If you’re looking for strictly sugar-free sprinkles
You want the product you choose to meet the ‘sugar-free’ claim. Compare that claim with the amount of sugars per 100 g; ‘no added sugar’ means something different.
Who is this relevant to?
If you want to eat less sugar at breakfast
You want to change your breakfast without necessarily buying only sugar-free sprinkles. In that case, both the nutritional information per 100 g and the portion you actually use matter.
If you choose based on taste and ingredients
You might compare milk, dark and extra-dark chocolate sprinkles. Check the ingredients and allergen information for each variety if soya, milk or lactose matters to your choice.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether ‘sugar-free’ is a strict requirement or whether you mainly want to eat less sugar at breakfast. These two aims call for different comparisons on the label.
| What to consider | What to check | Who should consider this? |
|---|---|---|
| The ‘sugar-free’ claim | Look for the claim on the packaging and check that the nutritional information lists no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives this as the limit for ‘sugar-free’. | If I want only sugar-free sprinkles, I don’t want to rely on a similar-sounding claim. For around 42% of consumers, choosing a product that is demonstrably sugar-free comes first. |
| Amount of sugar in a portion | Compare sugars per 100 g and consider how much you actually use; a smaller portion doesn’t make ordinary sprinkles sugar-free. | I want less sugar at breakfast, but don’t necessarily need a product carrying the ‘sugar-free’ claim. This is the main consideration for around 33% of consumers. |
| Taste and ingredients | Check the ingredients and allergen information for the variety you choose, including any mention of soya, milk or lactose. | If taste or an ingredient determines my choice, I want to be able to assess the specific packaging without making assumptions about sugar based on ‘dark’ or a quality mark. Around 25% of consumers put this consideration first. |
Common mistakes
-
Assuming ‘dark’ or a quality mark means ‘sugar-free’
These labels answer a different question. PLUS lists 63.8 g of sugars per 100 g for its dark chocolate sprinkles, even though this variety is described as vegan and Fairtrade.
If you need a strictly sugar-free option, check both the exact claim and the amount of sugars per 100 g on the packaging.
-
Skipping the allergen information
Information varies by product: Albert Heijn lists soya in the ingredients of De Ruijter Puur, while another variety may carry a warning about the possible presence of milk.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the specific packaging, especially if soya, milk or lactose matters to your choice.
Brands and retailers to compare
De Ruijter
De Ruijter offers dark and extra-dark chocolate sprinkles, among other varieties.
- Albert Heijn lists 63 g of sugars per 100 g for De Ruijter Puur; PLUS lists 56 g per 100 g for Royaal Extra Puur.
- Calling these varieties ‘dark’ or ‘extra dark’ doesn’t make them sugar-free.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn stocks its own-brand sprinkles alongside a range of branded products.
- Its range includes AH Mix, milk chocolate sprinkles and dark chocolate sprinkles.
- Compare the nutritional information for the specific variety; a category name won’t tell you how much sugar it contains.
Jumbo
Jumbo stocks both its own-brand sprinkles and products from other brands.
- The range overview makes it easy to compare varieties and pack sizes.
- For a sugar-free choice, check the claim and nutritional information for the specific product, rather than relying on the range overview alone.
Kiekeboe / ALDI
ALDI describes Kiekeboe chocolate sprinkles in milk and dark varieties, in 300 g packs.
- The product description distinguishes between the two flavours.
- Check the packaging for the claim and sugar content before choosing a variety as sugar-free.
Lidl
Lidl is one place to compare the packaging of dark chocolate sprinkles.
- In store, you can read the ingredients and nutritional information on the pack in front of you.
- Don’t let the word ‘dark’ replace checking the sugar content.
PLUS
PLUS stocks own-brand sprinkles and De Ruijter varieties, with nutritional information for each product.
- PLUS Chocoladevlokken Puur is listed as containing 63.8 g of sugars per 100 g.
- A label such as vegan or Fairtrade doesn’t, on its own, tell you whether a product is suitable if you need a strictly sugar-free option.
Related products on Joybuy
When browsing breakfast toppings on Joybuy, compare the sugar content per 100 g, ingredients and allergen information to find an option that suits you.
Frequently asked questions
When can sprinkles be called ‘sugar-free’?
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a product must contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g to make the ‘sugar-free’ claim. For sprinkles, check both the claim and the nutritional information on the packaging; ‘low sugar’ and ‘no added sugar’ are not synonyms.
Are dark or extra-dark chocolate sprinkles sugar-free?
Not just because of those names. Albert Heijn lists 63 g of sugars per 100 g for De Ruijter Puur, while PLUS lists 56 g per 100 g for De Ruijter Royaal Extra Puur; check the label on any other variety individually.
Where can I find information about sweeteners in sprinkles?
If a product contains sweeteners, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre says they will be listed in the ingredients, by name or E number. Check the list for the specific variety rather than assuming which ingredients have been used from the ‘sugar-free’ claim.