If you have a food allergy, first choose a stroopwafel whose current label is suitable for the allergens you need to avoid. Only then consider claims such as ‘lower sugar’ or ‘gluten-free’. Lower sugar does not mean sugar-free, and the gluten-free options described here still contain egg and lupin. If you need to avoid several ingredients, also check the ‘may contain’ statement on the specific pack.
When choosing a stroopwafel, check the ingredients, the allergens listed and any warning about cross-contamination. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information for prepacked products must appear on the label.
Look for a stroopwafel with a substantiated sugar-reduction claim, and check what the claim is comparing it with. Albert Heijn describes Céréal Stroopwafels suikerarm as low in sugar, and says AH Roomboter minder suiker stroopwafels contains less sugar. These are relative reductions, not sugar-free products.
You may be looking for a gluten-free stroopwafel, but you should also check whether other listed allergens, such as egg or lupin, are relevant to you. A gluten-free claim does not answer that question.
Start with the allergens you need to avoid. Then compare the sugar claim and the amount of sugars per 100 g, or check the gluten-free claim if avoiding gluten is your first priority.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens and cross-contamination | Check the pack for the allergens the product contains and whether it says ‘may contain’ for an allergen you need to avoid. | If I need to avoid a particular ingredient, I don’t want a sugar or gluten-free claim to distract me from the allergen information. For around 42% of consumers, avoiding their own allergen comes first. |
| Lower sugar or sugar-free | Check what a reduction claim is comparing the product with, and read the sugars per 100 g in the nutrition table. | If I want to eat less sugar and don’t have a relevant allergy, I look for a proven reduction rather than just an appealing product name. Around 33% of consumers make sugar reduction their first priority. |
| Gluten-free and other allergens | Check the gluten-free claim and assess the listed allergens too. If you want to compare sugar content, check the sugars per 100 g as well. | If I avoid gluten, I want to choose a suitable stroopwafel without overlooking other allergens. For around 25% of consumers, gluten-free is the first priority. |
A relative sugar claim compares a product with another one, so the stroopwafel may still contain sugars. Albert Heijn says Céréal contains 65% less sugars than a regular stroopwafel, while AH Roomboter minder suiker contains 32% less sugar than AH Roomboter stroopwafels.
If the amount of sugar affects your choice, check the exact comparison and the nutritional values per 100 g on the pack.
The gluten-free stroopwafels described by Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS also list egg and lupin. Jumbo also says its version may contain nuts and sesame.
Check all the allergens relevant to you against both the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements on the pack.
Ingredients and allergen information can change. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergens in prepacked foods must be listed on the label.
Read the label on the pack you are actually buying, even if you have chosen the same product before.
Albert Heijn describes Céréal Stroopwafels suikerarm as a version with less sugar than a regular stroopwafel.
The two own-brand options described here meet different needs: AH Roomboter minder suiker focuses on sugar reduction, while AH Glutenvrij Biologisch is for gluten-free diets.
Jumbo describes a gluten-free stroopwafel in this range.
PLUS describes its gluten-free stroopwafels as made for people with gluten intolerance.
No. The claims Albert Heijn makes for Céréal and AH Roomboter minder suiker compare the amount of sugars with another stroopwafel. If you are looking for a specific sugar restriction, check the exact claim and the nutritional information on the pack.
Not if the product contains egg or lupin: both allergens are listed for the gluten-free versions described by Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS. Also check for any ‘may contain’ statements about allergens you need to avoid.
Yes, check the label on the pack you are buying. Product information can change; the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information for prepacked products must appear on the label.
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says consumers must be informed about 14 specified allergens, including cereals containing gluten, egg, soya, milk, sesame and lupin. Check which of these are listed for the stroopwafels you are buying.
