Organisers with a strict sugar-free requirement
If ‘sugar-free’ must be literally true for those attending, check the sugars per 100 g in the product you choose. A claim such as ‘no added sugar’ does not answer that question.
Who is this distinction important for?
Teams happy with a different type of product
If cereal flakes or chocolate chunks would also work for your planned occasion, you could consider products with no added sugar. Don’t present them as sugar-free without checking the nutritional information.
Organisers who need to consider allergens
When catering for a mixed group, it’s important to check the ingredients of the exact product. Check the current packaging before choosing a topping or replacing it with something else.
What should you consider when choosing?
First, decide whether ‘sugar-free’ is a firm requirement or whether another topping with no added sugar will do. Then check that the product type and ingredients are suitable for your work meeting.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Strictly sugar-free | Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g on the exact product packaging. The Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 sets a limit of 0.5 g per 100 g for solid foods. | If I’m only allowed to put out something sugar-free for the meeting, ‘no added sugar’ isn’t enough for me; around 50% of consumers prioritise this strict requirement. |
| No added sugar | Check both the claim and the nutritional information, and decide whether you want to serve cereal flakes or chocolate chunks instead of chocolate sprinkles. | If another topping is welcome, I want to be able to say clearly what’s on the table. Around 30% of consumers prioritise this flexibility in product choice. |
| Ingredients and serving | Check the allergen information for the product you choose, and keep the packaging available for self-service. | For a meeting with a mix of attendees, I want to know what ingredients I’m offering first; around 20% of consumers give this consideration for the group top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Reading ‘no added sugar’ as ‘sugar-free’
A product can still contain sugars even if no sugar has been added. For example, Puur Mieke lists 34 g of sugars per 100 g for No Sugar Daddies Hagelslag Chunks.
Check which claim has been agreed for the meeting, then read the nutritional information for the product you plan to buy.
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Assuming dark chocolate sprinkles are low in sugar
According to Jumbo’s product information, De Ruijter Chocoladevlokken Puur contains 63 g of sugars per 100 g, while Jumbo lists 56 g per 100 g for De Ruijter Royaal Chocoladevlokken. The product name is no substitute for checking the nutritional information.
Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure for the exact product you plan to serve.
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Presenting a different topping as chocolate sprinkles
Seven-grain flakes and chocolate chunks are different types of product from traditional chocolate sprinkles. This matters if attendees are expecting a particular topping or set of ingredients.
Label the offering with the correct product name and keep the ingredients list available.
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Judging allergens by brand name alone
Ingredients and allergen information apply to a specific product, not to a brand as a whole. So if you choose a replacement, you’ll need to check it again.
Use the current packaging of the product you’ll actually serve to check that it meets the requirements agreed with attendees.
Brands to consider
De Ruijter
Chocolate sprinkles as a reference point for the traditional sprinkles category.
- Jumbo lists separate nutritional information for Chocoladevlokken Puur and Royaal, so you can compare the varieties.
- According to Jumbo, Puur and Royaal contain 63 g and 56 g of sugars per 100 g respectively, so neither meets the stated limit for ‘sugar-free’.
Jumbo
Own-brand range with standard dark and milk chocolate sprinkles.
- Jumbo lists a 300 g pack for both varieties.
- Check the sugars and ingredients for your chosen variety on the packaging; the product name ‘dark’ or ‘milk’ doesn’t tell you what you need to know.
Smaakt
Seven-grain flakes as an alternative when cereal flakes are suitable for the occasion.
- PLUS states that this product contains naturally occurring sugars, an important distinction when interpreting ‘no added sugar’.
- Seven-grain flakes are not chocolate sprinkles. Check the sugars and allergen information on the packaging before offering them as an alternative.
No Sugar Daddies
Chocolate chunks, a different type of topping from traditional sprinkles.
- Retailer Puur Mieke sells Hagelslag Chunks labelled ‘no added sugar’.
- Puur Mieke lists 34 g of sugars per 100 g. This product is therefore not a substitute when ‘sugar-free’ is a firm requirement.
Lidl
Supermarket with a 300 g pack of Chocoladevlokken Puur on its product page.
- Lidl describes the product as available in store only.
- Check the nutritional information and ingredients on the packaging in store before deciding whether these sprinkles meet the requirements agreed for the meeting.
Related products on Joybuy
Related products will appear soon.
Frequently asked questions
What does ‘sugar-free’ mean for sprinkles?
The Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 sets a maximum of 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g for solid foods labelled ‘sugar-free’. So check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g on the packaging of the sprinkles you want to serve.
Are sprinkles with no added sugar also sugar-free?
No. The claims don’t mean the same thing: a product with no added sugar can still contain sugars. PLUS states that Smaakt Zevengranenvlokken contains naturally occurring sugars; Puur Mieke lists 34 g of sugars per 100 g for No Sugar Daddies Hagelslag Chunks. Check the nutritional information if the meeting requires a sugar-free product.
How do I check allergens when buying sprinkles for colleagues?
Check the current ingredients and allergen information for the exact product you’re going to serve. Do this again if you replace chocolate sprinkles with cereal flakes or chocolate chunks, and keep the packaging available for attendees.