Who are these options for?

Fans of a pronounced dark chocolate flavour

You want a clear dark chocolate flavour on your rusks. Compare the stated cocoa solids percentage for the exact variety, as ‘dark’ doesn’t tell you how much cocoa it contains.

Office shoppers keeping an eye on sugar

You’re buying chocolate sprinkles for yourself or your colleagues and want to compare sugar per 100 g. A claim such as ‘less sugar’ doesn’t mean ‘sugar-free’; if you’re considering varieties with sweeteners, check the usage warning too.

Anyone organising a shared lunch spread

You’re putting out rusks and toppings for several colleagues. In that case, the ingredients and allergens on the chosen pack matter more than just the flavour name or pack size.

What should you look for when buying?

If you’re putting together a shared lunch spread, first check which ingredients matter to those taking part. Then compare cocoa content, sugar and pack size according to your main reason for buying.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Cocoa content Compare the minimum cocoa solids percentage on the exact pack. Albert Heijn states 52% for De Ruijter Intens Puur; Jumbo states 32% for Venz Puur. I want a pronounced dark option for my rusks and don’t want to rely on the name alone. For around 36% of consumers, a stated cocoa content is the top priority.
Sugar Read the nutritional information per 100 g and check what a claim such as ‘less sugar’ is being compared with. If the product contains polyols, check the warning on the pack too. When I’m buying for the office, I want to compare sugar without mistaking ‘less sugar’ for sugar-free. Around 29% of consumers put reducing sugar first.
Ingredients and allergens Read the ingredients, allergens and any ‘may contain’ information on the current pack of both the topping and the rusks. When several colleagues share the same food, I want to know in advance whether the ingredients suit their needs. This check is the top priority for around 21% of consumers.
Pack size Compare the net weight and choose a pack size that suits how many people will be sharing it. For a shared lunch supply, I want to put out an appropriate amount. Around 14% of consumers prioritise pack size.

Common mistakes

  • Relying on the word ‘dark’ alone

    Dark chocolate sprinkles can have different stated cocoa contents depending on the variety. Albert Heijn states that De Ruijter Intens Puur contains at least 52% cocoa solids; Jumbo states that Venz Puur contains at least 32%.

    Compare the percentage on the pack of the variety you actually want to buy.

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

    According to their product information, Albert Heijn and Jumbo’s reduced-sugar varieties still contain 43 g and 43.1 g of sugar per 100 g respectively. Jumbo states that Céréal Hagelslag Puur contains 7.7 g of sugar and 40 g of polyols per 100 g, and includes a warning against excessive consumption.

    Compare sugar per 100 g. For a variety containing polyols, check the ingredients and usage warning too.

  • Putting out a shared jar without reading the labels

    Milk and soya feature in the varieties mentioned; some products also state that they contain lactose or may contain traces of gluten and wheat. The word ‘dark’ doesn’t mean these ingredients are absent.

    Keep the pack with its ingredients and allergen information available alongside the lunch spread, and check the rusks you’ve chosen too.

  • Assuming baker’s salt has always been used

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt when baking bread isn’t compulsory. The chocolate sprinkles won’t tell you what kind of salt was used in the base.

    If the type of salt matters to your choice, check the ingredients on the bread or rusk pack separately.

Brands to consider

De Ruijter

De Ruijter offers regular dark chocolate sprinkles as well as a separate Intens Puur variety.

  • Albert Heijn states that Intens Puur contains at least 52% cocoa solids.
  • The product information for Intens Puur lists milk and soya; it may contain lactose. Check the exact variety.

Venz

Venz Puur is a regular dark chocolate sprinkle product in a 400 g pack.

  • Jumbo states that this variety contains at least 32% cocoa solids.
  • The product information lists milk and soya; check the allergens before sharing the pack.

Albert Heijn

The own-brand AH Hagelslag puur minder suiker combines a stated cocoa content with a sugar-reduction claim.

  • Albert Heijn states that it contains at least 50% cocoa solids and 30% less sugar than its regular dark chocolate sprinkles.
  • According to the product information, the variety still contains 43 g of sugar per 100 g and lists milk and lactose.

Jumbo

Jumbo offers an own-brand dark variety with a claim of 30% less sugar than its regular dark variety.

  • For the variety reviewed, Jumbo states that it contains at least 50% cocoa solids and 43.1 g of sugar per 100 g.
  • The product information lists milk and states that it may contain gluten and wheat.

Kiekeboe / ALDI

Kiekeboe Hagelslag Puur is an own-brand option in a 600 g pack.

  • ALDI states that the pack contains 600 g and that the cocoa is Rainforest Alliance certified.
  • If you’re choosing based on cocoa content or allergens, check the information on the pack itself.

Products for rusks at Joybuy

These products offer two different kinds of dark chocolate topping for a lunch spread with rusks: sprinkles and flakes. Compare the texture you’d like to use and, if sharing, check the packaging.

De Ruijter Intense Pure chocolate sprinkles 200 g

De Ruijter Intense Pure chocolate sprinkles 200 g

An option if you’d like dark chocolate sprinkles on your rusks. If sharing, check the ingredients and allergens on the pack.

Pack size: 200 g.

View at Joybuy
g'woon Flakes Pure 300 g

g'woon Flakes Pure 300 g

For anyone who’d rather have dark chocolate flakes than sprinkles on their rusks. Check the ingredients if several colleagues will be eating them.

Pack size: 300 g.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘dark’ automatically mean that chocolate sprinkles contain a lot of cocoa?

No, the stated percentages vary by variety. Albert Heijn states that De Ruijter Intens Puur contains at least 52% cocoa solids and AH Hagelslag puur minder suiker at least 50%; Jumbo states that Venz Puur contains at least 32%. So if cocoa content is your main criterion, compare the exact pack.

Are reduced-sugar dark chocolate sprinkles also sugar-free?

No. The Albert Heijn and Jumbo reduced-sugar varieties reviewed state that they contain 43 g and 43.1 g of sugar per 100 g respectively. Jumbo states that Céréal Hagelslag Puur contains 7.7 g of sugar and 40 g of polyols per 100 g; check the warning against excessive consumption for this variety too.

What should I check when buying chocolate sprinkles for several colleagues?

Check the ingredients and allergens on the packs of both the chocolate sprinkles and the rusks. The varieties mentioned list ingredients including milk and soya, while lactose or possible traces of gluten and wheat are also worth checking for in some varieties.

Are rusks for an office lunch automatically made with iodised baker’s salt?

Don’t assume so. If the type of salt used matters to your purchase, check the ingredients of the rusks you’ve chosen. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre states that using baker’s salt in bread isn’t compulsory, so you can’t rely on the product category alone to tell you what’s in the base for your lunch.