Who is this choice relevant to?

Consumers looking for a genuinely sugar-free option

If your chocolate sprinkles must contain no sugar, ‘reduced sugar’ isn’t enough. Check the nutritional information for the exact variety rather than relying on the wording on the front of the pack.

Lunch shoppers looking to cut down on sugar

Want to keep using chocolate sprinkles on bread or rusks, but choose an option with less sugar? Compare the figures per 100 g and consider how much you usually use per serving.

Consumers who need to check ingredients

If soya, milk, lactose or polyols are a concern for you, check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack, as well as the sugar content.

What should you look for when choosing?

When choosing chocolate sprinkles for bread or rusks, start with what matters most to you: genuinely sugar-free, less sugar or avoiding specific ingredients.

What to consider What should you check? Who is this most important for?
Genuinely sugar-free Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g; don’t confuse ‘reduced sugar’ with ‘sugar-free’. If I don’t want sugar in my chocolate sprinkles, I’ll rule out any option that lists a sugar content. For around 50% of consumers making this choice, being genuinely sugar-free is the top priority.
Less sugar Compare sugars per 100 g and, if a ‘reduced sugar’ claim is made, check which product it is compared with. I want to keep using chocolate sprinkles for lunch, but compare the sugar content with my usual choice. Around 30% of consumers prioritise less sugar.
Ingredients Check the allergen list and any polyol warning on the exact pack. If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I’ll give the ingredients list more weight than the lowest sugar content. Ingredients are the main priority for around 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Reading ‘reduced sugar’ as ‘sugar-free’

    Product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo lists 43 g of sugars per 100 g for each of the reduced-sugar options discussed. Céréal Hagelslag Puur also still contains 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g, according to Jumbo’s product information.

    If sugar-free is a must for you, check the nutritional information on the exact pack before choosing chocolate sprinkles.

  • Checking only sugars and overlooking sweeteners

    Jumbo lists 40 g of polyols per 100 g for Céréal Hagelslag Puur. The product warning says that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

    If you’re considering an option with sweeteners, check the ingredients and usage warning too.

  • Assuming ‘dark’ means it contains no milk or soya

    The dark varieties discussed differ in their allergens: Céréal contains soya and may contain milk; Albert Heijn’s product information lists milk and lactose for AH Hagelslag Puur Minder Suiker.

    Check the allergen information for the exact variety, whatever type of chocolate it is.

  • Assuming information about baker’s salt applies to chocolate sprinkles

    The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority discusses iodine compounds in connection with bread, bread substitutes and other bakery products. This does not tell you what is in the chocolate sprinkles.

    For iodine information, check the label on your bread or rusks separately from the one on your chocolate sprinkles.

Brands compared

Céréal

Céréal Hagelslag Puur is worth comparing if you’re looking to cut down on sugar and are considering a product with sweeteners.

  • Jumbo’s product information lists 7.7 g of sugars and 40 g of polyols per 100 g.
  • This variety isn’t sugar-free, contains soya, may contain milk and carries a warning about a laxative effect if consumed in excess.

Albert Heijn

AH Hagelslag Puur Minder Suiker is a dark chocolate sprinkle option to compare with the standard AH variety.

  • Albert Heijn says it contains 30% less sugar than AH Chocolade Hagel Puur.
  • The variety discussed still lists 43 g of sugars per 100 g and contains milk and lactose. Check the current packaging.

Jumbo

Jumbo Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker is a milk chocolate option for comparing products within this type of chocolate sprinkles.

  • For the variety discussed, Jumbo lists 43 g of sugars per 100 g and 30% less sugar than Jumbo Hagelslag Melk.
  • This variety isn’t sugar-free either and contains milk; check the packaging and availability at the retailer you’re buying from.

De Ruijter

The Chocoladehagelslag Puur discussed here is a standard variety, not an alternative for anyone looking for sugar-free chocolate sprinkles.

  • Joybuy’s product information lists 64 g of sugars per 100 g for this dark variety.
  • The variety discussed contains milk and soya.

Venz

The dark chocolate sprinkles from Venz discussed here are a standard variety to compare using the nutritional information.

  • Joybuy’s product information lists 65 g of sugars per 100 g for this variety.
  • The variety discussed contains milk, soya and lactose, and isn’t suitable if you need sugar-free chocolate sprinkles.

Joybuy products related to this topic

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are the chocolate sprinkles discussed genuinely sugar-free for my lunch?

No, none of the varieties discussed is sugar-free. According to Jumbo’s product information, Céréal Hagelslag Puur contains 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g; the reduced-sugar varieties discussed from Albert Heijn and Jumbo each list 43 g per 100 g.

Does ‘30% less sugar’ mean that chocolate sprinkles are sugar-free?

No. The AH and Jumbo varieties discussed are compared with the named standard variety from the same own-brand range. Both reduced-sugar options still list 43 g of sugars per 100 g.

What should I look for in Céréal Hagelslag Puur if I want to avoid sweeteners?

Check the ingredients list and the warning on the packaging before choosing this variety. Jumbo’s product information lists maltitols and 40 g of polyols per 100 g, with a warning about a laxative effect if consumed in excess.

Does baker’s salt with iodine have anything to do with chocolate sprinkles?

Information about baker’s salt doesn’t automatically tell you anything about chocolate sprinkles. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority discusses iodine compounds in bread, bread substitutes and other bakery products, so check the labels on your bread or rusks and your chocolate sprinkles separately.