Don’t choose De Ruijter Roze & Witte Muisjes if you’re looking for a topping with demonstrably less sugar for your Christmas market: PLUS lists 79 g of sugars per 100 g for this variety. If you’re considering an alternative, check the nutrition information and any claim for the exact variety. If you’re selling food, make sure you also provide allergen information and serve it hygienically.
You’re looking for a topping whose nutrition information meets that requirement, rather than simply serving a smaller portion of regular aniseed sprinkles. Compare the sugars per 100 g and check any nutrition claim on the exact packaging.
You want the familiar aniseed flavour and colour as a topping for something like crispbread or cake. Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS list De Ruijter aniseed sprinkles in different shapes and colours; check the nutrition information for the variety you choose.
You need to choose between pre-packed portions and serving the product unpackaged. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, food safety rules apply when selling at markets and events, and allergen information must also be provided for unpackaged products.
First decide whether less sugar is an absolute requirement. Then choose a suitable type of topping and organise the information and serving arrangements for the Christmas market.
| Consideration | What should you check? | Who is it most relevant to? |
|---|---|---|
| Less sugar | Compare the sugars per 100 g for the exact variety and check what any claim on the packaging means. | If less sugar is an absolute requirement, I don’t want to present regular aniseed sprinkles as an alternative based on a smaller portion. Demonstrable sugar reduction comes first for around 50% of consumers. |
| Presentation as a topping | Choose the shape to suit the product you’ll sprinkle it on, and decide on the serving size. | I mainly want a familiar aniseed topping for crispbread or cake, even if less sugar isn’t a requirement. A festive presentation matters most to around 30% of consumers. |
| Allergens and serving | Check the allergens for the exact variety and decide how you’ll provide this information when selling unpackaged products. | When serving the product, I want to be able to provide allergen information and serve it hygienically. For around 20% of consumers, these sales practices are the top priority. |
Colour, shape and serving size don’t tell you how many sugars there are per 100 g. PLUS lists 79 g of sugars per 100 g for De Ruijter Roze & Witte Muisjes; don’t assume the same figure applies to other varieties without checking the label.
Before buying, check the nutrition information for the exact variety and assess any claim separately.
When selling unpackaged products, you must also be able to give customers information about allergens. The ingredients list for the pink and white variety mentioned above includes wheat starch.
Keep the current packaging or ingredient specification at your stall and decide before selling how customers will access the information.
According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, food safety rules apply to businesses and private individuals selling at markets and events.
Plan storage and hygienic serving in advance, and ask the organiser and local council which requirements apply to this Christmas market.
Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS list De Ruijter aniseed sprinkles in different colours and shapes, including crushed aniseed sprinkles. Check the nutrition information for each variety.
No. A smaller portion doesn’t change the amount of sugars per 100 g. PLUS lists 79 g of sugars per 100 g for De Ruijter Roze & Witte Muisjes; check the nutrition information for every other variety separately.
Check which characteristic the packaging says has been reduced and compare the nutrition information with that of a similar product. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘light’ can refer to energy, fat or sugars, so the word alone doesn’t mean a topping contains less sugar.
Make sure customers can get the information before they buy. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergen information must also be provided for unpackaged products; keep the details for the exact variety you’re using to hand.
Yes. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, the rules for selling food and drink at markets and events apply to businesses and private individuals alike. Also check the requirements set by the relevant organiser and local council.
