People who enjoy coffee and keep an eye on sugar
You want chocolate sprinkles for your coffee break and compare the amount of sugars per 100 g, rather than relying on a claim such as ‘less sugar’ alone.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Dark chocolate fans who read the labels
You prefer dark chocolate, but also want to know which sweetener and allergens your chosen chocolate sprinkles contain.
Milk chocolate fans weighing up the ingredients
You want milk chocolate sprinkles and check the stated sugars, maltitols, milk and soya in the specific variety.
What should you look for when buying?
Start with the amount of sugars per 100 g. Then consider whether the taste, ingredients and availability of the variety suit your coffee-break choice.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars | Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g; don’t assume a claim such as ‘less sugar’ means ‘sugar-free’. | If I want to reduce my sugar intake, I need to know how much sugar the chocolate sprinkles actually contain. Around 36% of consumers put the sugar content first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check for maltitols, milk and soya; if needed, also look at the stated polyols per 100 g. | If I need to take certain ingredients into account or consider how I react to polyols, that will determine which variety I can choose. This is the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Chocolate flavour | Choose between dark and milk chocolate, then compare the nutritional information for that specific variety. | With my coffee, I mainly want a chocolate flavour I enjoy, without losing sight of the ingredients. Taste comes first for around 21% of consumers. |
| Availability | Check your shop’s current range and read the label of the variety available there. | If I do my shopping at the same supermarket, I want to be able to choose suitable chocolate sprinkles there. Around 14% of consumers rank availability as their top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘less sugar’ means ‘sugar-free’
According to Céréal, both its dark and milk chocolate sprinkles with less sugar still contain sugar. The stated amounts are 7.7 g and 15 g of sugars per 100 g respectively.
Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure with the ingredients list. Only assume a product is sugar-free if the label on that exact variety says so.
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Focusing only on sugars and overlooking maltitol
Céréal states that its dark chocolate variety contains 40 g of polyols per 100 g and its milk chocolate variety 44 g per 100 g. The Voedingscentrum describes polyols as a group of sweeteners; when consuming them, the amount you eat may matter.
Check the ingredients list for maltitols and compare the amount of polyols too, especially if you plan to eat more than one product containing polyols.
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Choosing dark chocolate without checking for allergens
Céréal’s dark chocolate sprinkles contain soya and may contain milk. The milk chocolate variety contains milk and soya.
Check the allergen information on the pack of the variety you’re buying. ‘Dark’ on its own doesn’t mean a product is milk-free.
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Assuming an old product listing reflects what’s currently in store
Albert Heijn states that this particular Venz Hagelslag melk 30% minder suiker variety is no longer in its range.
Check the current range before basing your choice on an older product page.
Brands to compare
Céréal
Céréal describes its dark and milk chocolate sprinkles as having less sugar; both varieties contain maltitols.
- According to Céréal, the dark chocolate variety contains 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g and the milk chocolate variety 15 g per 100 g.
- Both contain sugar and soya. The dark chocolate variety may contain milk; the milk chocolate variety contains milk.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn describes its own-brand dark and milk chocolate sprinkles as ‘less sugar’ varieties.
- You can choose between dark and milk chocolate sprinkles from the own-brand range.
- Check the current nutritional information and allergens for the exact variety before comparing it with another brand.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists an own-brand milk chocolate sprinkle variety labelled ‘less sugar’.
- An option to look at if you’re after milk chocolate sprinkles at Jumbo.
- Check the pack for the amount of sugars and the ingredients before comparing this variety with other products.
Venz
Venz has offered a milk chocolate sprinkle variety with 30% less sugar.
- The product listing at Albert Heijn identifies the specific Venz variety.
- Albert Heijn marks this variety as no longer in its range, so don’t take the listing as proof that it’s currently available.
Chocolate sprinkles at Joybuy
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Are chocolate sprinkles labelled ‘less sugar’ also sugar-free?
No, the terms don’t mean the same thing. According to Céréal, its dark and milk chocolate varieties with less sugar still contain sugar: 7.7 g and 15 g per 100 g respectively. If you’re looking for sugar-free chocolate sprinkles, check the label of the exact variety.
What should I look for if I want to limit maltitols?
Read both the ingredients list and the amount of polyols in the nutritional information table. Céréal lists maltitols in both varieties, with 40 g and 44 g of polyols per 100 g in the dark and milk chocolate varieties respectively. When choosing, consider how much of this and any other products containing polyols you eat.
Do dark chocolate sprinkles with less sugar contain milk or soya?
It depends on the specific chocolate sprinkles. Céréal’s dark chocolate variety contains soya and may contain milk; its milk chocolate variety contains milk and soya. Check the allergen information on the pack you buy.
Can I rely on an older product page when making my choice?
Don’t use an older page as proof that a product is currently available. Albert Heijn marks the specific Venz milk chocolate sprinkles with 30% less sugar as no longer in its range, so check the shop’s current selection instead.