Which chocolate sprinkles are right for you?

If sugar content is your main priority

You’re looking for chocolate sprinkles as a topping and comparing the stated sugars per 100 g. If you’re considering an option with sweeteners, factor its ingredients and warnings into your decision too.

If you want milk or dark chocolate sprinkles with less sugar

You want a milk or dark chocolate option with less sugar than a comparable product. A relative claim like this doesn’t tell you how much sugar the sprinkles contain in absolute terms.

If you need to check ingredients carefully

Before buying, check for ingredients such as milk, lactose, soya and sweeteners. Always go by the current packaging, even if you already know the brand.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether the sugar figure per 100 g or a familiar milk or dark chocolate option with a relative reduction matters most to you. Then consider how much you plan to sprinkle on and which ingredients you need to avoid.

What to look out for What to check when buying Who it matters to
Sugars per 100 g Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g for the options you’re considering. If I want to keep the sugar content of my topping as low as possible, I look beyond the claim on the front of the pack. This is the top priority for around 36% of consumers.
Milk or dark chocolate with less sugar Check which product the reduction is compared with and look at the absolute sugar content. I want to choose between milk and dark chocolate, but I also want to know what ‘less sugar’ means for that option. This combination matters most to around 29% of consumers.
Amount of topping Compare the nutritional values per 100 g and work out how much chocolate sprinkles you’ll actually use. I want to decide for myself how much to add to a snack or dessert. Portion control is the main concern for around 21% of consumers.
Ingredients and warnings Read the current ingredients and allergen information, along with any warnings about polyols. If I need to avoid certain ingredients, the topping needs to suit my needs. Ingredients and warnings are decisive for around 14% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Reading ‘less sugar’ as ‘low sugar’

    A reduction claim compares a product with a reference product. Albert Heijn lists 43 g of sugars per 100 g for its milk and dark chocolate sprinkles with 30% less sugar. Voedingscentrum sets a maximum of 5 g per 100 g for a product to claim it is ‘low sugar’.

    Check both the reference product named in the claim and the ‘of which sugars’ figure in the nutritional information per 100 g.

  • Looking only at the low sugar figure

    According to Jumbo’s product information, Céréal Hagelslag Puur contains 7.7 g of sugars as well as 40 g of polyols per 100 g. The packaging warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

    Before choosing these chocolate sprinkles as a topping, also check the ingredients, polyol content and warning.

  • Comparing different portion sizes directly

    A figure per portion is only useful if you also check the stated portion size. For comparing products, Voedingscentrum recommends using the nutritional values per 100 g.

    Compare per 100 g first, then decide how much to sprinkle on your snack or dessert.

  • Checking the label only when it’s time to serve

    The chocolate sprinkle options we looked at list different ingredients, including milk, lactose and soya. If you need to avoid certain ingredients, you can’t base your choice on the name or sugar claim alone.

    Check the allergen information on the current packaging before buying, even if you’ve used the brand before.

Brands to start with

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn sells milk and dark chocolate sprinkles that claim to contain 30% less sugar than the stated AH reference options.

  • According to Albert Heijn’s product information, both options contain 43 g of sugars per 100 g. The dark chocolate option lists at least 50% cocoa solids, while the milk chocolate option lists at least 40%.
  • The relative reduction doesn’t make these options low sugar: Voedingscentrum sets the maximum at 5 g of sugars per 100 g.

Jumbo

Jumbo Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker claims to contain less sugar than Jumbo Hagelslag Melk.

  • Jumbo lists 42.6 g of sugars and 12.5 g of fibre per 100 g for this option, as well as at least 40% cocoa solids.
  • Before buying, check that this option is available and that the information on the packaging is still up to date.

Céréal

Céréal Hagelslag Puur is a dark chocolate sprinkle product made with sugar and sweetener.

  • The product information on Jumbo’s website lists 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • The same information lists 40 g of polyols per 100 g, soya, possible traces of milk and a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

De Ruijter

The De Ruijter products we looked at are regular dark chocolate sprinkles and Kleintjes, which come in individual portions.

  • According to Albert Heijn, the Kleintjes pack contains eight portions, which may be useful if you want to keep a portion separate.
  • Jumbo lists 64 g of sugars per 100 g for De Ruijter Hagelslag Puur. Individual portions don’t in themselves mean less sugar.

Venz

The Venz Hagelslag Melk we looked at is a regular milk chocolate option.

  • It’s an option to compare if you’re specifically looking for milk chocolate sprinkles.
  • Albert Heijn lists 69 g of sugars per 100 g for this option, with milk, lactose and soya as allergens. Don’t choose it on the assumption that it contains less sugar.

Joybuy products for snack night

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘less sugar’ mean that chocolate sprinkles are low sugar?

No. ‘Less sugar’ compares an option with a reference product. The Albert Heijn and Jumbo options we looked at with this kind of claim list 42.6 to 43 g of sugars per 100 g; Voedingscentrum sets a maximum of 5 g per 100 g for a ‘low sugar’ claim. So always compare the absolute figure per 100 g.

Are chocolate sprinkles with sweeteners automatically the right choice if I want less sugar?

No. Check which sweeteners and warnings apply to the option you choose. Jumbo lists 7.7 g of sugars and 40 g of polyols per 100 g for Céréal Hagelslag Puur, along with a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

Which allergens should I check in these chocolate sprinkles?

Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the option you’re buying. The AH options we looked at list milk and lactose, Jumbo Melk Minder Suiker lists milk and possible gluten or wheat, and Céréal lists soya and possible traces of milk.

How should I store chocolate sprinkles until snack night?

Follow the storage advice on the packaging of your chosen product. The Albert Heijn and Jumbo product information we looked at recommends storing them in a cool, dry, dark place. Also check the best-before date on your pack.