For your oliebollen stall, first decide whether the topping really needs to be chocolate flakes: the lower-sugar options reviewed are sprinkles, not flakes. If you’re happy to use sprinkles as an alternative, compare sugars per 100 g and check the ingredients, allergens and any warnings. De Ruijter’s plain chocolate flakes reviewed here keep the shape you’re looking for, but they’re not a lower-sugar option.
You compare the sugar content of toppings per 100 g and are happy to use sprinkles as an alternative to flakes. If you choose an option containing polyols, you also check the ingredients and the warning on the packaging.
You want to offer sprinkles with a specific lower-sugar claim. You should also be able to clearly tell customers that the option reviewed contains milk and lactose.
The flake shape matters for how you present your oliebollen. So don’t assume that plain chocolate flakes automatically contain less sugar.
First, decide whether sprinkles can replace the flakes you want. Then compare the nutritional information per 100 g and check which ingredients and allergens you may need to explain to customers.
A good fit when: If a low sugar content per 100 g matters more than the flake shape, Céréal Hagelslag puur minder suikers is an option to compare.
The trade-off: These are sprinkles, not flakes. According to the product information from Albert Heijn, this option contains maltitol and carries a warning about a possible laxative effect if consumed in excess.
A good fit when: If you’re looking for milk chocolate sprinkles with a specific sugar-reduction claim, you could consider AH Hagelslag melk minder suiker.
The trade-off: According to Albert Heijn, the 30% less sugar claim is compared with AH Melk hagelslag. This is not a flake product and it contains milk and lactose.
A good fit when: If the flake shape matters more to you than a lower-sugar claim, De Ruijter Chocolade vlokken puur is still worth considering.
The trade-off: For this option, Albert Heijn lists 63 g of sugars per 100 g. Here, ‘plain’ does not mean that it’s a lower-sugar product.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars per 100 g | Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and check what a lower-sugar claim is compared with. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends using this basis for comparison. | If I want to offer less sugar, I need to be able to compare the sugar content of my chosen topping without portion sizes skewing the picture. This sugar content is the top priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the current packaging for allergens, polyols and warnings. If you’re selling food loose, make sure allergen information is available to customers. | When I serve loose toppings on oliebollen, I want to be able to tell customers which allergens they contain and whether there’s a usage warning. Around 33% of consumers say this is their most important consideration. |
| Flake shape | Check whether the product is chocolate flakes or sprinkles before comparing sugar content. | I want the topping to consist of recognisable flakes and don’t see sprinkles as an obvious substitute. Product shape is the biggest consideration for around 25% of consumers. |
The lower-sugar products reviewed are sprinkles. So a lower sugar content doesn’t tell you whether the topping also meets your preference for chocolate flakes.
Before comparing products, decide whether sprinkles are a suitable alternative for how you present your oliebollen.
Serving sizes can vary. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, nutritional information per 100 g makes products easier to compare. A sugar-reduction claim also has a specific basis for comparison.
Read the nutritional table per 100 g and check which product the manufacturer uses as the basis for its sugar-reduction claim.
The Céréal sprinkles reviewed contain maltitol and soya, may contain milk and carry a warning against excessive consumption. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that sellers of unpackaged food must inform customers about any allergens present.
Keep the current ingredients and allergen information for every topping you use available to staff and customers.
The Chocolade vlokken puur reviewed are a 200 g flake product. The product information from Albert Heijn also suggests using them as a cupcake topping; this isn’t a test of how they work on oliebollen.
AH Hagelslag melk minder suiker is a 250 g milk chocolate sprinkle product, not chocolate flakes.
Céréal Hagelslag puur minder suikers is a type of sprinkle containing maltitol, which should be considered separately from chocolate flakes.
No. A lower-sugar claim doesn’t mean that a product contains no sugars. Albert Heijn lists 43 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Hagelslag melk minder suiker and 7.7 g per 100 g for Céréal Hagelslag puur minder suikers. For both claims, also check which product is used as the comparison.
Yes. When selling unpackaged food to consumers, you must provide information about any allergens present. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says customers must be able to get this information where the products are sold, so keep details of the topping you use available at your stall.
The Céréal Hagelslag puur minder suikers reviewed contains maltitol and, according to the product information from Albert Heijn, carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Read this warning alongside the nutritional information before offering this topping.
No, the term ‘plain’ doesn’t guarantee this. According to the product information from Albert Heijn, the De Ruijter Chocolade vlokken puur reviewed contain soya and may contain milk. Check the current packaging for each option you use.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging for the specific product. The De Ruijter flakes reviewed should be stored in a cool, dry place, while the Céréal sprinkles reviewed should be kept dry at room temperature. Don’t treat these instructions as a rule that applies to all toppings.
