When choosing chocolate sprinkles for your rusk, don’t rely on the words ‘less sugar’ alone: compare the sugar content per 100 g and check which sweeteners they contain. Céréal Puur lists 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g, but contains maltitols; according to Albert Heijn, the AH Minder Suiker varieties reviewed each contain 43 g of sugars per 100 g. None of these figures means the sprinkles are literally sugar-free, and during a night shift, the portion that suits you matters too.
You compare chocolate sprinkles by their sugar content per 100 g and may be happy to choose a product with sweeteners. Céréal lists 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g for its dark chocolate variety; check the listed polyols too.
You’re looking for a more modest reduction in sugar without switching to a variety containing maltitols. Albert Heijn positions its milk and dark chocolate Minder Suiker sprinkles as alternatives, each with 30% less sugar than the equivalent regular AH variety.
You want to know whether a sweetener in your topping will work for you during a shift. With chocolate sprinkles containing maltitols, it’s worth paying particular attention to the ingredients, any warnings and the portion size. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that excessive consumption of products with high levels of added polyols can have a laxative effect.
First decide whether your main priority is keeping sugar as low as possible, avoiding polyols or finding an easy choice you can stick to for your shifts. Then check the nutritional information on the specific pack, not just the claim on the front.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who should bear this in mind? |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar content | Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and consider how much chocolate sprinkles you use on each rusk. | If I mainly want to limit the absolute number of grams of sugar, ‘less sugar’ on the front doesn’t tell me enough. For around 40% of consumers, the absolute amount is the main priority. |
| Polyols and portion size | Check the ingredients for maltitols or other polyols, and look for a warning about excessive consumption. | I’d rather avoid an unexpected digestive reaction during my shift. Digestive comfort is the biggest consideration for around 30% of consumers. |
| Familiar ingredients | Check whether your chosen variety is sweetened with sugar or contains sweeteners; then compare the sugar content per 100 g anyway. | I’d rather choose familiar, sugar-sweetened chocolate sprinkles, even if that means a smaller reduction in sugar. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this choice of ingredients. |
| Availability | Check the current range and the nutritional information on the pack you buy. | For back-to-back shifts, I want to be able to choose something I can usually find in my regular shop. For around 10% of consumers, this practical availability comes first. |
According to Albert Heijn, both its milk and dark chocolate AH Minder Suiker sprinkles contain 43 g of sugars per 100 g, despite the claim of 30% less sugar than the equivalent regular AH variety.
If the absolute sugar content is what matters most to you, compare the amount of sugars per 100 g.
Céréal lists maltitols in its chocolate sprinkles. The milk variety carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect, which is worth bearing in mind during a night shift.
Check the ingredients and warnings on your pack, and think about how you’ve reacted to products containing polyols in the past.
A rusk with chocolate sprinkles doesn’t answer the question of what else you’ll eat during your shift. Arboportaal advises night workers to eat well and try to avoid snacking.
Consider this topping as part of what you eat overall, and check the nutritional information for both the rusk and the chocolate sprinkles.
Jumbo says that its 200 g pack of Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker is no longer part of its online range. So a product you found before may not be a reliable choice for future shifts.
Check the current range before relying on a specific variety.
If you’re mainly comparing the absolute sugar content of chocolate sprinkles, Céréal’s dark and milk varieties offer two different options.
The milk and dark Minder Suiker varieties are options if you’re looking for sugar-sweetened chocolate sprinkles with a relative reduction in sugar.
The 200 g milk Minder Suiker variety gives you another point of comparison for chocolate sprinkles with a relative reduction in sugar.
A brand to consider if you’re also comparing regular chocolate sprinkles.
Another brand of regular chocolate sprinkles to consider if you want to weigh up flavour alongside sugar content.
No, ‘less sugar’ doesn’t mean that chocolate sprinkles are sugar-free. According to Albert Heijn, the milk and dark Minder Suiker varieties reviewed each contain 43 g of sugars per 100 g; Céréal lists 7.7 g per 100 g for Puur and 15 g per 100 g for Melk. Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure on the pack.
Pay attention to your portion size and to the warning on the specific pack. Céréal says that excessive consumption of its milk variety may have a laxative effect; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives the same warning for products with high levels of added polyols. Take your past experience with these products into account when choosing.
Don’t consider rusks with chocolate sprinkles separately from what else you eat during your shift. Arboportaal advises night workers to eat well and try to avoid snacking. When planning something to eat, compare the portion size and nutritional information for both the rusk and the topping.
Follow the storage instructions and best-before date on the pack. Albert Heijn recommends storing its Minder Suiker chocolate sprinkles in a cool, dark and dry place.
