Walkers looking for strictly sugar-free options
For you, ‘sugar-free’ is a strict requirement. So you assess chocolate sprinkles by the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g, not by a claim such as ‘less sugar’.
If you want to take strictly sugar-free chocolate sprinkles as part of a snack on a walk, only choose a product with no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. This is the threshold for the ‘sugar-free’ nutrition claim under EU Regulation 1924/2006. The lower-sugar options mentioned from Céréal, Albert Heijn and Jumbo are above this threshold. If less sugar is enough for you, compare the nutrition information per 100 g. For products containing polyols, also check the usage warning and allergen information.
For you, ‘sugar-free’ is a strict requirement. So you assess chocolate sprinkles by the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g, not by a claim such as ‘less sugar’.
You’re looking for an option with less sugar, without requiring it to be sugar-free. The amount of sugars and polyols, along with the nutritional values per serving, can help you compare products.
If polyols are a concern for you or you need to avoid certain allergens, check the ingredients, warnings and allergen information on the packaging before setting off.
First decide whether sugar-free is a strict requirement. Then check whether the ingredients and serving size suit the snack you want to take with you.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar-free or less sugar | Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. Under EU Regulation 1924/2006, the ‘sugar-free’ claim is limited to a maximum of 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. | If I want a strictly sugar-free snack for a walk, I want to know whether the chocolate sprinkles really meet that threshold; around 40% of consumers give this requirement priority. |
| How it agrees with you on the go | Check which polyols are used, what usage warnings apply and which allergens are listed on the packaging. | On a long walk, I don’t want to find out for the first time that an ingredient doesn’t suit me; around 30% of consumers consider tolerance the most important factor. |
| The whole snack | Check the nutrition information per 100 g and the amount you use on bread or a cracker. | If I take chocolate sprinkles on bread or a cracker, I want to assess the whole snack rather than just its sugar content; around 30% of consumers give this priority. |
Albert Heijn lists 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Céréal Puur Minder Suikers and 43 g for AH Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker. Jumbo lists 42.6 g per 100 g for its lower-sugar milk option. None of these figures meets the threshold for ‘sugar-free’.
If sugar-free is a strict requirement, start with the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g and use the maximum threshold of 0.5 g.
For Céréal Puur Minder Suikers, Albert Heijn lists 40 g of polyols per 100 g and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Try a new product, and the portion you plan to take with you, at home first, especially if you’re sensitive to these ingredients.
The options mentioned also differ in their allergens: Céréal contains soya and may contain milk; the AH milk option contains milk and lactose; and the Jumbo milk option contains milk and may contain gluten and wheat.
If allergies or intolerances are a concern, check the current packaging every time you buy.
Céréal Puur Minder Suikers is a chocolate sprinkles option for anyone looking for less sugar, but who doesn’t need a strictly sugar-free product.
AH Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker is a milk chocolate option with a relative reduction in sugar compared with AH Melk Hagelslag.
Jumbo Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker is a milk chocolate option that was sold as a lower-sugar product.
Under EU Regulation 1924/2006, the ‘sugar-free’ nutrition claim for solid foods is limited to a maximum of 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g on the packaging; ‘less sugar’ does not mean the same thing.
No. Albert Heijn lists 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Céréal Puur Minder Suikers, which is above the threshold for the ‘sugar-free’ claim. It may be an option if you want less sugar but don’t have that strict requirement.
Check the serving size and the warning on the packaging before taking the product with you. For Céréal Puur Minder Suikers, Albert Heijn says that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect; it’s best to try a new option at home first.
Chocolate sprinkles are a topping, not a complete snack on their own. Also consider what you sprinkle them on, how much you use and what else you take with you. A lower sugar content in the chocolate sprinkles doesn’t tell you how suitable the whole snack is for your walk.