Who is this important for?

If you’re looking for strictly sugar-free options

A claim such as ‘less sugar’ isn’t enough for you. The nutritional information per 100 g determines whether the chocolate sprinkles meet the EU threshold for a ‘sugar-free’ claim.

If you want less sugar at your celebratory breakfast

You still want to serve rusks with chocolate sprinkles, but would rather compare varieties that state a sugar reduction. Check both the product they’re compared with and the amount of sugars per 100 g.

If you also check ingredients and allergens

As well as the sugar content, you may need to consider ingredients such as maltitol, soya and milk. Check the ingredients list and allergen information on the pack you buy.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start with what matters most to you: do the chocolate sprinkles need to be sugar-free, are you mainly looking for a lower-sugar variety, or do the ingredients and allergens determine which one you can use?

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters most to
Sugar-free or less sugar Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. Under EU rules, a product carrying a ‘sugar-free’ claim can contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. If sugar-free is a must for me, a relative reduction in sugar isn’t enough. Around 33% of consumers make this sugar-free requirement their top priority.
Relative sugar reduction Check what ‘less sugar’ is being compared with, and also read the absolute sugar content per 100 g. Choose between dark and milk chocolate sprinkles with this in mind. For a celebratory breakfast, I want familiar chocolate sprinkles, but would prefer a variety with a clear reduction compared with the standard version. This is the top priority for around 42% of consumers.
Ingredients and allergens Read the current ingredients and allergen list, especially for maltitol, soya, milk or any stated possibility of wheat and gluten being present. If I’m preparing rusks for other people, I need to know whether they can have the ingredients; a lower sugar content isn’t the deciding factor. This check comes first for around 25% of consumers.

For the varieties discussed here, Jumbo lists 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Céréal Hagelslag Puur and 42.6 g for Jumbo Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker. Albert Heijn lists 43 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Hagelslag Puur Minder Suiker. None of the three is sugar-free.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a search result for ‘sugar free’ means the product is sugar-free

    ‘Less sugar’ compares one product with another. It doesn’t mean the chocolate sprinkles are below the EU threshold of 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g for a ‘sugar-free’ claim.

    Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g before calling a variety sugar-free.

  • Looking only at the lowest sugar content

    For Céréal Hagelslag Puur, Jumbo lists 40 g of polyols per 100 g, soya and the possible presence of milk. The product information warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

    After checking the nutritional information, read the ingredients, allergens and warnings on the current pack too.

  • Assuming rusks are a source of iodine

    The fact that baker’s salt can be used to add iodine to bakery products doesn’t mean rusks provide iodine. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre specifically lists rusks as a product that contains no iodine.

    Don’t base a choice about iodine on the assumption that rusks with chocolate sprinkles contain iodine.

  • Relying on an old product page when shopping for New Year

    Jumbo lists Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker as no longer available in its online range. The information on a product page may also differ from the pack you end up buying.

    Before buying, check the variety you want, its current availability and the label.

Brands compared

Céréal

Céréal Hagelslag Puur is worth considering if you’re mainly comparing the stated sugar content of the varieties discussed here.

  • For this variety, Jumbo lists 7.7 g of sugars and 40 g of polyols per 100 g.
  • It isn’t sugar-free, contains soya, may contain milk and carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

Albert Heijn

AH Hagelslag Puur Minder Suiker is a dark chocolate variety with a relative sugar reduction.

  • Albert Heijn states that it contains 30% less sugar than AH Chocolade Hagel Puur.
  • The variety still contains 43 g of sugars per 100 g and includes milk and lactose.

Jumbo

Jumbo Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker is a milk chocolate variety with a relative sugar reduction.

  • Jumbo states that it contains 30% less sugar than Jumbo Hagelslag Melk, and 42.6 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • The variety contains milk, may contain gluten and wheat, and Jumbo lists it as no longer available in its online range.

De Ruijter

De Ruijter Hagelslag Puur is a standard chocolate sprinkles variety included in Jumbo’s range overview.

  • An option to compare if you’re specifically looking for dark chocolate sprinkles.
  • Check the sugar content on the label before choosing this variety for a breakfast where sugar matters.

Venz

Venz Melk Chocolade Hagelslag is listed in Jumbo’s range overview as a standard milk chocolate variety.

  • An option to compare if you’re looking for milk chocolate sprinkles.
  • Don’t assume the brand or flavour means the product contains less sugar or is sugar-free; check the label.

Related Joybuy products

Related products will appear here soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘less sugar’ mean the same as sugar-free?

No. Under EU rules, the claim ‘sugar-free’ can only be used when a product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g; ‘less sugar’ is a relative comparison. Albert Heijn lists 43 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Hagelslag Puur Minder Suiker, while Jumbo lists 42.6 g per 100 g for Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker.

Is Céréal Hagelslag Puur sugar-free?

No. Jumbo lists 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Céréal Hagelslag Puur, which is above the EU threshold of 0.5 g per 100 g for a ‘sugar-free’ claim. A stated sugar reduction doesn’t change that absolute figure.

What should I look out for in chocolate sprinkles containing maltitol?

Check the ingredients, allergens and usage warning on the pack. For Céréal Hagelslag Puur, Jumbo lists maltitol, 40 g of polyols per 100 g and soya. The variety may contain milk, and excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

Do rusks provide iodine from baker’s salt?

Don’t assume they do. Although iodine can be added to bakery products through baker’s salt, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre specifically lists rusks as a product that contains no iodine.

What should I check just before New Year?

Check that the variety of chocolate sprinkles you want is available, and read the label on the pack you buy. Jumbo lists Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker as no longer available in its online range, so check current availability before planning your shopping around it.