Who is this choice relevant to?

Night-shift workers looking to cut down on sugar

You want to keep using chocolate sprinkles, but compare the amount of sugars per 100 g instead of relying solely on ‘less sugar’ on the packaging.

Night-shift workers who keep an eye on polyols

You’re considering chocolate sprinkles containing maltitols and want to check the ingredients and the warning about excessive consumption before buying.

Night-shift workers looking for a little something sweet

You want to add some chocolate sprinkles to bread or yoghurt, but choose the rest of your snack separately from this sweet topping.

What should you look for when choosing?

First compare the amount of sugars per 100 g. Then check whether the sweeteners and portion size suit the kind of snack you have in mind.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters most to
Sugars or sugar-free Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, solid foods can only carry the claim ‘sugar-free’ if they contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. On my night shift, I want to choose chocolate sprinkles with less sugar without mistaking ‘less sugar’ for sugar-free. This sugar figure is the top priority for around 50% of consumers.
Sweeteners and polyols Check which sweeteners have been used and read the warning about excessive consumption. Also check the allergens on the current packaging. If I take chocolate sprinkles containing maltitols to work, I want to know what’s in them and what warnings apply. This is the most important consideration for around 30% of consumers.
Portion size and snack occasion Decide how much chocolate sprinkles to use and what else to have with your snack; don’t treat the topping as a complete snack. During my shift, I’m mainly looking for a convenient snack and want to use chocolate sprinkles only as a small flavour boost. For around 20% of consumers, the overall make-up of the snack is their main concern.

Common mistakes

  • Reading ‘less sugar’ as ‘sugar-free’

    Céréal lists 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Puur and 15 g per 100 g for Melkchocolade. Both figures are above the maximum of 0.5 g per 100 g allowed for the ‘sugar-free’ claim on solid foods under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.

    If you need a strictly sugar-free product, check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g on the current packaging rather than relying solely on a sugar-reduction claim.

  • Overlooking the warning about maltitols

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

    Read the ingredients and warnings before choosing a portion. For this version, also check the information about soya and the possible presence of milk.

  • Treating chocolate sprinkles as a complete night-shift snack

    Chocolate sprinkles are a sweet topping. VGZ recommends light, protein-rich options for eating during night shifts; a low sugar figure for the topping tells you nothing about the make-up of your whole snack.

    First choose what you’ll have as the base of your snack, then decide whether you’d like to add a small amount of chocolate sprinkles.

  • Assuming a product will always be available

    Jumbo says that Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker is no longer part of its online range. So, a product page you viewed earlier doesn’t guarantee you’ll be able to buy the same version.

    Check the current product name and label just before buying, so you don’t end up choosing a different version with a different sugar content.

Brands compared

Céréal

The Puur and Melkchocolade versions reviewed have different sugar levels and both contain polyols.

  • Per 100 g, Céréal lists 7.7 g of sugars and 40 g of polyols for Puur, compared with 15 g of sugars and 44 g of polyols for Melkchocolade.
  • Neither version is sugar-free. Check the warning about excessive consumption and the allergens in the version you choose.

Albert Heijn

AH Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker is a milk chocolate version with a sugar-reduction claim compared with AH Melk hagelslag.

  • Albert Heijn states that it contains 30% less sugar than AH Melk hagelslag and 43 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • This version is not sugar-free and, according to the product information, contains milk and lactose.

Jumbo

Jumbo Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker is a useful reference for comparing sugar-reduction claims with actual sugar levels.

  • Jumbo states that it contains at least 30% less sugar than Jumbo Hagelslag Melk and 42.6 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • Jumbo says that this version is no longer part of its online range. Its stated sugar content does not meet a strict sugar-free requirement.

De Ruijter

The Hagelslag Puur reviewed is a standard dark chocolate sprinkle product, not a version with a stated sugar reduction.

  • Jumbo states that this version contains at least 32% cocoa solids.
  • Jumbo lists 64 g of sugars per 100 g. The product information mentions milk and soya and says that the sprinkles may contain lactose.

Venz

The Puur version reviewed is a standard chocolate sprinkle product for anyone comparing a classic option with versions containing less sugar.

  • Jumbo states that this version contains at least 32% cocoa solids.
  • Jumbo lists 65 g of sugars per 100 g. The product information mentions milk and soya and says that the sprinkles may contain lactose.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is Céréal Hagelslag Puur sugar-free?

No. Céréal lists 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Hagelslag Puur; under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the ‘sugar-free’ claim can only be used for solid foods containing no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. A claim about having less sugar doesn’t mean the same thing.

Why are polyols listed on the label of chocolate sprinkles with less sugar?

The Céréal versions reviewed contain maltitols. Céréal lists 40 g of polyols per 100 g for Puur and warns of a possible laxative effect if consumed excessively. Read the warning and check the ingredients of the version you choose.

Can chocolate sprinkles make up my whole night-shift snack?

Treat chocolate sprinkles as a topping, not a complete snack. VGZ recommends light, protein-rich foods for eating during night shifts, so first decide what else you’d like to eat and how much chocolate sprinkles to add.

Which allergens should I check in these versions?

It varies by product. According to the product information, Céréal Puur contains soya and may contain milk; Céréal Melkchocolade contains milk and soya. Albert Heijn lists milk and lactose for AH Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker. Always check the current packaging of the version you’re buying.

Should I refrigerate Céréal Hagelslag Puur after opening?

No. The product information for Céréal Hagelslag Puur says to store it in a dry place at room temperature. For other versions, follow the storage advice on the packaging.