Canteen manager looking for a quick serving option
Wants to serve rusks with chocolate sprinkles easily and keep them topped up. A combined product requires different handling from separate rusks and toppings.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Buyer choosing portion sizes and packaging
Wants to know how much rusk and chocolate sprinkles are needed per serving, and which pack size suits the canteen’s needs.
Catering manager responsible for allergen information
Needs to be able to tell guests about the allergens in the products they choose. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, information about allergens in non-prepacked food must be made available in a way other than on a packaging label.
What should you consider when choosing?
First decide whether the canteen wants to serve a combined product or offer rusks and chocolate sprinkles separately. Then settle on the portion size and the information you’ll provide to guests.
Ready-made rusks with chocolate sprinkles
Suitable for: a serving option where staff don’t need to combine the rusk and topping separately. For example, Jumbo sells a product called Beschuit met Hagelslag Melk.
Consider: with a combined product, the type of rusk and flavour are fixed. Check the ingredients on the latest packaging.
Separate rusks and chocolate sprinkles
Suitable for: a canteen that wants to choose the type of rusk and the flavour of the chocolate sprinkles separately. Albert Heijn, for example, lists plain, wholemeal and multiseed rusks; chocolate sprinkles are also available in different flavours.
Consider: separate products require more stock management and a clear process for serving guests and providing them with information.
| Point to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of serving | Check whether you’re buying a combined product or just chocolate sprinkles, and decide how the portion will be served. | During a short lunchtime rush, I want to offer an option without having to prepare the rusk and topping separately every time. Around 40% of consumers put ease of serving first. |
| Nutritional value of the portion | Compare the nutritional information for the chosen products per portion, including sugars, fat, fibre and salt. | For a regular workplace lunch, I want to know where a sweet rusk option sits alongside the other dishes. Around 30% of consumers put this consideration first. |
| Allergen information | Check the latest label or supplier information for each product, and make sure information is available for any non-prepacked food. | When guests serve themselves, I want to be able to answer questions about allergens using information about the products actually on offer. This is also the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘medium sliced’ describes rusks
The term refers to the thickness of sliced bread. If you use it to search for rusks, you may end up looking for a different type of product from the one on offer.
Before choosing, check whether you mean round rusks, sliced bread, a particular portion size or a specific combined product.
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Only considering the chocolate sprinkles when choosing a lunch option
The amount of chocolate sprinkles and the type of rusk you choose together determine the nutritional value of the portion served. For a reference portion of 20 g of rusks and a separate 15 g portion of chocolate sprinkles, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists different nutritional values. These are not product specifications for every canteen portion.
Check the nutritional information for the products you actually serve, and offer the sweet option alongside other lunch dishes.
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Inferring allergens from the brand name
Ingredients and recipes can vary between products. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, information about allergens present in non-prepacked food must be available to guests.
Use the latest packaging or supplier specification for each product, and update the information for guests whenever a product changes.
Brands to consider
De Ruijter
Worth considering if the canteen wants to choose from several flavours of chocolate sprinkles.
- Jumbo lists De Ruijter milk and dark chocolate varieties, among others.
- Check the ingredients and allergens on the latest packaging for each variety you choose.
Venz
A brand to consider if you want to offer different chocolate flavours.
- Jumbo lists Venz milk and dark chocolate sprinkles in 400 g packs, among others.
- Offering more varieties means the canteen needs to keep track of product information for each one.
Jumbo
Offers both a combined rusk product and separate chocolate sprinkles.
- Beschuit met Hagelslag Melk is a different type of product from a separate pack of chocolate sprinkles.
- Check which type of product you’re selecting: a pack of chocolate sprinkles on its own doesn’t include rusks.
Albert Heijn
Worth considering if you want to choose the rusks and chocolate sprinkles separately.
- The range shown includes different types of rusks and AH milk chocolate sprinkles.
- Check the nutritional information and allergens separately for the products you actually choose.
Chocolate sprinkles for a separate serving option
These Joybuy products are packs of chocolate sprinkles for a canteen that wants to choose its rusks and topping separately. You’ll also need a suitable rusk base to serve rusks with chocolate sprinkles; first check whether ‘medium sliced’ might mean sliced bread.
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g'woon milk chocolate sprinkles with smiley faces, 600 g
For a canteen looking to offer milk chocolate sprinkles separately; rusks must be selected and served separately.
600 g pack. Before serving, check the latest ingredients and allergen information on the packaging.
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De Ruijter dark chocolate sprinkles, 390 g
For a canteen looking to offer a dark chocolate variety with separately selected rusks.
390 g pack. Check the latest packaging for information about the portion you choose and the details you need to share with guests.
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g'woon dark chocolate sprinkles, 400 g
For serving a dark chocolate variety separately; without separately selected rusks, this product isn’t a complete rusk option.
400 g pack. Check the latest nutritional and allergen information on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Does the canteen need to provide allergen information for non-prepacked rusks with chocolate sprinkles?
Yes. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, information about allergens present in non-prepacked food must be provided to consumers in another way. Base this information on the products the canteen is currently serving.
Does the rule on baker’s salt mean that all rusks contain iodine?
No. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may be present in bread, bread substitutes and other bakery products. This doesn’t mean that all rusks contain them. If iodine is relevant to your purchasing decision, check the label of the product you choose.
Can chocolate sprinkles be the basis of the daily lunch offering?
It’s better to offer chocolate sprinkles as a sweet option alongside other lunch choices, rather than making them the basis of your menu. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against eating too many chocolate sprinkles or having them too often. For the combination you serve, also check the portion size and nutritional information for both the rusks and the chocolate sprinkles.