As the school year starts, first decide what matters most to you: a greater percentage reduction in sugar or a different ingredient make-up. Céréal states that its lower-sugar sprinkles offer the biggest reductions among the varieties discussed here, but they contain maltitol. The milk varieties from Jumbo and Venz state a smaller reduction, and the product pages we checked show no current purchase option. Compare the sugars per 100 g, the ingredients and the current label, then decide what place chocolate sprinkles will have in your child’s school lunch.
They’re looking for chocolate sprinkles for breakfast or a lunchbox with a substantial stated sugar reduction. When considering varieties containing maltitol, they also want to take the ingredients and any guidance on the packaging into account.
They want to weigh up a lower-sugar milk variety against one containing maltitol. The ingredients, allergens and current availability all matter too.
They want to decide when to put chocolate sprinkles on bread and what to alternate them with at other meals. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists chocolate sprinkles as a sweet spread you can choose once a day.
Start by checking the sugars per 100 g, then read how the difference from regular chocolate sprinkles is achieved. For a lunchbox, it’s also worth considering how often you want to use chocolate sprinkles as a topping.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar reduction | Compare the sugars per 100 g and check which product the reduction claim is measured against. | If I’m putting chocolate sprinkles on breakfast toast or in a lunchbox, I want to know how much sugar the variety I choose actually contains. For around 40% of consumers, the biggest possible sugar reduction comes first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the current ingredients list for maltitol or other polyols, and read the allergen information. | I want to choose a variety whose ingredients suit the person eating it, even if that means a smaller sugar reduction. For around 30% of consumers, the ingredients matter most. |
| Its place in the lunchbox | Decide when you’ll use chocolate sprinkles on bread and how you’ll alternate them with other toppings. | When packing a lunchbox, I want to include chocolate sprinkles without making every sandwich a sweet one. For around 30% of consumers, their lunch routine is the first thing they consider. |
A reduction claim compares products, but doesn’t tell you how much sugar the chocolate sprinkles you choose contain. Jumbo states that Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker contains 42,6 g of sugars per 100 g, alongside a claim of at least 30% less sugar than its regular milk chocolate sprinkles.
When comparing products, look at both the stated reference product and the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g.
Céréal lists maltitol in both its plain and milk varieties. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems in some people.
Check the ingredients and any guidance on the packaging before choosing a variety.
Jumbo’s product page says that its 200 g Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker is no longer part of its online range. Albert Heijn marks the Venz milk variety discussed here as discontinued.
Check which varieties are available just before buying, and compare the label on that exact pack.
A lower-sugar variety is still chocolate sprinkles. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists chocolate sprinkles as a topping you can choose once a day, alongside choices mainly from the Wheel of Five.
Decide when to use a sweet topping, and alternate it with other toppings at other meals.
Compare each variety using its own label: a reduction percentage, the sugars per 100 g and the ingredients each answer a different question.
Céréal states that Hagelslag Puur 200 g contains 88% less sugars and Hagelslag Melk 200 g contains 79% less sugars, each compared with a similar standard product.
Jumbo Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker 200 g states that it contains at least 30% less sugar than Jumbo hagelslag melk.
Albert Heijn lists AH Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker and AH Hagelslag Puur Minder Suiker, both 250 g, in its range of sugar-conscious toppings.
For Venz Hagelslag Melk 30% Minder Suiker 400 g, Albert Heijn gives a comparison with Venz Chocoladehagelslag puur.
De Ruijter is a useful reference when comparing regular chocolate sprinkles. Jumbo lists varieties including Puur, Melk and Intens Puur.
No. ‘Less sugar’ means the product is being compared with another one; it doesn’t mean sugar-free. Céréal states that Hagelslag Puur contains 88% less sugars, but it still contains 7,7 g of sugars per 100 g. So check both the product used for comparison and the nutritional information.
Céréal lists maltitol in both its plain and milk varieties. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems in some people. Check the ingredients and any guidance on the packaging when making your choice.
No. Less sugar doesn’t automatically change the place of chocolate sprinkles as a sweet bread topping. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists chocolate sprinkles as a topping you can choose once a day, and advises choosing mainly products from the Wheel of Five for breakfast and lunch.
For chocolate sprinkles, also compare energy, fat, saturated fat, carbohydrates, protein and salt per 100 g, and check the ingredients and allergen information. This lets you compare the same quantity of the exact varieties you’re considering, rather than looking only at their reduction claims.
