Shoppers with a strict sugar-free requirement
You want sprinkles for game night that meet the sugar-free limit, not a product labelled ‘less sugar’. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre sets the limit at no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Shoppers looking for less sugar
You’re happy to choose chocolate sprinkles rather than flakes, and a product that still contains sugars, as long as the nutrition information suits your needs.
Shoppers buying for a group
You want to check the ingredients, polyols and allergens in the sprinkles before serving them.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether sugar-free is essential or whether less sugar will do. Then consider whether chocolate sprinkles can replace the flakes you had in mind. If you’re sharing, check the ingredients and allergens too.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Strictly sugar-free | Compare the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g with the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s sugar-free limit of no more than 0.5 g. | If sugar-free is a must for me, I don’t want to rely on the words ‘less sugar’. Around 50% of shoppers make this strict requirement their priority. |
| Less sugar as an alternative | Check the sugar value per 100 g and decide whether chocolate sprinkles rather than flakes are suitable for what you want to serve. | I want less sugar, but chocolate sprinkles can replace flakes for this game night. Around 30% of shoppers prioritise this compromise. |
| Sharing with others | Check the ingredients, allergens and any polyol warnings on the current packaging. | When sharing food, I want to know what I’m serving so everyone can check the ingredients. This is the main priority for around 20% of shoppers. |
Common mistakes
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Confusing ‘less sugar’ with ‘sugar-free’
Albert Heijn lists 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Céréal Dark Chocolate Sprinkles with Less Sugar. That’s above the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s sugar-free limit of no more than 0.5 g per 100 g.
If sugar-free is essential, check the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g before choosing an alternative.
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Assuming ‘no added sugars’ means sugar-free
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that these are different claims: a product with no added sugars may still contain sugars.
Check the nutrition table as well as the claim, and compare the sugar value per 100 g.
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Overlooking ingredients and allergens when sharing
For Céréal chocolate sprinkles, Albert Heijn lists 40 g of polyols per 100 g, soya as an allergen, possible traces of milk and a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Check the current packaging and make sure everyone can see the ingredients and allergens before eating.
Brands and retailers to consider
A brand or retailer can help you find a product, but it’s the nutrition information on the individual pack that determines whether it meets a strict sugar-free requirement.
Céréal
Céréal Dark Chocolate Sprinkles with Less Sugar are sprinkles, not chocolate flakes. Albert Heijn sells this variety in a 200 g pack.
- According to Céréal and Albert Heijn, these sprinkles contain 88% less sugar than standard dark chocolate sprinkles.
- Albert Heijn lists 7.7 g of sugars and 40 g of polyols per 100 g. The product contains soya, may contain milk and carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
De Ruijter
De Ruijter features in the standard chocolate flake range; Albert Heijn lists, among other products, white flakes from the brand.
- A brand to look at if you’re specifically after chocolate flakes.
- Don’t assume a variety is sugar-free based on the brand name or its place in the chocolate flake range. Check the packaging of the product you choose.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn stocks its own-brand chocolate flakes and also sells Céréal Dark Chocolate Sprinkles with Less Sugar.
- You can compare flakes with a different type of sprinkle that contains less sugar.
- Chocolate sprinkles and flakes aren’t the same product. Check the ‘of which sugars’ value on each pack.
Jumbo
Jumbo’s chocolate flake range includes its own-brand milk and dark chocolate flakes in 300 g packs.
- The range includes specific milk and dark chocolate varieties to compare.
- The category label doesn’t tell you whether an individual variety meets the sugar-free limit.
Joybuy products
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
When are sprinkles sugar-free?
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the sugar-free claim allows a maximum of 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g for a product such as chocolate flakes or sprinkles. Check the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g on the packaging.
Does ‘no added sugars’ also mean sugar-free?
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that ‘no added sugars’ means no sugars or other foods used for their sweetening properties have been added. The sugars already present may still exceed the sugar-free limit.
Can Céréal Dark Chocolate Sprinkles with Less Sugar replace sugar-free chocolate flakes?
Not if sugar-free is essential: Albert Heijn lists 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g for these Céréal sprinkles. They’re also sprinkles rather than flakes, so they’re only an alternative if you’re happy with both differences.
What should I check if several people will be sharing the sprinkles?
Check the current packaging for ingredients, allergens and warnings. For Céréal Dark Chocolate Sprinkles with Less Sugar, Albert Heijn lists soya, possible traces of milk and a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.