Who is this relevant to?

Parents comparing sugar per portion

You want to choose chocolate sprinkles for your schoolchild’s sandwich, so you compare the sugars per 100 g with the amount that goes on a slice of bread.

Families checking polyols and ingredients

You’re looking for a lower-sugar option, but also want to know which sweeteners and allergens it contains and what warnings appear on the packaging.

Families looking to keep lunch practical

You want to alternate chocolate sprinkles with other sandwich fillings, while keeping an eye on the portion, the packaging and what else goes in the lunchbox.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start with the nutritional information, then check the ingredients and decide how much chocolate sprinkles you want to serve alongside other sandwich fillings.

What to consider What should you check? Who is this important for?
Sugars per portion Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and work out the amount in the portion you use. Also check what a lower-sugar claim is comparing the product with. For my schoolchild’s sandwich, I want to know how much sugar is in the amount of chocolate sprinkles used. Around 42% of consumers prioritise the lowest possible sugar content.
Ingredients and allergens Read the current ingredients and allergen information. For products containing polyols, also check the warning on the packaging. I want less sugar, but the ingredients also need to be suitable for the pupil. Around 33% of consumers give this check the highest priority.
Portion and lunch Decide how much to sprinkle on and alternate sweet fillings with other options. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends choosing fillings mainly from the Wheel of Five. Lunch needs to be easy to pack, and I don’t want chocolate sprinkles to be the only filling. For around 25% of consumers, this practical variety matters most.

Common mistakes

  • Taking ‘lower sugar’ to mean ‘sugar-free’

    Céréal Hagelslag Puur lists 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g. Jumbo Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker is claimed to contain less sugar than Jumbo Hagelslag Melk. Claims based on different comparison products don’t mean the same thing.

    Read the nutritional information and check which product is used as the comparison for each reduction claim.

  • Looking only at the sugar figure

    According to the product information on Jumbo, Céréal Hagelslag Puur contains maltitols and soya, may contain milk and may have a laxative effect if consumed excessively. The Jumbo milk variant contains milk and may contain gluten and wheat.

    Before buying, check the current packaging for ingredients, allergens and any warnings that are relevant to the pupil.

  • Seeing lower-sugar chocolate sprinkles as a complete lunch

    A different sugar content doesn’t change the rest of the lunch. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends choosing fillings mainly from the Wheel of Five and consciously alternating them with sweet fillings.

    Choose your bread and other fillings thoughtfully too; use chocolate sprinkles as just one part of the lunch.

Brands to consider

These product ranges show why sugar content, ingredients and portion size each deserve separate attention.

Céréal

Céréal Hagelslag Puur 200 g is a dark chocolate sprinkle option for anyone mainly comparing the stated sugar content.

  • The product information on Jumbo lists 7.7 g of sugars and 40 g of polyols per 100 g.
  • Contains maltitols and soya, may contain milk and carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

Jumbo

Jumbo Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker 200 g is a milk chocolate option claimed to contain at least 30% less sugar than Jumbo Hagelslag Melk.

  • Jumbo’s product information lists 42.6 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • Contains milk and may contain gluten and wheat. Check the current label and availability.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists AH Hagelslag puur minder suiker and AH Hagelslag melk minder suiker.

  • There’s both a dark and a milk chocolate option to compare on the label.
  • Compare the current nutritional information per 100 g before comparing the sugar content of either option with another product.

De Ruijter

De Ruijter Chocoladehagel Puur is a standard chocolate sprinkle option that can be used for comparison.

  • Albert Heijn lists 64 g of sugars per 100 g for the dark chocolate variety. De Ruijter Kleintjes is available in individual portions.
  • Having individually portioned packaging doesn’t in itself mean the product has a lower sugar content.

Venz

Venz Hagelslag Puur 2-pack is a standard dark chocolate sprinkle option.

  • Albert Heijn lists this option as a pack of two.
  • Don’t choose a standard option as a substitute for lower-sugar chocolate sprinkles without first comparing the nutritional information.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

How do I compare lower-sugar chocolate sprinkles?

Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and per portion, and check what the claim is comparing the product with. Jumbo compares its Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker with its own standard milk chocolate variety; you can’t directly compare a claim based on a different product with that percentage.

Is Céréal Hagelslag Puur sugar-free?

No. The product information on Jumbo lists 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g. This variety also contains maltitols and 40 g of polyols per 100 g.

What should I look for if I want to avoid polyols?

Read the ingredients list and any usage warnings for the chocolate sprinkles you choose. Céréal Hagelslag Puur contains maltitols and, according to the product information, carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

Are lower-sugar chocolate sprinkles suitable for a school lunch?

Chocolate sprinkles can be part of a school lunch, but a lower sugar content doesn’t determine how the whole lunch is put together. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends choosing fillings mainly from the Wheel of Five and consciously alternating them with sweet fillings.