Who is this relevant to?

If you’re looking for strictly sugar-free options

You want a product for yourself or a guest that meets the criteria for being ‘sugar-free’. A label saying ‘less sugar’ or ‘no added sugars’ isn’t enough.

If you want less sugar

You’re looking for flakes for bread or a sweet topping, but you’re also open to chocolate sprinkles as an alternative. You’re happy for the product to still contain some sugar, and check whether it contains sweeteners or polyols.

If you’re serving something to guests

You want your guests to know which topping you’re offering. The ingredients list, allergens and any warnings on the current packaging are more important than the wording on the front alone.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, decide whether sugar-free is a must. If it isn’t, consider whether you mainly want less sugar or prefer the texture of chocolate flakes.

Strictly sugar-free

Choose this if: only a product labelled ‘sugar-free’ and containing no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g will do.

Bear in mind: the regular flakes and reduced-sugar chocolate sprinkles mentioned below are not suitable alternatives.

Chocolate sprinkles with less sugar

Choose this if: you want to reduce your sugar intake and chocolate sprinkles would work instead of flakes for what you’re serving.

Bear in mind: less sugar doesn’t mean sugar-free. Check for sweeteners, polyols and any usage warnings too.

Regular chocolate flakes

Choose this if: you want the familiar flake texture and limiting sugar isn’t a must.

Bear in mind: don’t assume regular flakes are sugar-free or have a reduced-sugar recipe.

What to consider What to check when buying Who does this matter to?
Strictly sugar-free Look for the ‘sugar-free’ claim and check that the ‘of which sugars’ figure is no more than 0.5 g per 100 g, the limit the Voedingscentrum sets for solid foods. If I want to serve a sugar-free topping exclusively for a guest, ‘less sugar’ isn’t an alternative. Around 46% of consumers prioritise this requirement.
Less sugar Compare the sugars per 100 g and read the ingredients and any warnings about polyols. I want to reduce the amount of sugar without leaving out a chocolate topping. For around 36% of consumers, reducing sugar is their main concern.
Suitable for guests Check the allergens in the version you’ve chosen and decide whether flakes or chocolate sprinkles are right for what you’re serving. When sharing a topping, I want guests to be able to check the ingredients, and the texture needs to suit the dish. This check for guests is the main priority for around 18% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Reading ‘less sugar’ as ‘sugar-free’

    A reduced-sugar claim compares one product with another. It doesn’t mean the product meets the Voedingscentrum’s limit for ‘sugar-free’: no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g for solid foods.

    Before serving something as sugar-free, check the exact claim and the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g.

  • Treating chocolate sprinkles as the same as flakes

    The reduced-sugar products discussed here are chocolate sprinkles, while regular chocolate flakes are a different type of product. Choosing less sugar may therefore mean serving something with a different texture.

    Before choosing chocolate sprinkles as an alternative, consider whether the texture matters for bread or the topping you have in mind.

  • Looking only at the sugar content

    The Céréal chocolate sprinkles discussed here contain polyols; the product information warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. The products mentioned also contain different allergens.

    When serving, check the ingredients, allergens and warnings on the packaging of the exact version you’ve chosen.

  • Judging the whole meal based on reduced sugar

    A lower sugar content in one topping doesn’t tell you everything about the nutritional value of what you’re serving. The Voedingscentrum classifies flakes and chocolate sprinkles as sweet sandwich toppings for occasional use.

    Consider the nutritional information and portion size in the context of the dish, rather than relying on a sugar claim alone.

Brands to consider

De Ruijter

Worth considering if you’re specifically looking for chocolate flakes rather than chocolate sprinkles.

  • The dark chocolate flakes are intended as a bread topping or garnish.
  • According to Albert Heijn’s product information, sugar is listed first in the ingredients, and these dark flakes contain 63 g of sugars per 100 g. The allergen information lists soya and possible traces of milk.

Albert Heijn

Offers a dark chocolate sprinkles option with less sugar; this is not a chocolate flake product.

  • Albert Heijn states that AH dark chocolate sprinkles with less sugar contain 30% less sugar than AH dark chocolate sprinkles.
  • The same product information lists 43 g of sugars per 100 g and names milk and lactose. This option therefore does not meet strict sugar-free requirements.

Céréal

Offers milk chocolate sprinkles for anyone looking to reduce sugar who is happy to choose sprinkles instead of flakes.

  • Albert Heijn’s product information lists 15 g of sugars per 100 g for Céréal milk chocolate sprinkles with less sugar.
  • It also lists 44 g of polyols per 100 g and warns of a possible laxative effect if consumed in excess. The product is not sugar-free and contains milk and soya.

Jumbo

Has a separate category for flakes, including its own-brand products and other brands.

  • The category helps you distinguish flakes from chocolate sprinkles.
  • For any specific product, always check the nutritional information and exact claim yourself before choosing it as a sugar-free option.

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Frequently asked questions

When can a solid food be labelled ‘sugar-free’ in the Netherlands?

According to the Voedingscentrum, a solid food can only be labelled ‘sugar-free’ if it contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. ‘Less sugar’ and ‘no added sugars’ don’t mean the same thing, so check the nutritional values on the packaging you’ve chosen too.

Are chocolate sprinkles with less sugar a sugar-free alternative to flakes?

No, not the options discussed here. Albert Heijn lists 43 g of sugars per 100 g for AH dark chocolate sprinkles with less sugar, and 15 g per 100 g for Céréal milk chocolate sprinkles with less sugar. Both figures are above the limit for ‘sugar-free’; chocolate sprinkles are also a different type of product from flakes.

What should I check if a product contains polyols?

Read the ingredients list and any usage warnings for the version you’ve chosen. The product information for Céréal milk chocolate sprinkles with less sugar lists polyols and warns of a possible laxative effect if consumed in excess. The presence of polyols doesn’t automatically make a product sugar-free.

Which allergens should I check when sharing a topping with guests?

Check the allergen information on the current packaging of the exact product you’re serving. According to the product information, the De Ruijter dark chocolate flakes mentioned contain soya and may contain milk; the Céréal milk chocolate sprinkles mentioned contain milk and soya.

Does having less sugar make flakes suitable as an everyday staple?

A claim about reduced sugar doesn’t, by itself, tell you about the nutritional value of the whole meal. The Voedingscentrum describes flakes and chocolate sprinkles as sweet sandwich toppings for occasional use. When choosing, consider the nutritional information, portion size and what else you’re serving.