Careful sugar checkers
When choosing chocolate sprinkles for your film night, you mainly want to keep the stated sugar content as low as possible. You distinguish between a lower sugar content and a sugar-free product.
Who is this relevant to?
Flavour seekers looking to cut down
You want to stick with chocolate sprinkles and consider the difference between milk and dark chocolate, but you’re also looking for a variety with less sugar than the equivalent standard product.
Film-night sharers keeping an eye on quantity
You’re buying chocolate sprinkles for several people and want a pack that suits the portions you have planned. A lower sugar content isn’t your main priority.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you’re looking for the lowest possible stated sugar content or mainly want a milk or dark chocolate variety. Then check which pack size suits the amount you plan to use for your film night.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar content | Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and read the ingredients; ‘less sugar’ does not mean ‘sugar-free’. | If I want to limit sugar, I want to know how much sugar the chocolate sprinkles actually contain rather than relying on the front of the pack. For around 46% of consumers, sugar content comes first. |
| Milk or dark chocolate | Choose the variety you want, then compare the nutritional information for that exact pack. | I want milk or dark chocolate sprinkles to suit my taste for film night, while keeping an eye on sugar. For around 36% of consumers, flavour with a relative reduction in sugar is the top priority. |
| Pack size and portions | Compare the net weight with the amount you’ll need for the number of people you’re planning to serve. | When we share chocolate sprinkles, I want to buy enough without losing sight of portion sizes. For around 18% of consumers, the quantity for the group matters most. |
Common mistakes
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Reading ‘less sugar’ as ‘sugar-free’
The varieties reviewed that contain less sugar still contain sugars. So if you’re specifically looking for a sugar-free product, you can’t rely on that comparison alone.
Check the ‘of which sugars’ amount per 100 g and the ingredients list on the pack you choose.
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Overlooking polyols
Céréal Hagelslag Puur contains maltitols. Jumbo states that excessive consumption of this product may have a laxative effect.
Read the ingredients and warnings on the label, especially if you also plan to eat other products containing sweeteners.
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Assuming a large pack means a low-sugar choice
A 600 g pack, such as the Kiekeboe varieties described by ALDI, tells you how much chocolate sprinkles you’re buying, not how much sugar they contain.
Assess pack size and nutritional information separately for the product you choose.
Brands to consider
Céréal
Céréal offers dark and milk chocolate sprinkles with a sugar reduction, as stated by the brand, compared with similar standard products.
- Céréal and Jumbo state that Céréal Hagelslag Puur contains 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g; Jumbo also states that it contains 40 g of polyols per 100 g.
- The dark chocolate variety isn’t sugar-free and contains maltitols. According to Jumbo, excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn describes dark and milk chocolate sprinkles, each with 30% less sugar than the corresponding AH standard variety.
- According to Albert Heijn, both varieties reviewed contain 43 g of sugars per 100 g, so you can choose the flavour you prefer without having to compare the sugar content of these two options.
- The ‘less sugar’ claim doesn’t mean either variety is sugar-free.
Jumbo
At Jumbo, you can compare the product information for Céréal Hagelslag Puur with that for Jumbo Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker.
- According to Jumbo, the products described contain 7.7 g and 42.6 g of sugars per 100 g respectively.
- The products also differ in variety and ingredients, so check the label of the product you actually want to buy.
De Ruijter
De Ruijter is an option if you’re specifically looking for traditional dark chocolate sprinkles from this brand.
- Jumbo describes a 390 g pack of De Ruijter Hagelslag Puur.
- If you’re choosing a product to limit sugar, base your decision on the nutritional information for that particular pack, not the brand name.
Kiekeboe (ALDI)
According to ALDI, Kiekeboe offers milk and dark chocolate sprinkles in 600 g packs, a size worth considering when you’re serving several people.
- You can choose between milk and dark chocolate varieties within the range described.
- If limiting sugar is your priority, check the sugar content and ingredients on the pack you choose.
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Frequently asked questions
Are chocolate sprinkles labelled ‘less sugar’ sugar-free?
No, the ‘less sugar’ varieties reviewed still contain sugars. Céréal and Jumbo state that Céréal Hagelslag Puur contains 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g; Albert Heijn states that the AH varieties reviewed contain 43 g per 100 g. Check the nutritional information on the pack to help you choose.
Is Céréal Hagelslag Puur a good choice if I want less sugar?
It’s an option if you’re looking for a lower stated sugar content among the chocolate sprinkles discussed here and are happy with maltitols. Céréal and Jumbo state that it contains 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g, so the product isn’t sugar-free. Jumbo also warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
What should I look for if allergens are a concern?
Read the allergen information on the pack of the exact variety you choose. According to Voedingscentrum, common allergens must be clearly stated on the label; don’t rely on the brand name or the milk or dark chocolate description alone.
Does ‘sugar-conscious’ mean that every chocolate sprinkle in that category is low in sugar?
No, a shop category doesn’t replace the nutritional information for an individual product. For chocolate sprinkles, compare the ‘of which sugars’ amount per 100 g and read the ingredients for the variety you want to use.