If you want to take genuinely sugar-free chocolate flakes to a festival campsite, choose a variety containing no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g; according to Jumbo, De Ruijter’s plain and milk chocolate flakes do not meet this requirement. Céréal reduced-sugar chocolate sprinkles and KoRo cornflakes with no added sugars are other types of product to consider, but neither is sugar-free. Keep dry breakfast supplies well sealed, and make sure you have a way to keep perishable extras chilled.
You’re looking for chocolate flakes that can be labelled sugar-free, not just a product with less sugar or no added sugars. To check, compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g for the variety you’re considering.
You want to keep enjoying chocolate sprinkles on bread at the festival and don’t need to choose a strictly sugar-free product. If so, check the difference between flakes and sprinkles, and read the warning on the pack for products containing polyols.
You’re looking for a breakfast product that can be stored without a fridge and eaten with little preparation. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises choosing longer-life products for camping; you’ll need a separate cooling plan for milk or yoghurt.
First decide whether ‘sugar-free’ is an absolute must. Then choose whether you’re looking for chocolate sprinkles for bread or simply an easy breakfast that can be stored dry.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Strictly sugar-free | Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. Under the annex to European Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, a solid product can contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g to carry the ‘sugar-free’ claim. | If I want sugar-free chocolate flakes, the specific variety I choose must meet that limit; this is the top priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| Chocolate sprinkles for bread | Compare the total sugars per 100 g and check whether you’re buying flakes or sprinkles. For Céréal products, also read the warning about polyols. | I want to keep enjoying chocolate sprinkles on bread, even though less sugar isn’t the same as sugar-free; this preference comes first for around 30% of consumers. |
| Storage at the campsite | Choose a product with packaging you can reseal after use, and check its storage instructions. Make sure you have a way to keep milk or yoghurt chilled. | Without a fridge, I want to keep my breakfast supplies dry and make separate arrangements for perishable extras; this practical need comes first for around 20% of consumers. |
Albert Heijn lists 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Céréal reduced-sugar plain chocolate sprinkles. That’s above the limit for the ‘sugar-free’ claim under European Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
If sugar-free is an absolute must, check the total sugars per 100 g in the exact product you want to take with you.
KoRo describes its organic cornflakes as a product with no added sugars, but also lists 1.1 g of total sugars per 100 g. Cornflakes are also not chocolate flakes for topping bread.
Check which type of product you need, and if you require a strictly sugar-free option, look at the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g.
Céréal reduced-sugar plain chocolate sprinkles contain polyols and carry a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. This is worth bearing in mind when packing breakfast for a festival.
Read the ingredients and the warning on the pack before choosing this product.
Dry breakfast products and perishable extras need to be stored differently. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, you can keep perishable products in a cool box for no more than one day.
Buy chilled extras just before you need them, or use a cool box with ice packs.
Chocolate flakes for anyone looking for a traditional-style chocolate topping for bread.
Chocolate sprinkles for anyone looking for a lower-sugar topping for bread, rather than strictly sugar-free flakes.
Cornflakes as a breakfast cereal for anyone who doesn’t need chocolate sprinkles for bread.
No. Under the annex to European Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, a solid product can contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g to carry the ‘sugar-free’ claim. Albert Heijn lists 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Céréal reduced-sugar plain chocolate sprinkles, so they don’t meet the sugar-free limit.
The plain and milk De Ruijter chocolate flakes reviewed aren’t sugar-free. Jumbo lists 63 g and 70 g of sugars per 100 g respectively for these varieties. Check the nutritional information for the variety you’re actually buying.
Not necessarily: ‘no added sugars’ doesn’t mean the total amount of sugars is zero. KoRo lists 1.1 g of total sugars per 100 g for its organic cornflakes with no added sugars. That’s above the sugar-free limit of 0.5 g per 100 g for solid products under European Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
Store dry breakfast products according to the instructions on the pack and seal them securely after use. Perishable extras such as milk or yoghurt need to be kept chilled; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises keeping perishable products in a cool box for no more than one day.
