For a film night, start by comparing the sugars listed per 100 g: a claim such as ‘30% less sugar’ doesn’t tell you which of the chocolate sprinkles you’ve looked at has the lowest sugar content. Céréal Hagelslag Puur lists 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g at Jumbo, but it also contains maltitols and 40 g of polyols per 100 g. If you want to avoid these ingredients or need to take allergens into account, compare the ingredients as well as the sugar content. Taste, portion size and current availability can then help you decide.
Want to use chocolate sprinkles as a topping and focus mainly on the amount of sugar listed? Following the Voedingscentrum’s guidance, compare the nutritional information for similar products per 100 g, even if the packs show different portion sizes.
Want less sugar, but also want to know whether a variety contains polyols or other sweeteners? Check the ingredients and warnings on the pack before choosing chocolate sprinkles for yourself or your guests.
If you’re serving chocolate sprinkles on toast or a dessert during a film night, a rich dark chocolate flavour and a pack that’s easy to portion may matter more. If reducing sugar is your aim, check the sugar content too.
Start with the sugars per 100 g, then check whether the ingredients, allergens and way you plan to serve them suit your needs.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars per 100 g | For chocolate sprinkles, compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure on the same 100 g basis; don’t assess a lower-sugar claim without considering that figure. | If I’m sprinkling them over a dessert for film night, I mainly want to keep the listed sugar content down. For around 42% of consumers, this is the most important factor in their choice. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients, highlighted allergens and any warning about polyols on the current pack. | If I’m sharing food with guests, I want to know which ingredients and allergens the chocolate sprinkles contain before serving them. For around 33% of consumers, the ingredients are the deciding factor. |
| Taste, portions and availability | Check the variety and pack format, and make sure the pack you want is still available. | For a topping on toast or dessert, I want a flavour and quantity that suit what I’m serving. Around 25% of consumers prioritise taste, portions or availability. |
A claim like this compares a variety with a specific reference product. It doesn’t mean that this variety has the lowest sugar content of all the chocolate sprinkles you’re considering.
Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g, then read the ingredients. For example, Albert Heijn lists 43 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Hagelslag Puur Minder Suiker; the claim compares this product with regular AH Chocolade Hagel Puur.
Jumbo lists 7.7 g of sugars and 40 g of polyols per 100 g for Céréal Hagelslag Puur. The product information warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Read the ingredients and warning, especially if you’re serving the chocolate sprinkles to several people or plan to use a larger quantity.
Albert Heijn lists the 400 g Venz variety as discontinued. Jumbo says its milk chocolate sprinkles with less sugar are no longer part of its online range.
Before buying, check that the exact variety and pack you want are available, and compare the nutritional information on the current packaging.
The ingredients lists for the varieties mentioned differ in how they identify milk, lactose, soya and wheat, among other things. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens must be clearly identifiable on the label.
Ask anyone for whom allergens are relevant to check the current packaging, even if they’re familiar with an earlier pack of the same brand.
The dark chocolate sprinkles are worth considering if the listed sugar content per 100 g is your main priority.
AH Hagelslag Puur Minder Suiker compares its sugar content with regular AH Chocolade Hagel Puur.
The dark chocolate variety claims 30% less sugar than Venz Chocoladehagelslag melk.
Jumbo Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker is a milk chocolate variety that is compared with regular Jumbo hagelslag melk.
The varieties reviewed offer a choice of dark chocolate or individual portions, rather than a claim of less sugar.
No. ‘Less sugar’ is a comparison with a reference product, not an indication of the absolute amount. Check the sugars per 100 g and the rest of the nutritional information for the variety you want to use.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g. The Voedingscentrum uses this basis to compare products; then consider how much you’ll actually use as a topping.
Before serving the chocolate sprinkles, check the ingredients and clearly highlighted allergens on the current pack. The varieties mentioned differ in how they identify milk, lactose, soya and wheat, among other things, so don’t rely on an earlier purchase or a product photo alone.
According to Jumbo’s product information, excessive consumption of Céréal Hagelslag Puur may have a laxative effect. The variety contains maltitols and lists 40 g of polyols per 100 g, so take these ingredients and the amount you plan to serve into account when choosing.
Check the current packaging and availability before buying. Albert Heijn marks the Venz variety mentioned as discontinued, and Jumbo says its varieties mentioned are no longer part of its online range. What’s more, the nutritional information on a product page doesn’t replace the ingredients information on the packaging.
