For a school fair, only choose flakes labelled ‘sugar-free’ if the current label states that they contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g; this threshold is set out in EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. The standard De Ruijter and PLUS chocolate flakes discussed here do not meet this requirement. If the organiser accepts ‘no added sugars’, you could consider a different chocolate topping, but check its total sugars, ingredients and allergens too.
You need to be able to establish whether the chosen flakes can be labelled sugar-free. Under EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, solid foods must contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g to meet this requirement.
You’re looking for a chocolate topping for baked goods and want to know whether a product with this label meets the school fair’s requirements. Check the total sugars and ingredients separately: ‘no added sugars’ does not mean ‘sugar-free’.
You’re buying for a school group and need the ingredients and allergen information for the exact product variant being used. Check the current packaging and ask the organiser what requirements apply.
First, find out whether the school fair requires strictly sugar-free flakes or allows a topping with no added sugars. These two requirements don’t necessarily point to the same product.
When: the organiser requires the flakes to qualify as sugar-free.
What to consider: only buy a variant if its label confirms that it contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g; ‘dark’ is no proof of this.
When: the organiser allows this alternative and a different type of topping will work with your bake.
What to consider: any sugars already present still count. For example, the No Sugar Daddies chocolate sprinkle chunks sold by Puur Mieke state that they contain 34 g of sugars per 100 g, and they are not standard chocolate flakes.
When: the school fair has no sugar-free requirement and you want to use flakes as a topping.
What to consider: check the sugars and allergens for each variant; standard flakes are not automatically labelled sugar-free.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar-free label | Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g on the current label. Under EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, solid foods must contain no more than 0.5 g per 100 g to be labelled ‘sugar-free’. | If the school fair requires strictly sugar-free products, I want to choose one whose label confirms that it meets the requirement. This sugar threshold is a top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the school’s requirements against the ingredients list and allergen information for the variant you buy. | For a school group, I want to know what the topping contains and which allergens are relevant. This check is the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Form and use | Check whether the recipe calls for flakes or allows another type of topping; if necessary, try a small amount in the recipe first. | If I’m decorating cupcakes or other baked goods, the topping needs to suit the recipe. Around 21% of consumers put this use first. |
| Availability | Check which exact variant you can buy, then compare its label with the school fair’s requirements. | When I need to shop in good time for the school fair, I want to be able to find an available variant without overlooking the product requirements. Availability is the main concern for around 14% of consumers. |
Dark chocolate flakes can still contain sugars. PLUS states that its dark chocolate flakes contain 63.8 g of sugars per 100 g.
If the requirement is strictly sugar-free, check the nutritional information for the exact variant rather than relying on the word ‘dark’.
A product with this label may still contain sugars. Puur Mieke states that its No Sugar Daddies date chocolate sprinkle chunks contain 34 g of sugars per 100 g.
Ask the organiser which requirement they mean, then check the ‘of which sugars’ line on the packaging.
Information varies by product variant. PLUS states that its dark chocolate flakes may contain milk and lactose; according to PLUS, Choca Flakes also contain ingredients such as wheat starch and soya lecithin.
Check the current packaging of the product you’re using and confirm the information with the organiser.
De Ruijter sells chocolate flakes for bread and as a topping, in several varieties.
PLUS sells its own-brand dark chocolate flakes, among other products.
Choca Flakes are chocolate flakes sold as a sweet topping.
Albert Heijn’s range includes both own-brand flakes and flakes from other brands.
No Sugar Daddies is relevant here for its chocolate sprinkle chunks, an alternative in a different form from chocolate flakes.
Under EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, a solid food can only be labelled ‘sugar-free’ if it contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure in the nutritional table for your chosen flakes.
No. A product with no added sugars may still contain sugars. For example, the No Sugar Daddies date chocolate sprinkle chunks sold by Puur Mieke state that they contain 34 g of sugars per 100 g, so check which requirement applies to the school fair.
No. PLUS states that its dark chocolate flakes contain 63.8 g of sugars per 100 g. Check the nutritional information for every variant rather than relying on the word ‘dark’.
Keep the current packaging or the full ingredients and allergen information for the topping you’re using to hand. Ask the organiser what requirements apply to this school fair, and check the information for the exact variant you’ve bought.
