Strict sugar-free stock-up shopper
You want to buy several packs without exceeding the limit for ‘sugar-free’. The sugar content per 100 g is therefore the deciding factor, even if the packaging says ‘dark’.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Sugar-conscious bread-topping shopper
You want to cut down on sugar at breakfast or lunch and are considering toppings other than chocolate flakes too. You compare the sugar content of products without assuming that ‘less sugar’ means ‘sugar-free’.
Shopper stocking up on regular chocolate flakes
You check pack sizes and how much you can use before the best-before date. Regular chocolate flakes are only an option for you if being sugar-free is not a strict requirement.
What should you look for when buying?
Before stocking up, decide whether sugar-free is a strict requirement. Only then is it worth considering other types of topping and larger packs.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar-free limit | Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g on the pack. Under the EU regulation on nutrition claims, ‘sugar-free’ means no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. | I want to stock up on several packs, but only if the flakes meet my sugar-free requirement; this is the top priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| Less sugar, different topping | Compare the sugar content per 100 g and check which type of product you’re buying. Chocolate sprinkles are not the same as chocolate flakes. | If my main aim is to cut down on sugar, I could consider a different type of bread topping. This is the priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Pack size and best-before date | Check the size of each pack, the best-before date and the storage instructions before buying several packs. | When stocking up on regular chocolate flakes, I want to choose packs I can use in time. This is the most important consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘dark’ or ‘no added sugars’ means ‘sugar-free’
Those terms don’t confirm that a product meets the sugar-free limit. Albert Heijn lists 63 g of sugars per 100 g for De Ruijter Chocoladevlokken Puur; Jumbo lists 63.7 g per 100 g for its dark chocolate flakes.
If you need a strictly sugar-free product, always check the sugar content per 100 g on the pack before stocking up.
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Assuming a larger pack is the right product
The pack size doesn’t change the sugar content per 100 g. Stocking up on regular chocolate flakes still won’t meet a sugar-free requirement.
First choose products based on their sugar content, then check whether the pack size and best-before date suit how you’ll use them.
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Assuming chocolate flakes and cereal flakes are the same
They are different types of product. PLUS lists 1.1 g of sugars per 100 g for Smaakt organic four-grain flakes: less than the chocolate flakes mentioned above, but still over the ‘sugar-free’ limit.
First decide whether you’re looking for a chocolate bread topping or cereal flakes, then check the nutritional information for the product you choose.
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Relying on old product information when buying again
Ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change. This matters when you’re buying several identical packs at once too.
Read the label and best-before date on the packs you’re actually buying.
Brands and products to consider
De Ruijter
De Ruijter Chocoladevlokken Puur is a chocolate topping sold in a 200 g pack; Albert Heijn also shows a multipack containing two separate packs.
- The different pack formats give stock-up shoppers a choice of quantity.
- Albert Heijn lists 63 g of sugars per 100 g for this dark variety. It therefore doesn’t meet the ‘sugar-free’ limit; this doesn’t tell you anything about other varieties.
Jumbo
Jumbo Chocolade Vlokken Puur is sold in a 300 g pack.
- The stated pack size is useful when deciding how much regular chocolate flake topping to stock up on.
- The Jumbo product page lists 63.7 g of sugars per 100 g for this variety. The larger pack doesn’t make it sugar-free.
Choca
Choca Vlokken are listed in a 200 g box. The product information describes them as cocoa-flavoured novelty flakes.
- The ingredients list from PLUS helps you distinguish these flakes from other types of topping.
- Jumbo lists 71 g of sugars per 100 g. PLUS lists ingredients including sugar, wheat starch and soya lecithin; check the current label if you have an allergy.
Joybuy products
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
When can flakes be called ‘sugar-free’?
Under the EU regulation on nutrition claims, ‘sugar-free’ can be used for flakes containing no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. Check this value in the nutritional information on the pack, not just the wording on the front.
Are dark chocolate flakes sugar-free?
‘Dark’ doesn’t automatically mean ‘sugar-free’. The Albert Heijn and Jumbo product pages list 63 g and 63.7 g of sugars per 100 g respectively for De Ruijter Chocoladevlokken Puur and Jumbo Chocolade Vlokken Puur.
Does ‘no added sugars’ also mean sugar-free?
No. A product with no added sugars may still contain sugars. For a sugar-free option, check the amount per 100 g; under the EU regulation on nutrition claims, the limit for ‘sugar-free’ is 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g.
What should you check before storing several packs of flakes?
Check the best-before date and storage instructions on every pack. Store chocolate flakes as directed on the packaging, and check the current nutritional and allergen information again when buying them another time.
What should you check about Choca Vlokken if the ingredients matter to you?
Check the current ingredients and allergen information on the box. The ingredients list for Choca Vlokken provided by PLUS includes wheat starch and soya lecithin; don’t assume the ingredients are the same for a different product or updated pack.