Don’t choose the regular De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes product we reviewed if you’re looking for a gluten-free bread topping suitable for coeliac disease that must also be sugar-free: Real Dutch Food’s product listing names wheat starch and 79 g of sugars per 100 g. Consider another type of sweet topping whose current packaging carries both a gluten-free statement and a sugar-free claim. ‘No added sugars’ does not automatically mean sugar-free.
You want to choose a sweet bread topping based on the gluten-free statement on the current packaging. The product name or ingredients visible in a product photo don’t give you the same level of certainty.
You’re looking for a sugar-free product, not just a topping with less sugar or no added sugars. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a product labelled ‘sugar-free’ must contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g or 100 ml.
You want crushed anise sprinkles for bread or rusks and don’t need them to be gluten-free or sugar-free. The regular De Ruijter version suits that preference, but not the combination of requirements in this article: Real Dutch Food lists wheat starch and 79 g of sugars per 100 g.
When: you’re looking for the traditional anise flavour and a sprinkle topping, with no gluten-free or sugar-free requirement.
Limitation: Real Dutch Food lists wheat starch and 79 g of sugars per 100 g for De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes.
When: a gluten-free statement and a genuine sugar-free claim matter more to you than the traditional product format.
Trade-off: another topping may not have the same anise flavour or sprinkleable texture.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free statement | Look for ‘gluten-free’ or a gluten-free symbol on the current packaging, and read the ingredients and allergen information. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014 sets a maximum of 20 mg of gluten per kg for a product labelled ‘gluten-free’. | When I’m buying for someone with coeliac disease, I want to be able to assess the specific topping using the packaging. For around 50% of consumers, checking that a product is gluten-free comes first. |
| Sugar-free claim | Check for the ‘sugar-free’ statement and the sugars per 100 g in the nutrition information. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre sets the limit for sugar-free at 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g; ‘no added sugars’ is a different claim. | When I want a genuinely sugar-free topping, packaging that only says ‘less sugar’ isn’t enough. This requirement comes first for around 30% of consumers. |
| Flavour and use | Decide whether you’re looking for anise-flavoured sprinkles or are happy to use another type of sweet bread topping. If you choose an alternative, still check for both required statements. | For rusks or as a topping, I may want to keep the anise flavour and sprinkleable form. Around 20% of consumers give this preference top priority when making this choice. |
As well as anise, Real Dutch Food lists wheat starch and cereals containing gluten for De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes.
Check the current packaging of the specific product, rather than relying on its name or flavouring alone.
A product with no added sugars may still contain naturally occurring sugars. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre sets the limit for products labelled ‘sugar-free’ at 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g or 100 ml.
Check the exact claim and compare the amount of sugars per 100 g in the nutrition information.
A category for gluten-free or sugar-conscious products doesn’t, by itself, mean that an individual item meets both requirements. Albert Heijn points out that product information can change.
Check the current claims, ingredients and nutrition information on the packaging of the topping you’ve chosen.
De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes is a traditional anise-flavoured bread topping; Jumbo lists it in a 270 g pack.
Albert Heijn lists De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes and has separate categories for gluten-free and sugar-conscious shopping.
Jumbo lists De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes and has a category for sugar-conscious products.
Don’t choose the version in Real Dutch Food’s product listing as a gluten-free option: the listing names wheat starch and cereals containing gluten. For any other product, check the current packaging of the specific version.
No, the two claims don’t mean the same thing. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘sugar-free’ means no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g or 100 ml; a product with no added sugars may still contain naturally occurring sugars.
Look for a gluten-free statement or symbol on the current packaging of the specific topping, and read the ingredients information too. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014 sets a maximum of 20 mg of gluten per kg of product for a product labelled ‘gluten-free’.
Yes, check the current packaging before use. Albert Heijn says that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information, among other details, can change.
