If sugar-free is a must for your Halloween party, check that the chocolate sprinkles contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g: that’s the limit set by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre for the claim. If lower sugar is enough, compare the figures for the exact product. Jumbo lists 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Céréal Hagelslag Puur, so this product is not sugar-free. When serving, also check for allergens and any warnings about polyols.
You only want to use chocolate sprinkles that meet the sugar-free limit. So check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g, rather than relying on wording such as ‘less sugar’ on the front of the pack.
You want to use chocolate sprinkles as a bread topping or party decoration, and reducing sugar matters more to you than choosing a strictly sugar-free product. In that case, the ingredients and the amount of sugars remaining are important too.
You want to check which allergens, ‘may contain’ statements and usage warnings apply to each product, and how much to put out.
First decide whether sugar-free is a must or whether lower sugar is enough. Then check the ingredients and warnings for the product you plan to serve.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who does this matter to? |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar-free or lower in sugar | Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g with the 0.5 g limit the Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives for sugar-free products. A sugar-reduction claim is not the same thing. | If you only want to put out sugar-free chocolate sprinkles, a product that merely contains less sugar won’t do; around 50% of consumers put this strict requirement first. |
| Amount of sugars | Compare the sugar figure per 100 g for the exact products, and check which sweeteners or polyols are listed in the ingredients. | I want to use chocolate sprinkles with less sugar as decoration, but sugar-free isn’t a must. Around 30% of consumers give this preference the most attention. |
| Serving guests | Check allergens and ‘may contain’ statements. Also read any warnings about polyols. | If several guests will be eating the chocolate sprinkles, I want to know what I’m serving them and how much to put out; around 20% of consumers give this the highest priority. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a product can only be labelled ‘sugar-free’ if it contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. The listed sugar figures for the lower-sugar products from Céréal, Albert Heijn and Jumbo are all above this limit.
Before choosing a product, check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g on the pack.
Jumbo lists 40 g of polyols per 100 g for Céréal Hagelslag Puur and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Put out small quantities and keep the pack available so guests can read the ingredients and warning.
According to Jumbo, Céréal Hagelslag Puur contains soya and may contain milk. Albert Heijn lists milk and lactose for its named lower-sugar dark and milk chocolate products.
Check each pack you use individually. If someone has a known allergy, provide a suitable alternative that you’ve checked separately.
Jumbo’s product page for Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker stated that this product was no longer available in its online range.
Check that the exact product is available before planning your decorations or menu around it.
Finding a replacement product can take extra time just before the party.
Céréal Hagelslag Puur is an option if you’re looking to reduce sugar, but it does not meet the sugar-free limit mentioned above.
Albert Heijn sells dark and milk chocolate sprinkles under the name ‘less sugar’.
Jumbo Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker is a milk chocolate product with a listed sugar figure.
Jumbo’s range overview includes dark and milk chocolate products from De Ruijter, among others.
Jumbo’s range overview includes milk chocolate sprinkles and flavoured Rimboe products from Venz, among others.
Check that the ‘of which sugars’ figure is no more than 0.5 g per 100 g, the limit the Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives for the ‘sugar-free’ claim. A label such as ‘less sugar’ doesn’t answer that question.
No. Jumbo lists 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Céréal Hagelslag Puur. It may be suitable if you’re looking for less sugar, but not if your limit is 0.5 g per 100 g.
Not the products mentioned here. Albert Heijn lists 43 g of sugars per 100 g for both Puur Minder Suiker and Melk Minder Suiker; Jumbo listed 42.6 g per 100 g for Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker.
Check whether soya and the possible presence of milk matter to your guests. Also read the warning about excessive consumption for the product containing polyols, and keep the pack by the serving area.
Follow the storage instructions for the product you’ve used. For Céréal Hagelslag Puur, Jumbo says to store it in a dry place at room temperature; Albert Heijn recommends keeping its dark chocolate lower-sugar product somewhere cool, dark and dry.
