Aniseed and Gestampte Muisjes fans
You want to keep the aniseed flavour and texture of Gestampte Muisjes, for example on crispbread or yoghurt, or as a little sweet snack.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Sugar-conscious TV snackers
You’re looking for a sweet topping for a snack and want to compare the sugar content per 100 g. A chocolate-flavoured alternative could suit you.
Shoppers who check ingredients
Your choice may also depend on wheat, milk, soya or polyols. Check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging of each individual product.
What should you consider when choosing?
Before choosing a sweet topping for your TV snack, decide whether aniseed flavour is essential or whether you mainly want less sugar. Then compare the nutritional information and ingredients of the products that fit your choice.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars | Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and check which ingredients are used instead of sugar. | If I want less sugar, I compare the figures on the same basis, even if that means switching from aniseed sprinkles to chocolate sprinkles. Less sugar is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Aniseed flavour | Check whether the product is sugared aniseed seeds or chocolate sprinkles; they are not the same kind of topping. | On crispbread or yoghurt, I want to keep that familiar aniseed flavour and the texture of Gestampte Muisjes. Keeping the same flavour matters most to around 29% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients list, allergen information and any warning about polyols. | If particular ingredients are a deciding factor for me, I check those in any alternative before choosing it. This is the top priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Portion and packaging | Check the stated portion size and work out how much topping you actually use for your snack. | When I snack straight from the packet during a TV evening, I want to be able to judge how much I’m having. Portion control comes first for around 14% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Mistaking reduced-sugar chocolate sprinkles for Gestampte Muisjes
The alternatives discussed here are chocolate sprinkles, whereas Gestampte Muisjes are sugared aniseed seeds. Choosing less sugar here also means choosing a different flavour and texture.
Before you buy, decide whether aniseed is essential for you. If it is, check how much Gestampte Muisjes you use rather than treating chocolate sprinkles as the same product.
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Relying only on ‘less sugar’ on the front of the pack
A comparative claim measures a product against a particular reference. For example, Albert Heijn says its AH reduced-sugar milk chocolate sprinkles contain 30% less sugar than its regular milk chocolate sprinkles. That doesn’t tell you how much sugar another brand contains.
Follow the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice to compare nutritional information per 100 g. Then consider how much you actually put on your snack.
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Ignoring the other ingredients because the sugar figure is lower
The Céréal chocolate sprinkles discussed here contain maltitols; their product pages warn that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. The sprinkles also differ in their allergens.
Read the ingredients, allergens and warnings on the current packaging of the version you want to buy.
Brands and product ranges compared
De Ruijter
Gestampte Muisjes are sugared aniseed sprinkles, suitable for crispbread and yoghurt, among other things.
- Keeps the aniseed flavour and texture of Gestampte Muisjes, which the chocolate sprinkles discussed here don’t have.
- Albert Heijn lists 79 g of sugars per 100 g for this version; check the wheat and gluten information too.
Albert Heijn
AH reduced-sugar milk chocolate sprinkles are a chocolate alternative for anyone happy to switch from aniseed flavour.
- Albert Heijn lists 43 g of sugars per 100 g and compares the sugar content with its regular milk chocolate sprinkles.
- They’re still chocolate sprinkles, not Gestampte Muisjes; check the milk and lactose information.
Céréal
The milk and dark chocolate sprinkles discussed here are alternatives for anyone wanting to compare the sugar content of different sweet toppings.
- The product information at Albert Heijn lists 15 g of sugars per 100 g for the milk version and 7.7 g per 100 g for the dark version.
- Both versions contain maltitols and carry a warning against excessive consumption. Check the allergens for each version.
Related Joybuy products
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Are Gestampte Muisjes themselves a lower-sugar option?
The De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes discussed here aren’t a reduced-sugar version: Albert Heijn lists 79 g of sugars per 100 g. The lower-sugar options in this comparison are chocolate sprinkles, so they taste different.
How do I compare packs with different portion sizes?
First compare the nutritional information per 100 g, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Then consider how much you use for your own snack; the stated portion size may not match that amount.
Does less sugar also mean fewer calories?
Not necessarily: a lower sugar figure on its own doesn’t tell you the energy value. To compare that, check the energy per 100 g alongside ‘of which sugars’ in the nutritional information.
What should I know about maltitols in reduced-sugar chocolate sprinkles?
The Céréal versions discussed here contain maltitols and, according to their product pages, carry a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also points out that large amounts of polyols can cause intestinal discomfort. Read the warning on the packaging of the version you choose.
Which allergens should I check in these sprinkles?
Always check the allergens for the specific version on the current packaging. The Gestampte Muisjes discussed here list wheat and gluten. Milk and soya are relevant for the Céréal milk version discussed here, while the dark version contains soya and may contain milk.