For an Easter egg hunt, only choose a stroopwafel labelled sugar-free if the nutritional information on the packaging shows no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g; according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, this is the threshold for the claim. A stroopwafel with less sugar does not automatically meet that threshold: Albert Heijn lists 23 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Roomboter minder suiker stroopwafels. When handing them out, also check the ingredients and allergen information for the product you have bought.
If a treat really must be sugar-free, ‘less sugar’ is not enough. Check the current packaging to make sure the stroopwafel contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g, the threshold for the sugar-free claim set by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
If a lower sugar content than that of a standard product is enough, compare the sugars per 100 g. Also check which stroopwafel is used as the comparison for a claim such as ‘less sugar’.
If participants need to avoid specific ingredients, check the allergen information for the exact product you plan to hand out. Gluten-free says nothing, in itself, about the sugar content.
Before you buy, decide whether sugar-free is essential or whether less sugar will do. Then check that the ingredients and allergens in your chosen stroopwafel are suitable for each participant.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Strictly sugar-free | Check the sugars per 100 g on the packaging. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the sugar-free claim requires no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. | If I’m handing out stroopwafels as sugar-free, I want to be sure the packaging backs up that choice. For around 50% of consumers, this strict requirement comes first. |
| Less sugar | Compare the sugars per 100 g and check which product the stroopwafel is being compared with. Also look at the serving size and any sweeteners listed on the label. | For a treat, I’m mainly looking for a stroopwafel with less sugar than the standard version, even if it isn’t sugar-free. Around 30% of consumers prioritise this trade-off. |
| Gluten and allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact product; consider a gluten-free claim separately from the sugar content. | If a participant needs to avoid gluten or other ingredients, the product you hand out must meet their requirements. This check comes first for around 20% of consumers. |
A relative reduction still leaves sugar in the product. Albert Heijn lists 23 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Roomboter minder suiker stroopwafels.
Only describe a product as ‘sugar-free’ when the current nutritional information shows no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. Don’t call another product sugar-free just because it says ‘less sugar’.
Albert Heijn lists Céréal Stroopwafels suikerarm as ‘discontinued’. This means it may not be an obvious choice for a planned Easter egg hunt.
Check well in advance whether your preferred stroopwafel is available, and read the label on the product on offer before you buy it.
If you leave it until just before the event to look for this product, finding a suitable alternative could take extra time.
Jumbo lists 42.4 g of sugars per 100 g for Lekker Vrij van Gluten Stroop Wafels. The gluten-free claim therefore answers a different question from the sugar content.
Check each participant’s requirements separately, including those for gluten, other allergens and sugar.
Céréal’s product information lists isomalt as a sweetener. Ingredients also vary between stroopwafels: Albert Heijn and Jumbo list different allergens for the products mentioned.
Ask in advance which dietary requirements apply to the group, and read the ingredients and allergen information on the products you actually buy.
AH Roomboter minder suiker stroopwafels are worth considering if a lower sugar content is enough, but not if your treat needs to be sugar-free.
A stroopwafel product with a claim about reduced sugars and isomalt as a sweetener.
These stroopwafels cater to gluten-free diets, which is a separate consideration from a sugar-free requirement.
The original version is a useful benchmark for a standard stroopwafel, not a sugar-free option.
Lidl’s butter stroopwafels are a standard option to assess by checking the packaging and availability.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, for a solid food product to carry a sugar-free claim, it must contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. ‘Less sugar’ compares a product with another version; it does not mean it meets this threshold.
No. Albert Heijn lists 23 g of sugars per 100 g for this product. The ‘32% less sugar’ claim compares it with AH Roomboter stroopwafels; it does not mean the product is sugar-free.
Check the sugar content separately from the gluten-free claim. Jumbo lists 42.4 g of sugars per 100 g for Lekker Vrij van Gluten Stroop Wafels. Also check that the other ingredients and allergens are suitable for the participants.
Read the ingredients, allergens and sugars per 100 g on the packaging of the exact product you have bought. Ask in advance about the participants’ dietary requirements so you can check whether the treats are suitable.
