Who is this choice relevant to?

Strict vegans looking to reduce their sugar intake

You rule out animal ingredients before comparing sugar levels. Check the current ingredients for the exact variety: even dark or reduced-sugar chocolate sprinkles can contain milk ingredients.

Shoppers comparing sugar claims

You want to know what ‘less sugar’ or ‘no added sugar’ means for the chocolate sprinkles you have chosen. Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g, and for a relative claim, check which product it is being compared with.

Supermarket shoppers looking for a plant-based everyday option

You want suitable chocolate sprinkles from a regular supermarket range. However, a plant-based description or a large pack does not prove that the product has less sugar.

What should you look for in vegan chocolate sprinkles with less sugar?

Start by checking the ingredients for the exact variety, then compare sugars per 100 g and consider the pack size and availability. This stops an appealing sugar claim from outweighing your vegan requirements.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Vegan suitability Check the vegan label and ingredients for the exact variety, including milk fat, milk powder, whey and lactose. I don’t want to buy chocolate sprinkles containing animal ingredients, even if they are labelled ‘dark’; around 46% of consumers prioritise confirmed vegan suitability.
Sugar information Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and, for ‘less sugar’ claims, check what the product is being compared with. Look out for polyols and warnings too. If you mainly want to limit your total sugar intake, a claim on the front of the pack alone is of little use; around 36% of consumers give sugar information top priority.
Pack size and availability Check the pack size, current availability and whether that particular variety meets your requirements for ingredients and sugar. A product from a familiar supermarket range still needs to suit my needs; for around 18% of consumers, convenient availability is the deciding factor.

Common mistakes when choosing

  • Assuming ‘dark’ means vegan

    Albert Heijn lists anhydrous milk fat in AH Hagelslag Puur Minder Suiker. So even a dark variety may not be suitable if you avoid animal ingredients.

    Read the ingredients on the exact pack rather than relying on the word ‘dark’ in the name.

  • Taking ‘no added sugar’ to mean ‘sugar-free’

    Puur Mieke describes No Sugar Daddies Choco Chunks Extra Puur as having no added sugar, but its listed nutritional information shows 34 g of sugars per 100 g.

    Always check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g as well as the claim.

  • Looking only at the percentage reduction

    Albert Heijn states that Céréal Hagelslag Puur Minder Suikers has 88% less sugar than standard dark chocolate sprinkles. The product information also lists 40 g of polyols per 100 g; Jumbo warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

    Compare the nutritional values per 100 g and read the ingredients and usage warnings before choosing based on the reduction claim.

  • Treating an old product listing as a current option

    Albert Heijn marks its listing for Venz Hagelslag Melk 30% Minder Suiker as discontinued. The milk ingredients listed also make this variety unsuitable for vegans.

    Check the current variety, ingredients and availability before buying.

Brands and product ranges to compare

No Sugar Daddies

Puur Mieke describes its 180 g pack of Choco Chunks Extra Puur as vegan and free from added sugar.

  • The product information lists cocoa, dates and cocoa butter.
  • The listed nutritional information shows 34 g of sugars per 100 g; the chunks are not shaped like classic chocolate sprinkles.

Céréal

Albert Heijn lists 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Hagelslag Puur Minder Suikers and says it contains 88% less sugar than standard dark chocolate sprinkles.

  • The nutritional information lets you compare sugars per 100 g.
  • The ingredients list shellac and may contain milk. Without confirmed vegan suitability, it is not an option for strict vegans. Jumbo also provides a warning about excessive consumption.

Albert Heijn

According to Albert Heijn, AH Hagelslag Puur Minder Suiker and AH Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker are labelled as containing 30% less sugar than the corresponding AH varieties.

  • For both varieties, it is clear which type of own-brand chocolate sprinkles the claim is being compared with.
  • The dark variety contains anhydrous milk fat and the milk variety contains whole milk powder, so neither is suitable for vegans.

Venz

Albert Heijn lists a Venz milk variety with 30% less sugar, but marks the product listing as discontinued.

  • The listing shows which milk variety the sugar claim applies to.
  • Milk powder, whey powder, lactose and milk fat make this variety unsuitable for vegans; don’t treat the listing as a current buying option.

De Ruijter

The Chocoladehagelslag Puur reviewed here is a specific dark variety from De Ruijter.

  • Joybuy lists the ingredients for the 390 g variety, so you can check its exact composition.
  • The ingredients include fractionated milk fat, and the listed nutritional information shows 64 g of sugars per 100 g. This variety does not meet the requirements of being both vegan and lower in sugar.

Kiekeboe (ALDI)

ALDI lists Kiekeboe Hagelslag Puur in a 600 g pack; Bonusvegan describes Kiekeboe dark chocolate sprinkles as a plant-based option.

  • The listed pack size may be useful when comparing pack sizes.
  • Check the ingredients and sugars per 100 g for the pack you choose: being listed as a plant-based option does not show that it contains less sugar.

Joybuy products for this choice

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘less sugar’ mean the same as ‘no added sugar’?

No. ‘Less sugar’ compares a product with a reference product, while ‘no added sugar’ does not mean that the product contains no sugars. Albert Heijn lists 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Céréal Hagelslag Puur Minder Suikers; the No Sugar Daddies Choco Chunks Extra Puur described as having no added sugar contain 34 g of sugars per 100 g according to the listed nutritional information.

Are dark chocolate sprinkles automatically vegan?

No. AH Hagelslag Puur Minder Suiker lists anhydrous milk fat in its ingredients, while De Ruijter Chocoladehagelslag Puur lists fractionated milk fat. Always check the ingredients for the exact variety.

What should I look for in chocolate sprinkles containing maltitol?

Check the amount of polyols and any warnings on the pack. Albert Heijn lists 40 g of polyols per 100 g for Céréal Hagelslag Puur Minder Suikers; Jumbo warns that excessive consumption of this product may have a laxative effect.

Should I check online ingredient information against the packaging?

Yes. Before using the product, check the ingredients and nutritional information on the pack of the variety you have chosen. Albert Heijn says that product, nutritional and dietary information can change. This is particularly important if you want to avoid milk ingredients and compare sugars per 100 g.