Who are these options relevant to?

Shoppers with a strict sugar-free requirement

You’re not just looking for less sugar: you want a stroopwafel with an explicit sugar-free claim and a ‘of which sugars’ value that meets the EU limit.

Sugar-conscious Christmas market visitors

You’re also considering a stroopwafel described as ‘low sugar’ or ‘less sugar’, and want to know how much sugar and energy one waffle contains before you choose.

Shoppers with an additional dietary requirement

For example, you may be looking for a gluten-free option and want to assess this separately from the amount of sugar.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether sugar-free is an essential requirement or whether you’re happy to compare products with different sugar levels. Then check the portion size and any separate dietary requirements.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it’s relevant to
Sugar-free or less sugar Read the exact claim and check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. According to EUR-Lex, the EU ‘sugar-free’ claim allows a maximum of 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. If only sugar-free will do, I don’t want to rely on similar-sounding terms such as ‘low sugar’ or ‘less sugar’. Around 50% of consumers make this strict requirement their top priority.
Amount per waffle Compare sugar and energy using the same portion size, and check how many grams one waffle weighs. If I’m having one stroopwafel, the values for that piece matter to me, not just those per 100 g. For around 30% of consumers, comparing portions is the main concern.
Separate dietary requirements Check the relevant dietary and allergen information, as well as the sugar content on the packaging. If I also need a gluten-free stroopwafel, I need to assess that requirement separately from my preference for less sugar. This additional dietary requirement is the top priority for around 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Taking ‘less sugar’ to mean ‘sugar-free’

    These terms don’t mean the same thing. For the EU ‘sugar-free’ claim, EUR-Lex sets a limit of no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. A product name containing ‘less sugar’ doesn’t confirm that it meets this limit.

    If sugar-free is essential, check both the claim and ‘of which sugars’ on the packaging of the stroopwafels you buy.

  • Ignoring portion size

    A value per 100 g doesn’t tell you exactly how much sugar is in one waffle. For example, the Voedingscentrum lists 14.7 g of sugar for a 40 g extra-large standard stroopwafel. Don’t use this figure for other varieties.

    Check the weight of each piece and compare the sugar and energy per waffle on the same basis.

  • Confusing gluten-free with low sugar

    A gluten-free label says nothing about sugar content. Jumbo lists 42,4 g of sugars per 100 g for its Lekker Vrij van Gluten Stroop Wafels.

    If both matter to you, check the gluten-free label and sugar content separately.

  • Relying only on online product information

    Ingredients, nutrition information and allergen details can change. That’s why it’s important to check the packaging of the stroopwafels you’ll actually be serving to Christmas market visitors.

    Check the current packaging before buying or serving, even if you’ve already looked at the product online.

Brands compared

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists Céréal Stroopwafels suikerarm and AH Roomboter minder suiker stroopwafels in its range.

  • Two differently described options to compare by checking the packaging and nutrition information.
  • Neither description means ‘sugar-free’ in itself.

Céréal

Albert Heijn lists Céréal Stroopwafels suikerarm under this product name.

  • The product name makes it easy to find this variety when comparing options.
  • Check the current sugar content, ingredients and allergens on the packaging; ‘low sugar’ doesn’t mean ‘sugar-free’.

Jumbo Lekker Vrij

Jumbo lists Lekker Vrij van Gluten Stroop Wafels as a gluten-free option.

  • The gluten-free label is relevant if this is a separate requirement when you buy.
  • Jumbo lists 42,4 g of sugars per 100 g for this variety; gluten-free doesn’t mean sugar-free.

Daelmans

PLUS lists Daelmans Stroopwafels as a standard variety for comparison.

  • A familiar standard product to compare with a lower-sugar option.
  • Don’t assume from the brand name or this listing that the product is low sugar or sugar-free.

Markus & Markus

Markus & Markus lists low-sugar stroopwafels in its range overview.

  • The product range mentioned can be a starting point for comparing labels.
  • The range description doesn’t confirm that a specific pack is sugar-free or state its sugar content.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘low sugar’ mean the same as ‘sugar-free’?

No. According to EUR-Lex, a food can only carry the EU ‘sugar-free’ claim if it contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. For a stroopwafel described as ‘low sugar’ or ‘less sugar’, check its own nutrition information and don’t treat the description as a sugar-free claim.

What should I check before serving stroopwafels at a Christmas market?

Check the exact sugar claim, ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g, portion size, ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging. Also read the storage instructions for the stroopwafels you’ll actually be serving.

Is a gluten-free stroopwafel also sugar-free?

Not automatically: gluten-free and sugar-free are separate properties. Jumbo lists 42,4 g of sugars per 100 g for Lekker Vrij van Gluten Stroop Wafels. For another product, check both labels and the nutrition information again.