Looking for a sugar-free syrup waffle for the autumn half-term? Don’t assume a ‘less sugar’ version is the same thing: check the claim, nutritional information and ingredients on the pack. According to Albert Heijn, its butter ‘less sugar’ syrup waffles contain 32% less sugar than the regular AH version, but still have 23 g of sugars per 100 g. For a snack, compare portion sizes too, and check allergens separately.
If you’re choosing a sweet snack for the autumn half-term, you’ll want to know how much sugar a syrup waffle contains. Compare the figures per 100 g and per portion: a claim such as ‘less sugar’ does not mean ‘sugar-free’.
If wheat, milk, soya or another allergen is a concern, check the current packaging for the version you’ve chosen. A sugar claim tells you nothing about allergens.
For coffee, tea or a shared snack, the number of waffles and their size matter too. This information helps you compare the nutritional value per portion with the figure per 100 g.
First decide whether ‘sugar-free’ is a strict requirement or whether you’re looking for a version with less sugar. Then check the nutritional information, any allergens and the size you want to serve.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who does this matter to? |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar claim and sugar content | Read the exact claim and compare sugars per 100 g. Also check whether sugar, syrup or sweetener appears in the ingredients list. | I want to serve less sugar, but I don’t want to mistake a lower figure for sugar-free. This check comes first for around 40% of consumers. |
| Allergens and gluten-free | Check the allergen declaration on the current packaging and, if needed, the gluten-free label. | If someone at the table needs to avoid an allergen, that determines which version I can consider. Around 30% of consumers prioritise this check. |
| Portion and pack | Compare the weight of each waffle, the number of pieces and the sugars per portion, if listed. | For a shared breakfast or snack, I want to know how large each waffle is. Portion size comes first for around 20% of consumers. |
| Availability | Check that your chosen version is still in stock, and compare any alternative’s nutritional information again. | I don’t want to count on a particular waffle if I can’t buy it. Availability is the main concern for around 10% of consumers. |
According to Albert Heijn, its AH butter ‘less sugar’ syrup waffles contain 23 g of sugars per 100 g. So the sugar reduction claim does not mean they’re sugar-free.
If sugar-free is a strict requirement, look for the exact claim and also read the nutritional information and ingredients on the packaging.
A syrup waffle with less sugar may still contain ingredients you need to avoid. Allergens vary between versions.
Check the allergen declaration on the product you’re actually buying every time you shop.
Jumbo lists 42.4 g of sugars per 100 g for its Lekker Vrij van Gluten Stroop Wafels. The gluten-free label doesn’t tell you how much sugar the product contains.
Check whether a gluten-free label is essential and check the sugar content as two separate things.
Albert Heijn marks the Céréal Stroopwafels suikerarm mentioned here as discontinued. That means this version isn’t an obvious choice for a planned purchase from AH.
Check current availability before planning a snack around that version.
AH butter ‘less sugar’ syrup waffles are worth considering if you want to compare a sugar-reduction claim with a regular AH version.
The Céréal Stroopwafels suikerarm mentioned here are an example of a version that contains both sugars and sweetener.
The Daelmans syrup waffles reviewed here are a regular version you can compare with one that contains less sugar.
Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten Stroop Wafels are worth considering when a gluten-free label is your first requirement.
PLUS Stroopwafels Per Wikkel are a regular version you can use to compare packaging and nutritional information.
Sondey butter syrup waffles are a pack option for sharing as a snack.
No. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority treats ‘sugar-free’ as a nutrition claim that must be accurate; a reduction claim means something different. For example, Albert Heijn still lists 23 g of sugars per 100 g for its syrup waffles with less sugar.
No. Albert Heijn describes the Céréal version as a syrup waffle with sugars and sweetener. So, as well as checking the ingredients, read the sugar content and the exact claim.
Compare sugars per 100 g, then check the weight of the waffle or portion you want to serve. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists 14.7 g of sugars for an extra-large 40 g syrup waffle; for a specific product, check its own packaging.
You can’t tell from the gluten-free label. Jumbo lists 42.4 g of sugars per 100 g for its Lekker Vrij van Gluten Stroop Wafels. Check the gluten-free label and nutritional information separately.
Before buying, check which version you’re choosing, then read the current packaging before serving. This is especially important when sugar content, ingredients or allergens affect your choice.
