Chocolate flakes are only a sugar-free choice for a school-holiday breakfast or snack if they contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. Under European Union Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, that is the limit for making a ‘sugar-free’ claim. The standard chocolate flakes discussed here do not meet this limit. If sugar-free is a strict requirement, check the label of another product before choosing it. If it isn’t, standard flakes can be an occasional topping, while the Voedingscentrum recommends that children mainly have foods from the Wheel of Five for breakfast and lunch.
You’re looking for flakes for a school-holiday breakfast or snack that can genuinely be considered sugar-free. The European Union sets a limit for sugar content, so a word such as ‘light’ on the packaging isn’t enough.
You want to make room for a special breakfast without making chocolate flakes a daily habit. The Voedingscentrum advises against eating chocolate spreads too much or too often.
You’re considering standard flakes for a special occasion, but want to know what’s in the variety you choose. Product information from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS shows that ingredients and allergens vary between varieties.
When choosing flakes or another spread for a school-holiday breakfast or snack, first decide whether sugar-free is a strict requirement. If it isn’t, you can then weigh up whether to use standard flakes as an occasional topping, what else to serve at breakfast and the ingredients in the variety you choose.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Verified sugar-free claim | Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. Under European Union rules, a ‘sugar-free’ claim is only allowed at a maximum of 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g; ‘light’ is not a substitute. | If sugar-free is a strict requirement, I don’t want to rely on the product name. For around 42% of consumers, having a verifiably sugar-free option comes first. |
| The place of flakes in breakfast | Look at the breakfast essentials first, then decide whether standard flakes are an occasional addition. For children aged 4 to 12, the Voedingscentrum recommends mainly choosing foods from the Wheel of Five for breakfast and lunch. | On a holiday, I want to offer something special without making sweet spreads a regular staple. Around 33% of consumers give this breakfast balance top priority. |
| Taste, ingredients and allergens | Check the packaging of the variety you choose for ingredients, allergens and any age warnings. | If a child needs to enjoy the taste or avoid certain ingredients, the composition of each variety matters. This is the most important consideration for around 25% of consumers. |
These words alone don’t tell you whether the flakes meet the European limit of no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g for a ‘sugar-free’ claim.
Check the current nutrition table per 100 g rather than relying on the product name.
A higher cocoa content doesn’t mean a product contains hardly any sugars. Albert Heijn lists 56 g of sugars per 100 g for De Ruijter Royaal extra dark chocolate flakes.
For dark varieties too, compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure with the sugar-free limit.
The Voedingscentrum advises against eating chocolate spreads too much or too often. For children, it recommends mainly choosing foods from the Wheel of Five for breakfast and lunch.
If sugar-free isn’t a strict requirement, decide deliberately when to use standard flakes as a topping and how much to put on the bread.
The composition on the packaging you’re going to use is especially important if you have a strict sugar limit or an allergy.
Before use, check the ingredients list, allergen information and nutrition table on that packaging again.
De Ruijter offers white and extra dark chocolate flakes, among other varieties.
Venz offers Rimboe kroko pure/vanilla flakes, among other products.
Choca offers chocolate flakes, with ingredients that you can check for each product.
Jumbo’s range of flakes includes dark, milk and duo chocolate varieties.
Albert Heijn provides product information for various chocolate flakes, including De Ruijter’s white and extra dark varieties.
Under European Union Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, flakes can only carry a ‘sugar-free’ claim if they contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. So check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g on the packaging; ‘light’ or ‘sugar-conscious’ isn’t proof in itself.
The Voedingscentrum advises against eating chocolate spreads too much or too often. For children aged 4 to 12, it recommends mainly choosing foods from the Wheel of Five for breakfast and lunch. And if sugar-free is a strict requirement, standard chocolate flakes are not a substitute for a product that has been checked and confirmed to be sugar-free.
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, children can have both sugar and sweeteners. If you’re considering a product with sweeteners, still check the ingredients and nutritional information for that specific product rather than automatically assuming it’s a suitable spread.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the flakes you choose. The varieties discussed here differ in this respect. Jumbo also says that the shapes in Venz Rimboe kroko flakes are less suitable for children under 3.
