Who is this relevant to?

Home baker with a strict sugar-free requirement

You’re looking for an ingredient or decoration for biscuits that meets the threshold for a ‘sugar-free’ claim. A ‘less sugar’ label isn’t enough for you.

Sugar-conscious biscuit decorator

You want to decorate biscuits with chocolate sprinkles after baking and compare the amount of sugars per 100 g, without requiring the sprinkles to be sugar-free.

Consumer keeping an eye on polyols

You’re considering lower-sugar chocolate sprinkles, but want to know which sweeteners and allergens your chosen variety contains, and what warnings appear on the packaging, before using it.

What should you look for when choosing?

When choosing chocolate sprinkles for rusks or as a decoration for biscuits, your main requirement will determine whether you check the sugar-free claim, the actual sugar content or the ingredients first.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Strictly sugar-free Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure on the label of the exact variety: according to EUR-Lex, chocolate sprinkles can contain no more than 0.5 g per 100 g to claim to be ‘sugar-free’. If I really need sugar-free chocolate sprinkles, I don’t want to rely on a ‘less sugar’ claim. For around 50% of consumers, this strict requirement matters most.
Actual sugar content Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figures per 100 g and check which sweeteners the exact flavour contains; a percentage reduction in sugar doesn’t tell you the actual amount. For decorating my biscuits, I want less sugar without needing a sugar-free claim. Around 30% of consumers prioritise this comparison.
Sweeteners and allergens Check the ingredients, allergens and warnings. Céréal Hagelslag Puur lists maltitols and soya, and may contain milk. If I need to keep an eye on polyols or allergens, I want to know what’s in the product before using the sprinkles. This is the top priority for around 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing ‘less sugar’ with ‘sugar-free’

    Céréal Hagelslag Puur lists 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g; AH Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker lists 43 g per 100 g. Both are above the 0.5 g per 100 g threshold for a ‘sugar-free’ claim, as published via EUR-Lex.

    If sugar-free is a firm requirement, check the actual sugar content on the packaging of the variety you want to use.

  • Looking only at the percentage reduction

    A relative reduction in sugar doesn’t tell you how much sugar a product contains per 100 g. For example, Albert Heijn says its milk chocolate sprinkles contain 30% less sugar than AH Melk hagelslag, while also listing 43 g of sugars per 100 g.

    Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g for the exact products, rather than relying only on the claim on the front of the pack.

  • Skipping the ingredients and warnings

    Céréal Hagelslag Puur contains maltitols and soya, and may contain milk. Voedingscentrum explains that products containing more than 10% added polyols carry a warning about a possible laxative effect if consumed in excess.

    Check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging of your chosen product, along with any warnings.

  • Assuming a topping is suitable for baking in

    Information about using chocolate sprinkles as a decoration doesn’t tell you how they behave in biscuit dough or during baking.

    Use the sprinkles to decorate after baking, or try a small amount first if you want to add them before baking.

Brands compared

Céréal

Céréal’s dark and milk chocolate sprinkles with less sugar are worth considering if you want to compare actual sugar content and the sweeteners used.

  • Céréal lists 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Hagelslag Puur; according to Albert Heijn, its milk variety lists 15 g per 100 g.
  • Both varieties contain maltitols and, with these sugar levels, do not meet the threshold for a ‘sugar-free’ claim. The dark variety contains soya and may contain milk.

Albert Heijn

AH Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker is a milk chocolate variety with a relative reduction in sugar compared with AH Melk hagelslag.

  • According to Albert Heijn, this variety contains 30% less sugar than AH Melk hagelslag.
  • The label lists 43 g of sugars per 100 g, as well as milk and lactose; it is not a sugar-free variety.

Jumbo

Jumbo Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker provides a historical point of comparison for milk chocolate sprinkles with less sugar.

  • Jumbo’s product information lists 42.6 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • Jumbo says on the relevant product page that this variety is no longer available in its online range, so don’t treat it as a current online buying option.

De Ruijter

De Ruijter Specials Hagelslag Intens Puur is a point of comparison if you’re considering chocolate sprinkles as a decoration for baked goods, rather than looking for a sugar-free option.

  • Albert Heijn describes this variety as suitable for use on baked goods.
  • The listed 43 g of sugars per 100 g does not meet the threshold for ‘sugar-free’. Its suitability for decorating baked goods doesn’t confirm how the sprinkles behave during baking.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘less sugar’ mean the same as ‘sugar-free’?

No. Under the EU rules on nutrition claims, published via EUR-Lex, a solid product can only be called ‘sugar-free’ if it contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. A product labelled ‘less sugar’ may exceed this threshold.

Is Céréal Hagelslag Puur sugar-free?

No. Céréal lists 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Hagelslag Puur, which is above the EU threshold of no more than 0.5 g per 100 g for a ‘sugar-free’ claim.

Why do some chocolate sprinkles carry a warning about a laxative effect?

The warning relates to added polyols: according to Voedingscentrum, products containing more than 10% added polyols must state that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Céréal Hagelslag Puur contains maltitols; check the warning on the packaging before using this variety.

Does the Dutch rule on baker’s salt mean that chocolate sprinkles contain iodine?

No, that rule doesn’t mean that a particular chocolate sprinkle product contains iodised baker’s salt. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the conditions under which iodine compounds may be present in bread, bread substitutes and other bakery products through baker’s salt. For your own biscuits, check the ingredients of the products and the salt used in your recipe.