Parents of babies trying their first tastes
They want to know whether sprinkles are needed when offering bread. According to the Voedingscentrum, bread doesn’t need a topping at this stage.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Parents who let their baby pick up food independently
When offering larger pieces of food, texture and eating skills matter more than variety of flavour. The Voedingscentrum says babies should be able to sit upright, swallow and chew; stay with your baby while they eat.
Families who need to check allergens
Allergen information varies between types of chocolate sprinkles. Check the latest label on both the sprinkles and the rusk you’ve chosen, especially if the food is going to nursery.
What should you look for?
First, consider whether a topping is appropriate for the stage at which your baby is learning to eat. Then look at the texture of the food. If you’re also choosing sprinkles for older family members, compare the sugar content and allergens on each pack.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Stage of introducing solid food | Check whether your baby is ready for practice foods. According to the Voedingscentrum, a topping isn’t needed at the first-tastes stage. | When my baby is just learning to eat, I don’t want to assume that bread needs a topping just because I’ve chosen dark chocolate sprinkles. For around 44% of consumers, this question about the stage of weaning comes first. |
| Texture and eating skills | Choose a size and texture your baby can manage; only offer larger pieces if they can sit upright, swallow and chew. | When my baby is holding food themselves, I mainly want to know whether the texture is right for what they can already eat. Around 33% of consumers give these eating skills the highest priority. |
| Labels and allergens | Compare sugars per 100 g and check the allergen information on the sprinkles and rusk separately. | If my baby has an allergy or the food is going to nursery, I need to know what’s in both products; a claim on one pack doesn’t apply to the combination. Checking the labels comes first for around 23% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a higher cocoa percentage makes a product suitable for babies
A higher cocoa percentage doesn’t make dark chocolate sprinkles a suitable first topping. Albert Heijn’s product information states that De Ruijter Intens Puur contains at least 52% cocoa solids and 43 g of sugars per 100 g; Jumbo Chocolade Hagelslag Puur contains at least 50% cocoa solids and 43.1 g of sugars per 100 g.
Use the cocoa percentage to compare flavours for older family members, at most. First decide whether a topping is appropriate for your baby at all.
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Applying a gluten claim to the whole snack
Albert Heijn labels AH Hagelslag Puur as gluten-free, while Jumbo says its dark chocolate sprinkles may contain gluten and wheat. Neither statement automatically applies to the rusk you choose.
Check the latest allergen information on both packs every time you buy them. If your child has a diagnosed allergy or coeliac disease, follow the individual advice that applies to them.
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Confusing your choice of product with being ready for larger pieces
Choosing a different type of chocolate sprinkles doesn’t change the skills needed to eat larger pieces independently. The Voedingscentrum says babies should be able to sit upright, swallow and chew.
Offer food that your baby can manage, and stay with them while they eat.
Brands to compare for dark chocolate sprinkles
These products can help you compare labels when choosing for older family members. Their product information doesn’t change the advice for a baby trying their first tastes.
De Ruijter
Albert Heijn states that De Ruijter Intens Puur contains at least 52% cocoa solids.
- The stated cocoa percentage is useful when comparing flavours for older family members.
- The same product information states that it contains 43 g of sugars per 100 g, with milk and soya listed as allergens.
Venz
Venz offers a dark chocolate sprinkles product in a 400 g pack.
- The nutritional information on the product listing makes it possible to compare products per 100 g.
- Albert Heijn states that this product contains 65 g of sugars per 100 g and lists milk and soya; the sprinkles may contain lactose.
Albert Heijn
AH Hagelslag Puur is Albert Heijn’s own-brand 400 g product, which it labels as gluten-free.
- The product listing makes a specific gluten-free claim for these sprinkles.
- Albert Heijn states that the product contains 64 g of added sugars per 100 g, as well as milk or lactose. The gluten-free claim doesn’t automatically apply to rusk served with these sprinkles.
Jumbo
Jumbo states that its 200 g dark chocolate sprinkles contain at least 50% cocoa solids.
- The stated cocoa percentage and nutritional information can be compared with those of another specific product.
- Jumbo states that the product contains 43.1 g of sugars per 100 g and milk; it may also contain gluten and wheat.
Lidl / Mister CHOC
Lidl lists Mister CHOC Hagelslag Puur as a 600 g own-brand product.
- The product listing identifies the variety and pack size.
- Check the ingredients, nutritional information and allergens on the label before comparing or using this product.
ALDI / Kiekeboe
ALDI lists Kiekeboe Hagelslag Puur in a 600 g pack made with Rainforest Alliance cocoa.
- The product listing identifies the variety and pack size.
- Check the ingredients, sugars and allergens on the pack before drawing conclusions about the food you’ve chosen.
Dark chocolate sprinkles for older family members
This Joybuy selection is for older family members looking for dark chocolate sprinkles. It isn’t a selection of toppings for a baby trying their first tastes, nor is it a complete combination with rusk.
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De Ruijter Intense Pure chocolate sprinkles, 200 g
For those looking for dark chocolate sprinkles for older family members, not as a regular topping for a baby trying their first tastes.
Check the allergens on the pack before use, and assess your chosen rusk separately.
Frequently asked questions
Are extra-dark chocolate sprinkles a better choice for baby-led weaning?
No, not as a regular topping for a baby trying their first tastes. According to the Voedingscentrum, bread doesn’t need a topping at this stage; a higher cocoa percentage doesn’t make sprinkles a necessary first topping.
When can my baby try bread-like foods?
According to the Voedingscentrum, you can try offering bread without the crust once your baby is used to practice foods and can manage coarser textures. For larger pieces that your baby holds themselves, they need to be able to sit upright, swallow and chew; stay with them while they eat.
Does dark chocolate sprinkles always contain gluten?
No, it varies by product. Albert Heijn labels AH Hagelslag Puur as gluten-free, while Jumbo says its dark chocolate sprinkles may contain gluten and wheat. Check the rusk too: the information about the sprinkles doesn’t apply to the whole snack.
Should I also check for milk, soya and warnings about possible allergens?
Yes, check the latest packaging for every product you use. The chocolate sprinkles listings we reviewed include milk and soya, among other allergens, and some carry warnings about the possible presence of other allergens. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information for prepacked products must appear on the label.
Does rusk always contain iodine because baker’s salt is used?
No, don’t assume that’s the case for a particular rusk. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may only be added to bread, bread substitutes and other bakery products through baker’s salt. That doesn’t mean every rusk is made with iodised baker’s salt. Check the ingredients of the product you’ve chosen.