Who is this choice relevant to?

Shoppers keeping an eye on sugar

You want to carry on enjoying rusk with chocolate sprinkles alongside your coffee, but need a clear distinction between less sugar and sugar-free.

Shoppers measuring their portions

You want to use a small amount of chocolate sprinkles and look beyond the sugar content to the nutritional value of what you actually sprinkle on your rusk.

Shoppers checking ingredients

You check chocolate sprinkles for sweeteners, possible warnings about polyols and allergens such as milk and soya.

What should you look for when choosing?

When choosing rusk with chocolate sprinkles for your afternoon coffee, first decide which sugar claim suits your needs. Then work out how much you use and check the ingredients in your chosen variety.

What to look for What to check when buying Who it matters to
Sugar claim Check the claim and the amount of sugar per 100 g on both packs. A claim of less sugar is not the same as sugar-free. If you want to keep enjoying chocolate sprinkles with your coffee while cutting down on sugar as much as possible, you need to know exactly what the claim means; sugar reduction is the top priority for around 46% of consumers.
Portion size and nutritional value Check the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion, if provided. Measure how much chocolate sprinkles you put on one rusk. It’s easier to keep a small sweet treat in check when you know how much you’re using; portion size comes first for around 36% of consumers.
Sweeteners and allergens Read the ingredients and allergen information, and look out for any warning about a laxative effect if consumed in excess. If certain sweeteners or ingredients such as milk and soya aren’t suitable for you, checking the ingredients should take priority over the sugar claim; this comes first for around 18% of consumers.

Pitfalls to watch out for

  • Confusing ‘less sugar’ with ‘sugar-free’

    A sugar-reduction claim compares a product with a reference product. Albert Heijn states that Céréal Hagelslag Puur contains 88% less sugar, but also lists sugar and sweetener as ingredients.

    If you need a sugar-free product, look for an explicit claim on the current packaging and check the nutritional information for both the chocolate sprinkles and the rusk.

  • Not checking how much chocolate sprinkles you use

    A sugar claim doesn’t tell you how much topping you put on your rusk. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also points out that chocolate sprinkles contain calories and saturated fat.

    Measure your usual amount once and compare it with the portion shown on the label, if one is provided.

  • Overlooking sweeteners and warnings

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems. The product information for Céréal Hagelslag Puur warns of a possible laxative effect if consumed in excess.

    If you choose a reduced-sugar variety, read the ingredients list and any warnings, especially if you want to keep an eye on sweeteners.

  • Assuming dark chocolate sprinkles are milk-free

    Joybuy’s product information lists milk and soya as allergens in De Ruijter Chocoladehagelslag Puur. So the word ‘dark’ in the product name is no substitute for checking the allergens.

    Use the current allergen information on the specific pack to help you decide.

Brands compared

Céréal

Worth considering if you’re looking for a clearly stated sugar reduction in dark chocolate sprinkles.

  • Albert Heijn states that Céréal Hagelslag Puur contains 88% less sugar.
  • The same product information lists sugar and sweetener, and warns of a possible laxative effect if consumed in excess. Here, less sugar does not mean sugar-free.

Jumbo

Worth considering if you want to compare reduced-sugar milk chocolate sprinkles with regular milk chocolate sprinkles from the same brand.

  • Jumbo states that its Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker contains at least 30% less sugar than its regular milk chocolate sprinkles.
  • This comparison with its own product doesn’t mean the variety is sugar-free.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn offers its own AH Hagelslag melk minder suiker variety.

  • The product listing makes it easy to look specifically at this milk chocolate variety.
  • Albert Heijn says that product information, including ingredients, nutritional values and allergens, may change. So check the packaging before you choose.

Venz

A reference point for regular milk chocolate sprinkles, not a sugar-free option.

  • The milk chocolate sprinkles listed on Joybuy come in a 380 g pack.
  • According to the product information on Joybuy, this variety contains 72 g of sugar per 100 g, and lists lactose, milk and soya as allergens.

De Ruijter

A reference point for regular dark chocolate sprinkles, where the word ‘dark’ says nothing about the allergens.

  • Joybuy lists a 390 g dark variety.
  • Joybuy’s product information states that this variety contains 64 g of sugar per 100 g, and lists milk and soya as allergens.

Products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are reduced-sugar chocolate sprinkles the same as sugar-free chocolate sprinkles?

No. A less-sugar claim is a comparison and doesn’t confirm that the chocolate sprinkles are sugar-free. Albert Heijn states that Céréal Hagelslag Puur contains 88% less sugar, but also lists sugar as an ingredient; Jumbo says its milk variety contains at least 30% less sugar than its own regular milk chocolate sprinkles. If you need a sugar-free option, check the current claim and nutritional information.

Does less sugar make the amount of chocolate sprinkles less important?

No. How much you sprinkle on your rusk still matters to what you eat. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that chocolate sprinkles contain calories and saturated fat as well as sugar. So compare the nutritional information with your own portion, not just the claim on the front of the pack.

What should I look for in the sweeteners in chocolate sprinkles?

Read the ingredients list and any warnings about consuming the product in excess. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems; the product information for Céréal Hagelslag Puur warns of a possible laxative effect if consumed in excess.

Are dark chocolate sprinkles free from milk and soya?

Not necessarily: Joybuy’s product information lists both milk and soya in De Ruijter Chocoladehagelslag Puur. Check the current allergen information for the variety you want to use, whatever its name.

Does rusk always contain iodine from baker’s salt?

No, you can’t assume that every pack of rusk does. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that iodine compounds may be used in bread substitutes and other bakery products. Check the ingredients list for your chosen rusk, or ask the manufacturer which salt was used.