprinkles automatically a lower-sugar choice?

No. Dark describes the type of chocolate, not the amount of sugar. Check the nutritional information for the dark and other varieties per 100 g, and compare the portions you use too.

What does ‘reduced sugar’ mean on chocolate sprinkles?

For this nutrition claim, Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 requires the sugar content to be at least 30% lower than that of a comparable product. The claim doesn’t mean ‘sugar-free’, so check the amount of sugar per portion too.

Should an older person always choose less sugar with their afternoon coffee?

No. The choice also depends on the rest of your diet and any personal dietary needs. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that older adults can be affected by both overweight and undernutrition. If you’re concerned about a reduced appetite or unintended weight loss, speak to a healthcare professional or dietitian.

How do I compare the sugar if I only use a few sprinkles?

Use the per 100 g value to compare products on the same basis, then calculate how much sugar is in your portion based on the amount you use. This helps you assess the sprinkles as part of your whole coffee break.

Where can I check the ingredients and allergens?

Read the current packaging of the sprinkles you’re buying. This is especially important if you have an allergy or follow a specific diet; don’t rely solely on a product description you looked at before.