Who is this choice relevant to?

Consumers looking for sugar-free options

For you, the difference between sugar-free and lower-sugar is crucial. Under the EU rules for nutrition claims, a product can only be called sugar-free if it contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g.

Consumers looking to change their usual topping

You want to keep using chocolate sprinkles on bread, yoghurt or porridge, and compare the taste with the amount of sugars per 100 g and per portion used.

Consumers who check ingredients carefully

If you’re keeping an eye on polyols or certain allergens, the sugar content alone isn’t enough. The Céréal variety we looked at contains maltitol and soya, and may contain milk. Check the packaging of the product you buy.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start by comparing the amount of sugars per 100 g, then choose based on the chocolate flavour, ingredients and how much you use.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Sugar-free or lower-sugar Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g and consider how many grams of sprinkles you use. Under the EU rules, a product must contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g to be labelled sugar-free. If I’m specifically looking for sugar-free, I want to know whether the absolute sugar content meets that requirement—not just whether it’s lower than that of a product I’m comparing it with. For around 42% of consumers, checking the sugar content comes first.
Chocolate flavour Choose between dark and milk chocolate, then compare the sugars and ingredients per 100 g for your chosen variety. I want to stick with my usual topping, but I’m considering one with less sugar. This combination of flavour and switching matters most to around 33% of consumers.
Ingredients and tolerance Check the sweeteners, polyols, allergens and warnings on the current packaging. If I need to avoid an ingredient, I want to check that before comparing sugar content. For around 25% of consumers, tolerance and ingredients are the first things to consider.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘lower sugar’ means ‘sugar-free’

    Under the EU rules, a product can only be labelled sugar-free if it contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. The Céréal Hagelslag Puur we looked at lists 7.7 g per 100 g, while the AH lower-sugar varieties we looked at both list 43 g per 100 g.

    Check the ‘of which sugars’ line in the nutrition information rather than relying on the claim on the front of the pack.

  • Only looking at the front of the pack

    A claim such as ‘lower sugar’ doesn’t tell you which ingredients, allergens or other nutritional values the product has.

    Compare the nutrition information per 100 g, and read the ingredients list and allergen information too.

  • Overlooking polyols when the sugar content is lower

    The Céréal variety we looked at lists maltitol and 40 g of polyols per 100 g. The product information warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

    Check the ingredients and warnings on the pack, as well as the information about soya and the possible presence of milk.

  • Assuming ‘dark’ means low in sugar

    Sugar levels vary between the dark varieties we looked at: Albert Heijn lists 43 g of sugars per 100 g for De Ruijter Specials Intens Puur, while Jumbo lists 65 g per 100 g for Venz Puur.

    Treat ‘dark’ as a description of the chocolate flavour and check the sugar content separately.

Brands compared

Céréal

The Céréal Hagelslag Puur we looked at is worth considering if you’re mainly comparing the stated sugar content per 100 g.

  • Jumbo lists 7.7 g of sugars and 40 g of polyols per 100 g for Céréal Hagelslag Puur.
  • This variety isn’t sugar-free. The product information lists maltitol and soya, says it may contain milk, and warns of a laxative effect if consumed in excess.

Albert Heijn

The AH lower-sugar chocolate sprinkles we looked at offer a choice of dark or milk chocolate.

  • Albert Heijn describes both varieties as containing 30% less sugar than the relevant standard AH product used for comparison.
  • Both varieties we looked at list 43 g of sugars per 100 g and contain milk and lactose. ‘Lower sugar’ doesn’t mean sugar-free here.

Jumbo

The previously available Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker offers an extra label to compare if you’re looking for a milk chocolate flavour.

  • The Jumbo product page we looked at lists 42.6 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • On that product page, Jumbo said this variety was no longer part of its online range. The nutritional information doesn’t indicate whether it’s currently available.

De Ruijter

The dark varieties we looked at show why chocolate flavour and sugar content are separate things to consider.

  • Albert Heijn lists at least 52% cocoa solids and 43 g of sugars per 100 g for Specials Intens Puur.
  • For the Royaal Extra Puur variety we looked at, Albert Heijn lists 54 g of sugars per 100 g. So a description such as ‘extra dark’ is no substitute for checking the nutrition information.

Venz

The Puur Chocolade Hagelslag we looked at is a standard dark chocolate variety to compare with lower-sugar products.

  • Jumbo’s product information lists at least 32% cocoa solids.
  • The same variety we looked at lists 65 g of sugars per 100 g. Check the information about milk and soya too.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are lower-sugar chocolate sprinkles automatically sugar-free?

No. Under the EU rules for nutrition claims, a product can only be labelled sugar-free if it contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. The Céréal Hagelslag Puur we looked at lists 7.7 g per 100 g, while the AH lower-sugar varieties we looked at list 43 g per 100 g.

Can chocolate sprinkles be a snack on their own?

Chocolate sprinkles are mainly intended as a topping, not as a snack on their own. If you use them on bread, yoghurt or porridge, consider how much you add and assess the snack as a whole.

What should I look out for in chocolate sprinkles with maltitol?

Check the ingredients and warnings on the packaging. The Céréal Hagelslag Puur we looked at contains maltitol; according to the product information, excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Check the allergen information too: this variety contains soya and may contain milk.

How should I store chocolate sprinkles after opening?

Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the variety you use, and seal it properly after use. The Céréal variety we looked at says to store in a dry place at room temperature. Check the best-before date on your own pack too.