Who is this choice for?

Parents with a strict sugar-free requirement

For you, ‘less sugar’ is no substitute for ‘sugar-free’. Check the claim on the exact pack before choosing sprinkles or another sweet topping.

Families looking for sweet spreads with less sugar

You want to keep a sweet sandwich treat and are open to chocolate sprinkles instead of aniseed sprinkles. Compare the nutritional information for the varieties you’re considering.

Parents choosing a regular snack

If the after-school snack matters more than the taste of aniseed sprinkles, you can look beyond sweet toppings. For children aged 4 to 12, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre suggests options such as wholemeal bread and unsalted nuts; bear any allergies in mind.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether ‘sugar-free’ is an absolute requirement, or whether you’re mainly looking for an alternative to regular aniseed sprinkles. The nutrition claim, the type of product and whether it’s for a snack all point to different choices.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Genuinely sugar-free Read the claim on the exact pack and check the sugars per 100 g. ‘Less sugar’ doesn’t mean ‘sugar-free’. If sugar-free is an absolute requirement, I don’t want to rely on a search result for aniseed sprinkles. For around 40% of consumers, that strict requirement is the deciding factor.
Sweet toppings with less sugar Check that the claim applies to the chocolate sprinkle variety you’ve chosen, and compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion. I want to keep a sweet sandwich treat, even if that means chocolate sprinkles instead of aniseed sprinkles. For around 30% of consumers, that combination is the priority.
Regular snack First decide what the snack will be based around. For children aged 4 to 12, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre suggests options such as wholemeal bread and unsalted nuts; bear allergies in mind. When I regularly prepare something for after school, the snack itself matters more than a celebratory topping. That’s the main consideration for around 20% of consumers.
Practical shopping choice Check your shop’s current range and look at the information on the exact pack when you buy. I want to be able to plan my shopping at one shop without losing sight of my original sugar-free requirement. For around 10% of consumers, that practical choice matters most.

Common mistakes

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

    Under EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the claim ‘sugar-free’ may only be used if a product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g or 100 ml. The phrase ‘less sugar’ doesn’t confirm that the product meets this limit.

    Check the exact claim and the nutritional information per 100 g on the pack of the variety you’ve chosen.

  • Choosing aniseed sprinkles because a search result says ‘sugar free’

    The aniseed sprinkles shown on the ranges reviewed at Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS have not been confirmed as sugar-free. A search term tells you nothing about the claim on an individual pack.

    If you want the traditional aniseed flavour, assess aniseed sprinkles as they are. If sugar-free is a requirement, only choose a product once the exact pack confirms it meets that requirement.

  • Assuming every snack has to start with a sweet topping

    You don’t have to start with sprinkles for a regular after-school snack. For children aged 4 to 12, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre also suggests options such as wholemeal bread or unsalted nuts.

    First choose what you want to serve as a snack, then decide whether a sweet topping works with it. Bear allergies in mind if you choose nuts.

  • Relying on an old label when buying again

    Albert Heijn points out that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change. So a previous check won’t necessarily apply to the next pack you buy.

    Each time you buy, check the ingredients, allergens, nutritional information and any nutrition claims on the exact variety again.

Brands to consider

De Ruijter

Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS list various De Ruijter aniseed sprinkles in their ranges. This is an option for anyone specifically looking for aniseed-flavoured sprinkles.

  • The range includes coloured and crushed aniseed sprinkles.
  • Being listed as aniseed sprinkles doesn’t confirm a sugar-free claim; check the exact variety.

AH

Albert Heijn lists AH milk chocolate sprinkles with less sugar and AH dark chocolate sprinkles with less sugar in its reduced-sugar range.

  • An option if you’re happy to choose chocolate sprinkles instead of aniseed sprinkles and are looking for a product labelled ‘less sugar’.
  • Chocolate sprinkles aren’t aniseed sprinkles, and ‘less sugar’ doesn’t confirm that a product is sugar-free.

Céréal

Albert Heijn lists Céréal milk chocolate sprinkles with less sugar in its reduced-sugar spread range.

  • Another chocolate sprinkle variety to consider if keeping a sweet topping is your priority.
  • The claim applies to chocolate sprinkles with less sugar, not sugar-free aniseed sprinkles. Check the nutritional information on the exact pack.

Related products at Joybuy

Related products will appear soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘less sugar’ mean a product is sugar-free?

No. Under EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the ‘sugar-free’ claim has a limit of no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g or 100 ml. So check the claim and nutritional information on the exact pack; ‘less sugar’ doesn’t confirm that the product meets this limit.

Are the aniseed sprinkles at the supermarkets mentioned sugar-free?

The De Ruijter aniseed sprinkles on the ranges reviewed at Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS have not been confirmed as sugar-free. This doesn’t say anything about every other variety of aniseed sprinkles or every other shop. If sugar-free is an absolute requirement, check the pack of the product you actually intend to buy.

What can I choose for a regular after-school snack?

You don’t have to choose aniseed sprinkles or another sweet topping. For children aged 4 to 12, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre suggests options such as wholemeal bread and unsalted nuts. Bear any allergies in mind when making your choice.

Should I check ingredients and allergens again when buying the same product?

Yes, especially if an ingredient or allergen is important to your choice. Albert Heijn says product information can change, so check the pack of the exact variety again.