If the sprinkles really need to be sugar-free, don’t simply choose a ‘lower sugar’ variety: under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, published on EUR-Lex, a product may contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g to carry the ‘sugar-free’ claim. The Céréal, supermarket and date-sweetened varieties discussed here all exceed that limit. If lower sugar is enough, Céréal Puur has the lowest sugar content of the classic sprinkles discussed here, at 7.7 g per 100 g. If you’re serving guests, check the ingredients and allergens too.
If sugar-free is essential, ‘lower sugar’ isn’t a substitute. The Céréal, Albert Heijn, Jumbo and date-sweetened varieties discussed here contain more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. If you’re considering another option, check the latest nutritional information on the packaging.
If you’d like to serve sprinkles as a little sweet treat with or after the rijsttafel, compare the sugar content per 100 g. Céréal Puur contains 7.7 g per 100 g, compared with 15 g for Céréal Melk, according to Céréal’s product information.
When you’re serving a table of people with different dietary needs, ingredients and allergens matter just as much as the sugar content. Check each pack for ingredients such as milk and soya; for products containing maltitol, also check whether your guests avoid polyols.
If sprinkles are an optional sweet treat with or after the rijsttafel, first decide whether sugar-free is essential. Then compare the sugar content and ingredients of the options that suit your guests.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Genuinely sugar-free | Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g on the current packaging. Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the ‘sugar-free’ claim is permitted only when a product contains no more than 0.5 g per 100 g. | If I need strictly sugar-free sprinkles for a guest, a product with just less sugar isn’t enough; around 42% of consumers prioritise this threshold. |
| Less sugar | Compare sugars per 100 g, not just a sugar-reduction claim. Céréal lists 7.7 g for Puur and 15 g for Melk; Albert Heijn lists 43 g for AH Puur Minder Suiker. | If I want to keep serving chocolate sprinkles, a lower sugar content may matter more than my preference for milk chocolate; around 33% of consumers prioritise reducing sugar. |
| Ingredients for your guests | Check the allergens and ingredients for each variety, including milk, soya and maltitol where applicable. | When guests have different dietary needs, I want to know which topping is suitable for each of them; around 25% of consumers give this the highest priority. |
Céréal Puur contains 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g, according to Céréal, while AH Puur Minder Suiker contains 43 g, according to Albert Heijn. Both exceed the limit for the ‘sugar-free’ claim under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
If sugar-free is essential, use the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g to make your decision.
A statement about added sugar doesn’t tell you how much sugar a product contains in total. Puur Mieke lists 34 g of sugars per 100 g for No Sugar Daddies Extra Puur with dates; the larger chunks are also different from classic sprinkles.
Compare the nutritional information and decide whether the topping’s shape suits the portion you want to serve.
The Céréal varieties contain maltitol and soya; the milk variety also contains milk. Maltitol is a polyol, a type of ingredient that Voedingscentrum highlights as relevant for people following a low-FODMAP diet.
Keep the packaging handy for your guests and check the ingredients and allergens before serving the sprinkles.
Jumbo’s listing for Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker 380 g says that this pack is no longer part of its online range. A listed nutritional value doesn’t necessarily mean the product is currently available to order.
Just before buying, check that the pack you want is available from the retailer you plan to order from.
Chocolate sprinkles for shoppers looking to reduce their sugar intake, without expecting a strictly sugar-free option.
A supermarket own-brand option to compare with AH Hagelslag Puur Minder Suiker.
A supermarket own brand with listings for Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker in different pack sizes.
Extra Puur chocolate chunks made with cocoa and dates, for shoppers who want to consider the ingredients and larger pieces.
Classic dark chocolate sprinkles to compare if you’re also considering regular varieties.
No. Céréal lists 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g, while Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 allows a maximum of 0.5 g per 100 g for the ‘sugar-free’ claim. So this is a lower-sugar option, not sugar-free sprinkles.
They do contain sugar: Puur Mieke lists 34 g of sugars per 100 g for No Sugar Daddies Extra Puur. If total sugar content matters to your choice, check the ‘of which sugars’ figure in the nutritional information.
Don’t assume so without checking the ingredients. The Céréal varieties contain maltitol, which is a polyol; Voedingscentrum mentions polyols in the context of a low-FODMAP diet. Ask your guests about their dietary needs and keep the packaging handy so they can check the ingredients and allergens for themselves.
