For your Christmas celebrations, only choose chocolate sprinkles labelled sugar-free if the packaging makes that claim and the nutrition information states no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. Under European Union Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, this is the threshold for a ‘sugar-free’ claim on solid foods. If you’re mainly looking to reduce sugar, compare the nutrition information, ingredients and taste of the dark and milk varieties: ‘less sugar’ does not mean ‘sugar-free’.
A claim such as ‘less sugar’ isn’t enough for you. Check the claim on the pack and the amount of sugars per 100 g in the nutrition information. Under European Union Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the threshold for ‘sugar-free’ on solid foods is no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g.
You’re looking for chocolate sprinkles to put on bread or use as a topping, and you’re happy for them to still contain some sugars. Céréal makes a sugar-reduction claim for its dark and milk varieties; Jumbo makes one for its Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker. Compare the exact product before choosing a flavour.
You’re considering the pack size, preferred flavour and ingredients for your guests. Regular varieties from De Ruijter and Venz are included in Jumbo’s chocolate sprinkles range, but a standard pack won’t automatically meet a requirement to limit sugar.
First decide whether ‘sugar-free’ is an absolute requirement. If less sugar is enough, then compare the specific variety and how much you’ll need for your Christmas celebrations.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar-free claim | Check for the claim on the pack and no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g in the nutrition information. | If I want to serve only sugar-free chocolate sprinkles to my guests, I need to be able to check this on the pack. For around 42% of consumers, verifiable sugar-free status comes first. |
| Sugar reduction | Read the amount of sugars per 100 g and check which product the reduction claim compares it with. | If you don’t have a strict sugar-free requirement, you may simply want to choose a milk or dark variety with less sugar. For around 33% of consumers, reducing sugar is the top priority. |
| How you’ll use them at the party | Match the pack size to the number of guests and check the ingredients and allergens on the pack. | If the chocolate sprinkles are for several slices of bread or toppings, I’ll want to have enough of a suitable variety. For around 25% of consumers, quantity and use at a party matter most. |
A sugar-reduction claim compares a product with another product; it doesn’t confirm that it meets the ‘sugar-free’ threshold. This distinction is crucial if sugar-free is an absolute requirement.
Check both the sugar-free claim and the amount of sugars per 100 g on the current packaging.
Céréal’s claims for Puur and Melk and Jumbo’s claim for Melk Minder Suiker apply to different products. Jumbo also compares its variety with Jumbo hagelslag melk; the percentages alone don’t tell you which ingredients or allergens are in each product.
Compare the nutrition information and ingredients of the specific varieties you’re considering.
A 200 g pack may not go as far at a party as a larger standard pack, depending on the number of guests and whether you’re using the chocolate sprinkles on bread or as a topping.
Work out how much you need first, then check the size of the pack you’ve chosen.
A product name on an older retailer’s website doesn’t tell you which pack you’ll actually be able to buy. Jumbo no longer lists its older 380 g Melk Minder Suiker variety as available online; an Albert Heijn page for Venz Melk 30% Minder Suiker shows no products.
Check the current product listing and read the packaging of the variety you actually buy. Don’t inadvertently replace a reduced-sugar variety with standard chocolate sprinkles.
Céréal makes dark and milk chocolate sprinkles with a claim about reduced sugar.
Jumbo makes a 200 g Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker variety.
Albert Heijn lists AH Hagelslag Puur Minder Suiker and AH Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker in its range.
Jumbo lists standard dark and milk chocolate sprinkles from De Ruijter in 390 g packs.
Venz makes standard chocolate sprinkle varieties included in Jumbo’s range.
Under European Union Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, solid foods can carry a ‘sugar-free’ claim if they contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. A statement such as ‘less sugar’ or a reduction percentage isn’t the same claim; check the nutrition information on the pack.
Read the ingredients list if you want to know whether sweeteners have been added. According to Voedingscentrum, added sweeteners are listed on the label; the ‘of which sugars’ figure alone won’t give you the full picture.
Use online product information to compare varieties, but also read the pack you’re going to serve. Albert Heijn points out that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information may change.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging for your variety. Jumbo says to store its 200 g Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker in a cool, dry and dark place.
