Who is this relevant to?

Coffee drinkers who want to cut down on sugar

You want to keep enjoying a syrup waffle with your coffee, but choose one by comparing sugars per 100 g rather than relying on the wording on the front of the pack.

Readers of ingredient lists

As well as the sugar content, you want to know which ingredients, sweeteners and allergens a syrup waffle contains. These can vary between products.

Consumers who prioritise gluten-free

You’re looking for a syrup waffle explicitly labelled gluten-free, and consider any lower sugar content as a separate feature.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start with the requirement that matters most to you. To compare sugar content, look at similar syrup waffles per 100 g; for ingredients or gluten-free suitability, also check the ingredient and allergen information.

What to look for What to check when buying Who it matters to
Less sugar Compare sugars per 100 g in similar syrup waffles and check which product a sugar-reduction claim is based on. If I want less sugar without giving up syrup waffles with my coffee, I want to see a demonstrable difference compared with a regular variety. For around 50% of consumers, this sugar comparison is the top priority.
Ingredients Read the ingredients list and compare sweeteners and fibre per 100 g. I want to know what else is in my syrup waffle besides sugar, so I can decide whether the ingredients suit my preferences. Around 30% of consumers prioritise ingredients.
Gluten-free Check the gluten-free labelling and allergen information; assess sugars per 100 g separately. An explicitly gluten-free syrup waffle is essential for my coffee break, even if it doesn’t contain less sugar. Gluten-free is the most important requirement for around 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes

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

    A reduction compared with another syrup waffle doesn’t tell you how much sugar the product itself contains per 100 g. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘low sugar’ means no more than 5 g of sugars per 100 g, while ‘sugar-free’ means no more than 0.5 g per 100 g.

    Check the sugar content in the nutrition information, and treat a comparative claim separately from these two labels.

  • Comparing portions only

    It’s difficult to compare the amount per portion with that on another pack if the portions aren’t the same size.

    The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing products per 100 g first. Then check the portion size if you want to know what the nutrition information means for one waffle.

  • Assuming gluten-free means less sugar

    Jumbo states that Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten Stroop Wafels contain 42.4 g of sugars per 100 g. So the gluten-free label doesn’t mean this variety contains less sugar.

    Check your gluten-free requirement and sugar target separately on the same pack.

  • Relying on an old product listing

    Albert Heijn marks its listing for Céréal Stroopwafels suikerarm as ‘Discontinued’. This listing doesn’t confirm that the product is currently available to buy.

    Check availability with the retailer before buying, and read the nutrition information on the current packaging.

Brands compared

Albert Heijn

The regular AH Roomboter stroopwafels and the lower-sugar variety make it easy to compare products within the same range.

  • Albert Heijn lists 23 g of sugars and 26 g of fibre per 100 g for the lower-sugar variety, compared with 34 g of sugars per 100 g for the regular butter syrup waffles. AH claims 32% less sugar than the regular variety.
  • A lower sugar content doesn’t make the waffle gluten-free. If you have dietary requirements, check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging.

Céréal

A syrup waffle variety with a sugar-reduction claim, where it’s especially important to check the current packaging and availability.

  • According to Albert Heijn’s product listing, Céréal claims 65% less sugar than a regular syrup waffle. The listing also mentions fructose and the sweetener isomalt.
  • Albert Heijn marks this product listing as ‘Discontinued’. Check availability with another retailer and read the full label before making your choice.

Jumbo Lekker Vrij

A different option if a gluten-free syrup waffle is your top priority for a coffee break.

  • Jumbo lists the Crossed Grain symbol for Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten Stroop Wafels.
  • Jumbo also lists 42.4 g of sugars per 100 g. So don’t assume this variety contains less sugar just because it’s labelled gluten-free.

Daelmans

The PLUS syrup waffle range includes regular Daelmans syrup waffles, minis and twin packs. These can serve as regular varieties for comparison.

  • The different pack formats give you a choice of size if a regular syrup waffle with your coffee is what you’re after.
  • Don’t assume a lower sugar content based on the brand or pack size; compare the nutrition information per 100 g for the specific variety instead.

Joybuy products

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘less sugar’ mean a syrup waffle is low in sugar or sugar-free?

No. ‘Less sugar’ compares one product with another; it doesn’t indicate a specific sugar content. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘low sugar’ means no more than 5 g of sugars per 100 g, while ‘sugar-free’ means no more than 0.5 g per 100 g. So check the nutrition information for the syrup waffle itself.

How do I compare syrup waffles with different portion sizes?

First compare sugars and other nutrients per 100 g, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Then check the information per portion if you want to know what’s in the portion you’ve chosen of that particular syrup waffle.

Are AH Roomboter minder suiker stroopwafels also gluten-free?

No. This AH variety lists wheat and gluten-containing cereals among its ingredients. If you need a gluten-free product, look for an explicit gluten-free label on the packaging and check the allergen information; assess the sugar content separately.

What should I look for in a syrup waffle with sweeteners?

Check which sweetener and other ingredients the specific syrup waffle contains. Albert Heijn’s product listing for Céréal Stroopwafels suikerarm mentions isomalt and fructose. When buying, check the current packaging rather than relying on the sugar-reduction claim alone.