Lower-Sugar Stroopwafels for Breakfast on the Go: Label Checks

Who is this for?

Breakfast eaters keeping an eye on sugar

You’re looking for a stroopwafel sold as ‘low sugar’ or ‘less sugar’ and want to check the claim against the information on the packaging.

Commuters short on time for breakfast

You want to take something sweet with you, but also decide what to eat alongside your stroopwafel. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends wholemeal bread, among other foods, as a breakfast staple.

Shoppers keeping an eye on polyols

You want to know before buying whether a stroopwafel contains polyols. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that consuming large amounts can cause flatulence and diarrhoea.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start with the exact sugar claim, then compare the nutrition information per 100 g and per biscuit, and decide how the stroopwafel fits into your breakfast.

What to consider	What to check	Who it matters to
Sugar claim	Read the exact claim on the packaging. Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and per biscuit.	I want to take a stroopwafel with a sugar claim I can verify, rather than relying on the front of the pack alone; reducing sugar is the main reason for buying for around 50% of consumers.
Portion size and its place in breakfast	Check the weight per biscuit and the number of biscuits in the pack. Also look at the nutritional values per portion.	When I’m on the go, I want to know how much I’m taking with me and what I’ll eat alongside the stroopwafel; for around 30% of consumers, having a defined breakfast portion matters most.
Ingredients and tolerance	Check which sweeteners are listed in the ingredients and look for any warnings on the packaging.	If I’m sensitive to polyols, I want to know what’s in the ingredients and consider the stroopwafel as part of my breakfast, not on its own; for around 20% of consumers, tolerance and what they eat with it are the main concerns.

Common mistakes

Assuming ‘less sugar’ means it’s a complete breakfast

A sugar claim doesn’t tell you how the stroopwafel fits into your breakfast as a whole. Consider the portion size and the rest of the nutritional information too.

If you like, have the stroopwafel as an extra. For the rest of your breakfast, you could choose foods recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, such as wholemeal bread.
Comparing only the values per 100 g

When you’re on the go, you’ll usually eat one or a few biscuits, not exactly 100 g. Without knowing the weight of each stroopwafel, it’s difficult to compare packs based on your own portion.

Check the weight per biscuit and compare the sugars and energy in the portion you plan to eat.
Overlooking sweeteners when reading the label

The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that consuming large amounts of polyols can cause flatulence and diarrhoea. This is still something to consider even if a product contains less sugar.

Read the ingredients list and any warnings on the packaging, especially if you know you’re sensitive to polyols.
Relying on online product information instead of the label

Albert Heijn says that ingredients, nutritional values and allergy information may change.

Check the packaging of the product you buy, especially if a particular ingredient or allergen is important to your choice.

Relevant brands and retailers

Céréal

Albert Heijn lists Céréal Stroopwafels suikerarm in its online range.

The product name makes it clear which sugar claim you can check on the packaging.
Before buying, compare the current nutritional values, ingredients and allergen information on the packaging.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists both AH Roomboter minder suiker stroopwafels and Céréal Stroopwafels suikerarm.

You can compare two differently worded sugar claims with the nutritional information.
Albert Heijn says that ingredients, nutritional values and allergy information may change; check the label on the product you buy.

Daelmans

PLUS lists Daelmans stroopwafels in standard, duo and mini versions.

The different versions give you the opportunity to compare the weight per biscuit and the pack size.
Don’t assume a smaller size means less sugar; check the label of the version you choose.

Jumbo

Jumbo’s online stroopwafel range includes, among other products, butter stroopwafels, mini stroopwafels and a gluten-free version.

You can compare the sizes and stated dietary features of the products listed.
‘Gluten-free’ isn’t a sugar claim. Check the sugar content separately if reducing sugar is your reason for buying.

Sondey

Lidl lists Sondey Roomboter stroopwafels in its biscuit range.

The product name helps you identify the butter version.
Don’t assume the name means it contains less sugar; check for a sugar claim and the nutritional values on the packaging.

Joybuy products

Frequently asked questions

Is a lower-sugar stroopwafel a complete breakfast on its own?

No. The sugar claim alone doesn’t tell you how the stroopwafel fits into your breakfast as a whole. Think of it more as a sweet extra and decide what to eat alongside it; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends wholemeal bread, among other foods, as a breakfast staple.

Do ‘low sugar’ and ‘less sugar’ mean the same thing?

No, they’re different ways of wording a nutrition claim. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that European rules apply to claims like these; to make the right choice for you, compare the current sugar content per 100 g and per portion, along with the ingredients.

When should I look out for maltitol or other polyols?

Check for them if you’re sensitive to polyols or want to know which sweeteners a product contains. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that consuming large amounts of polyols can cause flatulence and diarrhoea, so check the ingredients list and any warnings on the packaging.

Is a gluten-free stroopwafel also a lower-sugar option?

Not necessarily: a gluten-free label doesn’t tell you how much sugar the stroopwafel contains. Check any sugar claim and compare the nutritional information for the specific product separately.