Parents looking for an everyday toddler snack
You’re looking for something for a daily snack. For babies and toddlers, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends snacks from the Wheel of Five, such as fruit, vegetables or some wholemeal bread.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Parents looking for aniseed sprinkles for a special occasion
You’d like to use sweet aniseed sprinkles as a topping for bread or crispbread. That’s a different choice from a product with a dark chocolate flavour.
Shoppers who mean a cocoa flavour by ‘dark’
You’re more likely to be looking for dark chocolate sprinkles than aniseed sprinkles. For De Ruijter Specials Intens Puur chocolate sprinkles, Albert Heijn states that the product contains at least 52% cocoa solids. This percentage applies to this specific product.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you’re looking for an everyday snack, aniseed sprinkles for a special occasion or a dark chocolate topping. Then check the product type and the current label.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it’s most relevant to |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday snack | Are you choosing something for every day or a sweet topping for a special occasion? Compare the nutritional information per serving. | For an everyday snack, I want to choose something that fits the advice for babies and toddlers. Around 46% of consumers put this everyday choice first. |
| Aniseed or dark chocolate | Read the product name: the aniseed sprinkles are an aniseed topping, while the dark chocolate products shown are chocolate sprinkles. | If I’m mainly looking for a dark cocoa flavour, choosing the right type of product makes all the difference; around 36% of consumers give this priority. |
| Special occasions and labels | Check the ingredients, allergens and suggested uses on the packaging. | For a special-occasion sandwich or crispbread, I want to choose aniseed sprinkles as a topping. Around 18% of consumers put this occasion first. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘dark’ refers to a type of aniseed sprinkles
Jumbo lists varieties of aniseed sprinkles, while Albert Heijn sells the dark chocolate product mentioned as chocolate sprinkles. If you go by the flavour without checking the product type, you could buy something different from what you had in mind.
Look for aniseed sprinkles if that’s what you want, and dark chocolate sprinkles if cocoa flavour is your priority.
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Treating aniseed sprinkles as an everyday toddler snack
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, aniseed sprinkles contain an average of 11.9 g of sugars per 15 g serving. For everyday snacks for babies and toddlers, the Centre recommends foods from the Wheel of Five.
Save aniseed sprinkles for a special occasion you’ve chosen, and opt for fruit, vegetables or some wholemeal bread for an everyday snack.
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Relying only on the online product page
Albert Heijn says that ingredients, nutritional values and allergy information may change. So a product page you looked at earlier may not match the packaging you have in front of you.
Read the current label before serving the product, especially if allergies or dietary requirements are a consideration.
Brands and retailers to consider
De Ruijter
The retailer information mentioned lists the brand’s aniseed sprinkles and separate chocolate-sprinkle products.
- Jumbo lists four varieties of De Ruijter aniseed sprinkles; Albert Heijn states that De Ruijter Specials Intens Puur chocolate sprinkles contain at least 52% cocoa solids.
- The dark chocolate sprinkles listed are not a dark variety of the aniseed sprinkles shown.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn provides product information for De Ruijter Specials Intens Puur chocolate sprinkles.
- The product page lists information including ingredients, allergens, nutritional values and pack weight.
- Product information may change, so check the packaging you buy.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists aniseed sprinkles and dark chocolate sprinkles separately in its online range.
- The aniseed-sprinkle category includes De Ruijter’s festive, pink-and-white, blue-and-white and crushed varieties.
- An online range listing doesn’t tell you which products are in your local shop at any given time.
PLUS
PLUS describes De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes as an aniseed product.
- The retailer suggests using it on bread or crispbread, or in yoghurt.
- These serving suggestions aren’t a recommendation to give aniseed sprinkles as an everyday toddler snack.
Dark chocolate sprinkles on Joybuy
These products are suitable if you’re looking for dark chocolate sprinkles as a sweet topping. They aren’t aniseed sprinkles. For an everyday toddler snack, the starting point should still be the Wheel of Five options recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
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De Ruijter Intense Pure chocolate sprinkles, 200 g
For anyone who means dark chocolate sprinkles rather than aniseed sprinkles by ‘dark’. The pack contains 200 g; check the current ingredients and allergen information on the label before use.
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De Ruijter dark chocolate sprinkles, 390 g
For anyone looking for dark chocolate sprinkles as a sweet topping, not aniseed sprinkles. The pack contains 390 g; if a particular cocoa content matters to you, check the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Are aniseed sprinkles suitable as an everyday snack for a toddler?
For everyday snacks for babies and toddlers, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends foods from the Wheel of Five, such as fruit, vegetables or some wholemeal bread. Aniseed sprinkles are a sweet topping that you can save for a special occasion you’ve chosen.
Are ‘dark’ aniseed sprinkles the same as dark chocolate sprinkles?
No, the aniseed sprinkles and dark chocolate sprinkles shown are different types of product. Jumbo lists varieties of aniseed sprinkles that aren’t labelled as dark; Albert Heijn lists De Ruijter Specials Intens Puur as chocolate sprinkles. This doesn’t rule out other or limited-edition varieties of aniseed sprinkles at other shops.
What should I check if allergens are a concern?
Read the allergen information on the current packaging of the product you’ve chosen. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens must be clearly listed on the labels of prepacked foods. Don’t rely solely on a retailer page you viewed earlier.
Can I use crushed aniseed sprinkles on crispbread or in yoghurt?
PLUS suggests using De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes on crispbread or in yoghurt. These suggestions don’t automatically make the product an everyday toddler snack; decide whether the topping and portion are right for the occasion.