Who are these choices relevant to?

If you’re looking for a strictly sugar-free topping

A ‘less sugar’ option won’t necessarily meet that requirement. Check the claim, ingredients and ‘of which sugars’ line on the packaging you choose.

If you want chocolate sprinkles with less sugar

You want to keep using chocolate sprinkles, but compare options by their sugars per 100 g, ingredients and any warnings about use.

If you’re planning a snack while studying

You have rusks with chocolate sprinkles for breakfast or as a snack, and look beyond the topping. Voedingscentrum recommends eating regularly around exam time; the base and the rest of what you eat deserve attention too.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, distinguish between a strict requirement for sugar-free and a preference for less sugar. Then look at the rusks and portion size, rather than just the front of the chocolate sprinkle packet.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Sugar-free or less sugar Check the claim on the packaging, the ingredients and ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. I don’t want to mistake a relative reduction in sugar for a sugar-free topping. For around 46% of consumers, that strict requirement comes first.
Chocolate sprinkles with less sugar Compare sugars per 100 g and check which sweeteners or polyols the option contains. I want to keep the taste of chocolate sprinkles, but weigh up the ingredients in lower-sugar options. For around 36% of consumers, that preference comes first.
The whole eating occasion Look at the rusk base and decide how much chocolate sprinkles to use as a topping. During a long study session, I don’t want to focus on the topping alone; I also want to plan my breakfast or snack. For around 18% of consumers, this is the most important consideration.

Common mistakes

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

    A comparison with another product doesn’t mean there are no sugars in the chocolate sprinkles. The nutritional information for the lower-sugar options discussed still lists sugars.

    Before choosing a strictly sugar-free topping, check both the claim and ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g on the specific packet.

  • Overlooking the warning about using polyols

    The product information for Céréal Dark Chocolate Sprinkles, Less Sugar, lists polyols and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

    Read the ingredients and warning for this option, and don’t decide on your portion size based only on the sugar-reduction claim.

  • Judging the topping on its own

    A different topping doesn’t change the ingredients in the rusks or the rest of what you eat. Voedingscentrum recommends eating regularly during exam periods.

    Consider the base too, along with what else you’re having for breakfast or as a snack.

  • Assuming all rusks contain iodine

    Bakers’ salt is iodised salt, but according to Voedingscentrum, bakers aren’t required to use it. So you can’t tell the ingredients of a specific rusk just from its product category.

    If the salt used matters to you when buying, check the rusk’s label or ask the manufacturer.

Relevant chocolate sprinkle brands

Céréal

Céréal Dark Chocolate Sprinkles, Less Sugar is an option to compare if you’re looking for chocolate sprinkles with less sugar.

  • According to the product information at Albert Heijn, this option contains 7,7 g of sugars per 100 g and 88% less sugar than standard dark chocolate sprinkles.
  • This isn’t a sugar-free option. The ingredients list sugar and maltitols; the product information warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

Albert Heijn

AH Milk Chocolate Sprinkles, Less Sugar is a milk chocolate option with a relative reduction in sugar.

  • Albert Heijn states that it contains 30% less sugar than AH Milk Chocolate Sprinkles.
  • The option still contains 43 g of sugars per 100 g. Compare that figure per 100 g; the reduction claim doesn’t make the product sugar-free.

Venz

Venz is worth considering if you also want to include regular chocolate sprinkle options in your comparison.

  • Albert Heijn’s chocolate sprinkle range includes Venz options such as dark, milk and XXL.
  • Don’t assume a sugar claim based on the brand name or flavour; check the nutritional information on the packet you choose.

De Ruijter

The De Ruijter range at Albert Heijn includes various chocolate sprinkle options to compare with lower-sugar products.

  • The range includes options such as dark, milk, Specials Intense Dark and Royaal Extra Dark.
  • A dark chocolate option isn’t automatically lower in sugar or sugar-free. Check the label for the specific option.

Wholemeal rusks as a base

These Joybuy products are two wholemeal rusk options for anyone choosing a base for a planned breakfast or snack. They aren’t chocolate sprinkle products; if you’re watching your sugar intake, assess the topping and rusks separately.

Bolletje Dark wholemeal rusks, 10 pieces

Bolletje Dark wholemeal rusks, 10 pieces

A wholemeal rusk base for a planned breakfast or snack; choose your chocolate sprinkles separately.

The listed ingredients include sugar and glucose syrup, so these rusks aren’t sugar-free. Check the label for bakers’ salt if the type of salt used matters to you.

View at Joybuy
Bolletje Wholegrain wholemeal rusks, 13 pieces

Bolletje Wholegrain wholemeal rusks, 13 pieces

A wholemeal rusk base for anyone who wants to add a topping to a planned study break; the topping isn’t included.

The listed ingredients include sugar and glucose syrup, so these rusks aren’t sugar-free. Check the label to see whether bakers’ salt has been used in this product.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Are chocolate sprinkles labelled ‘less sugar’ sugar-free?

No, those terms don’t mean the same thing. ‘Less sugar’ compares a product with a reference product; Albert Heijn’s nutritional information lists 7,7 g of sugars per 100 g for Céréal Dark Chocolate Sprinkles, Less Sugar, and 43 g per 100 g for AH Milk Chocolate Sprinkles, Less Sugar. If you need a strictly sugar-free option, check the claim and nutritional information on the packet you buy.

What should I look for in Céréal Dark Chocolate Sprinkles, Less Sugar?

As well as the sugar content, read the ingredients and usage warning. The product information lists maltitols and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. So a sugar-reduction claim doesn’t tell you everything about how you might want to use these chocolate sprinkles.

Will sugar-free chocolate sprinkles help me study better for an exam?

You shouldn’t expect a sugar-free topping on its own to improve your exam performance. Voedingscentrum recommends eating regularly and drinking enough during test and exam periods, so consider rusks with chocolate sprinkles as part of your overall eating occasion.

Do rusks always contain iodine from bakers’ salt?

You can’t assume that. Bakers’ salt is iodised salt, but according to Voedingscentrum, bakers aren’t required to use it. Check the ingredients on the packaging of the specific rusks or ask the manufacturer which salt they use.