If sugar-free chocolate flakes are a must for hotel-room coffee, only choose a product whose current packaging confirms that claim. If lower sugar is enough and chocolate sprinkles are an acceptable alternative to flakes, Céréal Hagelslag puur minder suikers could be an option; according to the product information at Albert Heijn, it still contains sugars, maltitol and soya.
They want to offer a product in guest rooms or at the breakfast buffet that can be shown to meet this requirement. Chocolate sprinkles with less sugar are not an equivalent substitute for sugar-free flakes.
They are looking for a chocolate topping to enjoy with their coffee and may consider chocolate sprinkles if lower sugar matters more than the flake format or a strictly sugar-free claim.
They want to be able to check which allergens and sweeteners a topping contains before using it, including when it is served loose at breakfast.
First, decide whether sugar-free is an absolute requirement or whether lower sugar is enough. Then check each product’s nutritional information and how guests can view its ingredients and allergens.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar-free claim | Read the exact claim, the ingredients and the sugar content per 100 g. Don’t treat ‘less sugar’ as meaning ‘sugar-free’. | If I need a strictly sugar-free option for a hotel room, the product I choose must meet that requirement. This is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Lower sugar | Compare sugars and other nutritional information per 100 g; also check whether the product is flakes or chocolate sprinkles. | If I mainly want less sugar with my coffee, I could consider chocolate sprinkles if the flake format isn’t essential. Lower sugar is the deciding factor for around 29% of consumers. |
| Allergen information | Check the allergen declaration and any warnings about traces. Make sure this information is also accessible when the topping is served loose. | If there’s a loose topping at the breakfast buffet, I want to be able to see which allergens it contains before using it. This information is the top priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Polyols | Check which sweeteners have been used and whether the packaging warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. | If I have more than one portion of topping, I want to know whether it contains polyols and what warnings apply. Around 14% of consumers put this information first. |
This distinction matters when a guest asks for a strictly sugar-free option. According to the product information at Albert Heijn, Céréal Hagelslag puur minder suikers still contains 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g.
Decide which sugar claim you need before choosing, then check it on the current packaging of the exact product.
A topping with less sugar may contain polyols. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems for some people.
Read the sweetener information and warnings on the label, and let guests decide for themselves whether they want to use the product.
Guests need to be able to check which allergens are present. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that consumers must be given allergen information for non-prepacked products in another way.
Keep the product information accessible at the breakfast buffet, even when the original packaging isn’t displayed next to the topping.
A sugar-free chocolate option may still contain energy and fat. So a sugar claim doesn’t tell you the product’s full nutritional value.
As well as sugars, compare the other nutritional information on the same basis, for example per 100 g.
A brand offering chocolate flakes for anyone looking for the familiar flake format at breakfast.
An own-brand range of chocolate flakes; Albert Heijn also sells chocolate toppings from other brands.
An own-brand range of standard chocolate flakes in several varieties.
A brand offering lower-sugar chocolate sprinkles for anyone happy with a different format from flakes.
An own-brand range of standard chocolate flakes in milk and dark varieties.
No. Céréal Hagelslag puur minder suikers is chocolate sprinkles, not flakes, and according to the product information at Albert Heijn still contains 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g. A claim that a product contains less sugar doesn’t confirm that it is sugar-free.
Check the exact sugar claim, ingredients, nutritional information and allergens for the product you choose. If it contains polyols, also check the warnings on the packaging; ‘less sugar’ and ‘light’ do not in themselves confirm that a product is sugar-free.
Make sure guests can check the allergen information for the flakes before using them. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that businesses must provide consumers with information about allergens in non-prepacked products in a way other than on a label attached to the packaging.
Polyols may be used as sweeteners in these products; Céréal Hagelslag puur minder suikers, for example, contains maltitol. Check the amount and any warnings on the packaging. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems for some people.
