Who is this distinction important for?

Consumers looking for strictly sugar-free options

‘Less sugar’ is not enough for you. You want the stroopwafel itself to meet the threshold for the ‘sugar-free’ claim, so you compare the claim with the nutritional information per 100 g.

Home bakers who want to limit sugar

You want to serve a stroopwafel with homemade oliebollen, but also understand which part of the dish you are choosing. Albert Heijn Allerhande and Jumbo’s recipes list sugar as an ingredient in the oliebol batter, so you need to assess the waffle and the oliebol separately.

Consumers who check ingredients too

As well as sugars, you may look out for gluten, allergens or the sweeteners used. A gluten-free label says nothing by itself about sugar content, so check both product characteristics separately.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether ‘sugar-free’ is an essential requirement for the stroopwafel, or whether you want to limit sugar across the whole oliebol occasion. Then consider the role of the waffle and any other ingredients that matter to you.

What to consider What to check Who is this relevant to?
Sugar-free claim Compare the claim with ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. The EU regulation published by EUR-Lex sets a maximum of 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g for a solid food to make the ‘sugar-free’ claim. I want the stroopwafel itself to be sugar-free, not just to contain less sugar. This strict requirement comes first for around 40% of consumers.
Its role alongside the oliebol Choose deliberately between serving a stroopwafel on its own, using it as a topping or changing the batter. Albert Heijn Allerhande and Jumbo list sugar in their oliebol recipes. If I want to limit sugar in the oliebol, I need to assess the batter before choosing a topping. This is the main purchasing concern for around 30% of consumers.
Other ingredients Read the ingredients and allergen information, and check any gluten-free label separately from the sugar content. I also want to know whether the gluten, allergens or sweeteners used suit my needs. For around 30% of consumers, checking ingredients matters most.

Common mistakes

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

    The product titles ‘AH Butter Stroopwafels with less sugar’ and ‘Céréal Low-sugar Stroopwafels’ do not confirm a sugar-free claim. Under the EU regulation published by EUR-Lex, a solid food must contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g to make the ‘sugar-free’ claim.

    If you have this strict requirement, check the current packaging and the nutritional information per 100 g rather than relying on a similar-sounding label.

  • Assessing only the stroopwafel

    Using a stroopwafel as a topping does not change the oliebol batter. Albert Heijn Allerhande and Jumbo’s recipes list sugar as an ingredient in the batter.

    If you want to adapt the recipe, assess the batter, any filling and the finishing touches separately. Choose a recipe that suits what you want to change.

  • Confusing gluten-free with sugar-free

    Jumbo states that its Lekker Vrij van Gluten Stroop Wafels contain 42.4 g of sugars per 100 g. The gluten-free label and the sugar content answer different shopping questions.

    If you have more than one requirement, check both the gluten-free product information and ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g.

  • Overlooking sweeteners when checking the ingredients

    A product with less sugar may contain sweeteners. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, consuming large amounts of polyols can cause flatulence and diarrhoea.

    Read the ingredients list and any guidance on the packaging if you want to take polyols into account.

Brands and product ranges to consider

The product listings below can help you distinguish between different claims. A brand listing does not mean that all its stroopwafels have the same nutritional values or dietary characteristics.

Céréal

Albert Heijn lists Céréal Low-sugar Stroopwafels.

  • The product title makes clear that this is a low-sugar stroopwafel.
  • ‘Low sugar’ does not confirm that this variety is sugar-free; check the current nutritional information if that is a requirement for you.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists AH Butter Stroopwafels with less sugar and Céréal Low-sugar Stroopwafels.

  • The two product titles show the different sugar claims you may come across.
  • Neither title on its own confirms that the product is ‘sugar-free’. Check the current packaging for nutritional values and ingredients.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists products including Lekker Vrij van Gluten Stroop Wafels.

  • You can assess the gluten-free claim on this variety as a separate purchasing criterion.
  • Jumbo states that this variety contains 42.4 g of sugars per 100 g. The gluten-free claim does not make it sugar-free.

Daelmans

Daelmans Stroopwafels are included in PLUS’s stroopwafel range.

  • This is a stroopwafel option to consider as a treat on its own or as a topping.
  • Being listed in a range does not confirm that it is a sugar-free variety; check the nutritional information for the specific product.

Lidl / Sondey

Lidl lists Sondey Butter Stroopwafels.

  • The product title identifies a butter stroopwafel.
  • The title does not include a sugar-free claim; check the label if sugar content is important to your choice.

ALDI / Heerlijck Banket

ALDI lists stroopwafels and mini stroopwafels under the Heerlijck Banket brand.

  • You can compare the regular and mini varieties as different product formats.
  • The product names do not confirm that the stroopwafels are sugar-free; read the nutritional information for the variety you choose.

PLUS

PLUS lists its own stroopwafels as well as Daelmans Stroopwafels.

  • The range includes several product listings for you to assess individually.
  • PLUS gives its Caramel Stroopwafels a Nutri-Score E. This score is not a sugar-free claim and does not replace the sugar value per 100 g.

Stroopwafels for your oliebol occasion

Related products to consider: Céréal Low-sugar Stroopwafels; AH Butter Stroopwafels with less sugar; Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten Stroop Wafels. Check each product’s current packaging and nutritional information to see whether it suits your needs.

Frequently asked questions

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

No. Under the EU regulation published by EUR-Lex, a solid food can contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g to make the ‘sugar-free’ claim. The product titles ‘AH Butter Stroopwafels with less sugar’ and ‘Céréal Low-sugar Stroopwafels’ do not confirm that these products meet this threshold.

Will a low-sugar stroopwafel make my homemade oliebollen sugar-free?

No. Using a low-sugar stroopwafel as a topping does not change the ingredients in the oliebol. Albert Heijn Allerhande and Jumbo’s oliebol recipes list sugar in the batter. So assess the batter and the topping separately.

What should I look for if a stroopwafel contains polyols?

Check which sweeteners are listed in the ingredients and follow any guidance on the packaging. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre states that consuming large amounts of polyols can cause flatulence and diarrhoea.

Is a gluten-free stroopwafel also sugar-free?

Not automatically: gluten-free and sugar-free are separate product characteristics. Jumbo states that Lekker Vrij van Gluten Stroop Wafels contain 42.4 g of sugars per 100 g. So check both the gluten-free information and the sugar content of the specific stroopwafel.